Boston Celtics: 3 Reasons why a healthy Gordon Hayward may hinder the development of Jayson Tatum

Relationship with Brad Stevens

As previously mentioned, the relationship between Brad Stevens and Gordon Hayward goes back many years.

A belief around the media is that players of the organization felt as though the pair’s relationship negatively impacted the overall team chemistry in 2018-19. Since the end of the season, rumors have surfaced that Hayward’s teammates may have felt the forward was being treated differently than they were by coach Stevens — “babied” was a term used most often — with some pointing out the apparent “force feeding” of Hayward on offense.

Now, if a less than 100% Hayward was given the amount of opportunities as he reportedly was, how many will he get fully healthy while suiting up for a Kyrie Irving/Al Horford- less Boston squad?

With the belief that Hayward is coming into 2019 both physically and mentally healthy, it should be safe to say that the forward will be one of Boston’s top-two scoring options which, in turn, will provide him with even more offensive opportunities. And, the more offensive opportunities Hayward gets, the less his teammates will collect.

Again, this is all relative as to whether Hayward can return to his pre-injury form, which is the hope now that he appears fully healed.

If this is the case, and Hayward plays like the player Boston believed they signed two years ago, coach Stevens will be hard pressed not to give the forward the rock as often as possible which. In turn, will certainly have an impact on the amount of offensive opportunities Jayson Tatum will get.