Hardwood Houdini
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Gordon Hayward Needs to Show Up

By Abdifatah Ali

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - APRIL 05: Gordon Hayward #20 of the Boston Celtics looks on during a game against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on April 5, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Celtics won 117-97. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using the photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - APRIL 05: Gordon Hayward #20 of the Boston Celtics looks on during a game against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on April 5, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Celtics won 117-97. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using the photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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Hayward has been playing possibly the worst basketball of the season these past 4 games and in order for the Celtics to advance in the playoffs, he needs to start playing more aggressive and be more assertive.

Gordon Hayward has been far from perfect for the Boston Celtics in this playoff series against the Bucks. It has been an atrocious series for the Celtics, minus game one, but ever since that game it seems like the Bucks have adjusted to the Celtics game plan and it also seems like Gordon Hayward forgot who the Celtics were playing and what is at stakes.

I don’t want to discredit Gordon for how he started this post-season, but, he hasn’t been the same since that Pacers series.

Hayward has played below sub-par and Coach Stevens is still keeping him on the floor. Averaging 30 minutes per game and coming off the bench isn’t really cutting it for Gordon’s sake nor the Celtics.

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He has made 4-12 three pointers in the 4 games played in the series so far and has averaged 7.5 points per game in the series as well. If this doesn’t scare you as a Celtics fan or a fan of Gordon Hayward then you’re just not alright.

With the amount of playing time Gordon gets he should be able to put up at least 15 to 20 points a game. I know most of you are going to use that horrific ankle injury from last season as an excuse to why he’s playing the way he’s playing right now, but, in all honesty, it shouldn’t be an excuse.

The ankle injury is in the past. He’s gone through rehab and countless hours of trying to get it healthy enough to play on it.

Although Hayward has shown games where he gave Celtics fans hope and made us say believe in him. I have lost all hope and have lost all belief in this overpaid max player. In order for the Celtics to get through the big dogs in the East.

They need their highest paid player to step up and show out. If Hayward doesn’t play the best basketball of his life in game 5 ( or game 6 and 7) then the Celtics future lays in the hands of Danny Ainge and Brad Stevens.

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As much as we all argue about how valuable Gordon is to the Celtics. Everyone needs to look at the bigger picture here and see why they are down 3-1. I’ve said it before and I’m going to continue on saying it. Gordon Hayward needs to stop being passive and start being aggressive.

As we all know the more aggressive you are in any game the better chances you get scoring the ball. All I’ve been seeing the last 4 games has been a deflated version of Gordon Hayward. Not the Gordon we saw in the first round of the Playoffs.

*All Stats are from ESPN.com

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