Boston Celtics injury update: Could Gordon Hayward return for Game 3 vs. Miami Heat?

After dropping the first two games of the series, could the Boston Celtics see the return of one of their top contributors for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Miami Heat?

The Boston Celtics have lacked a certain something throughout the first two games–both losses–of their Eastern Conference finals matchup with the Miami Heat. While rebounding, ball-control and 3-point shooting have all been sorely lacking, the Cs have also been without their highest paid player and starting small forward in Gordon Hayward.

Brad Stevens could only hope that is exactly what has been missing from the equation for Boston, given the optimism the team has surrounding his impending return:

Now, before we get too excited anointing Hayward as the much-needed messiah that will come and erase all of the Cs’ problems in one fell swoop, we need to remember a few things:

1. These will be Hayward’s first minutes logged in a conference finals matchup.
2. Hayward is–at best–a third option for this Boston Celtics team and will likely be playing on a minutes restriction

Yes, it will help having an additional difference-maker in the rotation to–at the very least–offer additional rest to Boston’s overworked starting five. Hayward provides spacing, play-making and zone-busting driving abilities. His presence will help diversify Boston’s attack, which has often devolved into a Tatum/Brown/Walker isolation that results in them passing out of a drive for a contested 3-pointer.

But to think that a flip will be switched in this series because #20 is taking the floor is foolish. This team needs to remain disciplined, avoiding reaching that dreaded 20 turnover benchmark they achieved in Game 2.

More importantly, they need to find a balance between hero-ball and set plays leading to an open look. Hayward will help with the latter, with his creativity and versatility on the offensive end. He is no longer able to provide the former at the level he did in Utah, but he is another high-percentage shooter the team can employ against a Heat team that defends the paint better than it does the perimeter.

Hayward seems intent on suiting up in Game 3, and it couldn’t come any sooner. The team could use an emotional boost after a second straight blown lead, but to expect anything more than another working cog in what should be a well-oiled Celtics machine would be giving you false hope in a time where realistic expectations of what is next is much more appreciated.