Boston Celtics: 3 players who will be key if C’s season returns

Gordon Hayward

Next up, we have a player in which I have been viewing as the x-factor for the Boston Celtics for when they reach the postseason. Since coming to the team, Gordon Hayward has dealt with a myriad of health issues, both physical and mental.

From his gruesome opening night ankle injury to the grueling recovery period that clearly lingered throughout the 2018-19 campaign where, though he was physically ready to play, mentally he was still a bit damaged.

Finally fully healthy — aside from his month long absence due to a fractured hand –, Hayward has produced admirably during the 2019-20 campaign, producing to the tune of 17.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.1 assists on 50 percent shooting from the floor and 39 percent shooting from 3.

Obviously this Boston Celtics squad is stacked with fire power. From Kemba Walker to Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown to Marcus Smart the team has many options to lean on at any given time. But it is Hayward who should be seen as the wildcard talent for this unit.

He is a former All-Star who, when signed during the summer of 2017, was viewed as the missing piece to form the franchise’s newest iteration of a big-3. Though things may not have worked out as originally planned, as the year’s have progressed the veteran forward has shown glimpses of just how good he, as well as the Celtics, can be when they are firing on all cylinders.

We all know opposing defenses are going to have to focus in on the team’s two best players of Tatum and Walker, but how can they stop this team if Hayward taps into his All-Star level potential, something we have seen him do on many occasions throughout the 2019-20 season.

Stopping a lineup consisting of Walker and Tatum is troubling enough for an opposing team. Add in a highly functioning Hayward, and you easily have the makings of an Eastern Conference contender.