Gordon Hayward providing the occasional masterpiece
When fully healthy, the Boston Celtics lean most heavily on the play of their recent max contract signee Kemba Walker. Without Walker, it has of course been the brilliance of Jayson Tatum keeping the team afloat.
Remember, though, Tatum is just 21 years old. Just as we should expect his growth to continue, we must not forget that the occasional growing pain will be felt. It just hasn’t been felt in a while given Tatum’s red-hot February.
On days where Tatum isn’t performing up to the new expectations he has set, it is important that the team gets his explosive stat-sheet stuffing elsewhere.
Enter Gordon Hayward.
Like Walker, Hayward was brought in on a max deal, putting big expectations on the forward that he has yet to truly live up to in his three seasons as a member of the Celtics. That said, he has risen to the occasion this season and has provided a boost to a team that excels on the strength of their best five.
When Tatum’s shot isn’t falling, Hayward needs to shine in his role. Even when things are working, Hayward needs to give the team near-All-Star minutes to make good on his investment. We need more of the 12-17 shooting performances like he had against the Timberwolves last week and less of the 5-15 duds he had against the Lakers this past Sunday.