For now it seems Boston Celtics All-Star forward Gordon Hayward may be able to deal with the nerve pain in his left foot — but could rest be the key to his postseason availability?
Looking back at Gordon Hayward’s first minutes as a Boston Celtic, many would be satisfied to know the Butler product would be able to play NBA basketball again.
But after seeing just how good he can be in head coach Brad Stevens’ system, that Hayward might need to reduce his overall usage in order to keep his availability secure is a most frustrating proposition, albeit unlikely.
With a return of pain in the foot he injured at the start of the 2017-18 NBA season, the possibility looms that the 29-year-old forward could need to be judicious with his minutes if the pain continues to bother the former ninth overall pick.
So far, load management seems to not be in the cards for the Indiana native, as he’s hearing the pain could be a routine response to such a severe injury, reports NBC Boston’s A. Sherrod Blakeley.
“Nerves take a while to calm down, from what I’ve been told. So we’re trying not to irritate it and manage it, keep it moving,” explained the 10-year veteran.
“It’s more, just trying to make sure it doesn’t get irritated as much and just trying to continue calming it down,” Hayward continued. “Some of that is medicine-related, topical creams, different things, just different treatments we’re trying to do.”
So far, so good — the 6-foot-7 swingman scored 14 points, 5 boards and 6 assists on 6-of-9 shooting (including 2-of-4 from deep) against the Toronto Raptors on Christmas Day, and isn’t on the injury report released by the team the day before Boston’s Dec. 27 meeting with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
While the team has done well in his absence, Hayward’s skills as a secondary ballhandler and distributor (to say nothing of his accuracy this season, with a field goal percentage of 56.2% in 2019-20) may be key to unlocking a real chance to make noise in the postseason.
So, ensuring his health will likely be a top priority for the team going forward.
While Hayward isn’t likely to need rest like his West Coast counterpart Kawhi Leonard has, the team may revisit the idea if the former Bulldog needs another stint of games off to recuperate before the postseason arrives.
His unselfish play is seen by his teammates as part of the bedrock of their best selves, serving as a model for his younger teammates to emulate — as noted by fourth-year wing Jaylen Brown (via the Boston Herald’s Steve Bulpett).
“I think what makes us dangerous is that we all can do the same things, you know, pass the ball, make the right reads. I’m getting a lot better at it. Jayson’s getting a lot better at it. Gordon’s really good at it, and he’s proven,” noted the Cal-Berkeley product.
“We can all interchange in terms of coming off the ball, screens or someone cutting or someone in the corner,” he added.
“That’s what makes us dangerous. As we get better, I think that rhythm and the flow as we continue to be in multiple spots, makes it harder to guard different guys in different spots,” Brown continued, referencing the controlled chaos that makes Boston so hard to defend.
Teammate Kemba Walker agrees, and points to Hayward’s playmaking as a critical component of the Celtics’ on-court offensive production.
“Gordon, he’s such a playmaker, man,” said the All-NBA UConn product.
“You know, he always makes the right plays. He’s super good, man, at just reading defenders and just getting rid of the basketball at the perfect times. He’s a really good playmaker. I think that’s one of the underrated things about him actually. He just knows how to play the game, and he’s super smart.”
Hayward’s importance to the team playing at its highest level is clearly not to be understated to his teammates, and his health is justly a paramount concern come April.
Early results on his return to health are promising, but it will be critical to maintain as the season grows long in the tooth.
Boston may have more in their young wing duo of Brown and third-year swingman Jayson Tatum than many anticipated, but their All-Star wing’s left foot might be the only thing between them and a trip to the 2020 NBA Finals.
