Hardwood Houdini
Fansided

Boston Celtics: 3 things we need to see in the second half of the 2019-20 season

By Mark Nilon

Boston Celtics (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
Boston Celtics (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
Boston Celtics (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Boston Celtics (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

Consistency from Gordon Hayward

Sure, in the previous slide we discussed the woes the team’s second unit has and praised their starters. Still, it doesn’t mean the C’s first five is a lineup without hiccups. And, perhaps one of their biggest caveats… Gordon Hayward’s consistency.

Make no mistake about it, Hayward is a fantastic talent who — specifically as of late — has played like his 2017 All-Star self many a time this year. Through 35 outings, the wing is averaging 17.1 points, 6.5 rebounds and four assists on 51 percent shooting from the field and 39 percent shooting from deep.

He is easily having his best season wearing a Boston Celtics jersey and has been a major factor in many of the team’s victories. However, he also has been a major factor in their losses and their “too close for comfort” contests.

Too many times have we seen the team’s $30 million, offensively gifted man drop single digit points and shoot well below 40 percent from the field. Again, it must be stated that recently the 10-year veteran has been killing it for the team. However, it mustn’t make you forget about his prior low points at times throughout the season.

In comparison to his averages in wins vs. losses, while his counting stats may not be drastically different, his efficiency, both in the numbers and with the eye-test, is at opposite ends of the spectrum.

  1. Wins: 17.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 54 percent from field, 44 percent from 3
  2. Losses: 16.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 45 percent from field, 28 percent from 3

Currently the C’s are riding high on a seven game win-streak, with Hayward playing to the fine tune of 20.3 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists while shooting around 48% from the field and 48% from downtown.

As the great Hooligan would attest, when Hayward plays like the way he has been the C’s look as good as any other team in the league. In order for them to reach their full potential in 2020, Hayward needs to bring his A-game.

Home/Celtics News