Especially since Ojeleye just played 71 minutes in this last series. Even if you just give Hayward those minutes, and then you get tatum or brown a few extra minutes of rest and get him to 15-20, that's a massive upgrade. It also gives the option to play smart or hayward at the pseudo point guard for stretches if kemba can't get it going.This is a big deal--Hayward is a guy you really want to have against the Heat's less-athletic zone; there are a lot of soft spots for his game there.
Yeah, no team left outside of Denver has a post-threat center, which means the Celtics biggest depth weakness is gone. If Hayward is back, they're the deepest 1-6 team left; they can keep a crazy amount of quality playmaking/shooting on the floor at all times, without having real defensive weakness outside of Kemba.Especially since Ojeleye just played 71 minutes in this last series. Even if you just give Hayward those minutes, and then you get tatum or brown a few extra minutes of rest and get him to 15-20, that's a massive upgrade. It also gives the option to play smart or hayward at the pseudo point guard for stretches if kemba can't get it going.
Lakers kind of do if we get to that point, not that they're big threats offensively, but they have 2 big centers that might be too much for theis to handle.Yeah, no team left outside of Denver has a post-threat center, which means the Celtics biggest depth weakness is gone. If Hayward is back, they're the deepest 1-6 team left; they can keep a crazy amount of quality playmaking/shooting on the floor at all times, without having real defensive weakness outside of Kemba.
The key is that their centers aren’t post threats in the way Embiid and Jokic are. AD is an amazing player, but that’s not his game. The Celtics didn’t have emergencies in that area during the regular season against LAL.Lakers kind of do if we get to that point, not that they're big threats offensively, but they have 2 big centers that might be too much for theis to handle.
I’ll just say it out loud. The Celtics are going to beat the Heat and I can’t wait for the Celtics vs Lakers Finals. Getting Hayward back makes the Celtics favorites to win it all.The key is that their centers aren’t post threats in the way Embiid and Jokic are. AD is an amazing player, but that’s not his game. The Celtics didn’t have emergencies in that area during the regular season against LAL.
No chance they are favored against either LA teamGetting Hayward back makes the Celtics favorites to win it all.
I'd be surprised if they were the betting favorite as well, though metrics really like this Celtics team.No chance they are favored against either LA team
Without a doubt my comment was colored by my green tinted glasses and also exuberance coming out of last night’s win. You may be right that in a head to head series the Celtics would not be favored over either of the LA teams however I like their chances given the skill level of their top six players (assuming Hayward is reasonably close to 100%) are ahead of the top six for any of the remaining teams. Kawhi and LeBron are otherworldly and may counter that argument but there are other’s who like the Celtics chances as well.No chance they are favored against either LA team
He did not look like he was moving great last night either. Almost like getting shots up is another progression in his rehab.Almost like relying on one tweet with zero context around it instead of logic is flawed. Weird!
Meh.... the LA Lakers only have 11. We can't seriously be counting Minneapolis.I would love nothing more than to watch Tatum, Brown, and Smart put another dent in Lebron's precious Jordan comparison AND put the Lakers back two titles behind the Celtics. That would be NBA legacy porn for me.
The Heat are standing in the way of that currently. Therefore they must be destroyed with extreme prejudice.
Certainly that would be great, although I feel it's worth pointing out that LeBron has beaten the Celtics the last 5 times they've met in the playoffs. He's been the one to knock Boston out in 5 of their last 8 appearances. It's been a long, long time since the Celtics were damaging LeBron's legacy.I would love nothing more than to watch Tatum, Brown, and Smart put another dent in Lebron's precious Jordan comparison AND put the Lakers back two titles behind the Celtics. That would be NBA legacy porn for me.
The Heat are standing in the way of that currently. Therefore they must be destroyed with extreme prejudice.
True, but for some ungodly reason, this is never mentioned.Meh.... the LA Lakers only have 11. We can't seriously be counting Minneapolis.
And the five rings in Minnie were all before the Cs won their first. The like-like comparison is the Cs vs. the LA Lakers.Certainly that would be great, although I feel it's worth pointing out that LeBron has beaten the Celtics the last 5 times they've met in the playoffs. He's been the one to knock Boston out in 5 of their last 8 appearances. It's been a long, long time since the Celtics were damaging LeBron's legacy.
True, but for some ungodly reason, this is never mentioned.
Part of that is their algorithm has it much likelier that the Celtics make the Finals. The LAL/LAC winner is in far more doubt.I'd be surprised if they were the betting favorite as well, though metrics really like this Celtics team.
https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2020-nba-predictions/?ex_cid=rrpromo
For whatever its worth (maybe not much), at this moment they would clearly be favorites against either LA team based on 538 projections.
That makes sense. And if it happens to go extremely well, maybe he gets 10 minutes Thursday. Otherwise, Saturday seems like a reasonable target return.I'm guessing that Hayward comes back for game 3. That gives him another week to strengthen the ankle and for conditioning. He looked good in the shooting drills but that doesn't mean he's ready to play. It does mean he's ready to go pretty hard in his rehab and workouts though.
Sure, but if you add up all of the WC teams, they have a combined probability of 33%. That's an interesting point of view.Part of that is their algorithm has it much likelier that the Celtics make the Finals. The LAL/LAC winner is in far more doubt.
Yes, but a lot of it is that their ratings have the Celtics on helium. Comparing current ratings to full season ratings (note, this is not a perfect comparison because other teams have player’s whose ratings have improved in the playoffs), we currently have a borderline top 5 player (Kemba), two top 15 players (Tatum and Smart), and a top 40 player (Brown). The Heat, as a point of contrast have a top 10 player (Butler) and two top 30 players (Dragic and Bam). The Clippers have two top 10 players (Kawhi and George) and a top 30 player (Beverley). The Lakers have a top 5 player (Davis) and a top 10 player (Lebron).Part of that is their algorithm has it much likelier that the Celtics make the Finals. The LAL/LAC winner is in far more doubt.
I’d start Smart still. He’s playing really well. Hayward can come in when ready and play in spurts as he works his way back.Does he slot right into the starting unit? That's been Brad's MO so far and I'd be surprised to see that change.
That's not it. They think the Celtics are a big favorite to win the Finals when they get there. 75% chance to make the Finals and 55% chance to win it all means they will be strong favorites in the finals by their algorithm.Part of that is their algorithm has it much likelier that the Celtics make the Finals. The LAL/LAC winner is in far more doubt.
You must be new here....Damn, I keep hoping for updates on Hayward
Hope springs eternalYou must be new here....
He's coming off a serious ankle sprain, Hayward's going to be the sixth man going forward. We should celebrate less Semi.Does he slot right into the starting unit? That's been Brad's MO so far and I'd be surprised to see that change.
Agreed. The current starting five is firing on all cylinders while Hayward hasn't played in a month and he isn't 100%. Hayward's role should be clear, it's to supplement what the team has been doing through the first two rounds and make them deeper. This is an easy decision and Hayward should have no problem understanding that.I’d start Smart still. He’s playing really well. Hayward can come in when ready and play in spurts as he works his way back.
I agree, I don't care if Hayward starts or not, but his main role at this point is as a gigantic bench upgrade.He's coming off a serious ankle sprain, Hayward's going to be the sixth man going forward. We should celebrate less Semi.
Yup. The harder decisions come in crunch time, when only 3 of Hayward/Brown/Smart/Kemba can play (I assume that Tatum/Theis will be on the court no matter what).I’d start Smart still. He’s playing really well. Hayward can come in when ready and play in spurts as he works his way back.
Yes, though honestly I think it's less about Smart and more about Tatum. Hayward's advantage over Smart on offense is less important with Tatum becoming a guy who can consistently score 25+.I think we’ve hit the point in Smart’s career where he has seized a starting role for good. He’s too valuable to be losing minutes by coming off the bench. Hayward’s natural role on this team at this point, particularly coming off an injury, is as 6th man. Toronto’s comments after the game last night reinforce that players around the league understand this to be the case too.
I don't know if Theis is an automatic, depending on the matchups.Yup. The harder decisions come in crunch time, when only 3 of Hayward/Brown/Smart/Kemba can play (I assume that Tatum/Theis will be on the court no matter what).
Tatum, Brown, and Smart are going to be on the court in crunch time. If it’s possession by possession, it will be Kemba and GH in for offense, and GH and Theis on defense. Smart needs to be on the court to do Smart things, of course on defense, but also on offense, like tip aN offensive rebound to a teammate for a game tying three.Yup. The harder decisions come in crunch time, when only 3 of Hayward/Brown/Smart/Kemba can play (I assume that Tatum/Theis will be on the court no matter what).
Yeah this is pretty obvious. GH backfills Smart's "guy who can pass and shoot off the bench" role. Less Semi, maybe less BW too (maybe).He's coming off a serious ankle sprain, Hayward's going to be the sixth man going forward. We should celebrate less Semi.
I think this is probably it. The closing 5 since Hayward went down has basically been the starting 5 (absent foul trouble), but Hayward playing well complicates it, for better and worse. Even if we get 2018-2019 Hayward it's a big positive, as that guy will get some minutes currently going to Semi and Wanamaker.If we had peak Hayward it would be a hard decision, but we don't.
What about the Boston Americans' 1903 WS title?Meh.... the LA Lakers only have 11. We can't seriously be counting Minneapolis.
The team didn’t move from Boston. Just changed names.What about the Boston Americans' 1903 WS title?
It does bring into question why he returned. If he likely a week+ away, he'll miss games 1-3, and potentially be available for games 4-7 if they occurred in limited minutes. He'd then presumably leave the bubble and miss another 3-4 games. Meaning the most probably outcome is that he came back to play 1-2 games and misses 3-4 weeks at home. There is no judgement in this post, I'm just a little confused unless he thinks he'll be back sooner - or leaving later.Latest from The Athletic:
Also conflicting with that timeline is the impending birth of Hayward’s son. Hayward is expected to depart the bubble when his wife, Robyn, delivers. Hayward would be unavailable for about a week between departing the bubble and a four-day quarantine upon his return.
https://theathletic.com/2063786/2020/09/13/celtics-gordon-hayward-availability/
Maybe we all mis-read that social media post by his wife, or perhaps the family has had a change of heart. But that post seemed to indicate he wouldn't be coming home until after the baby was born.It does bring into question why he returned. If he likely a week+ away, he'll miss games 1-3, and potentially be available for games 4-7 if they occurred in limited minutes. He'd then presumably leave the bubble and miss another 3-4 games. Meaning the most probably outcome is that he came back to play 1-2 games and misses 3-4 weeks at home. There is no judgement in this post, I'm just a little confused unless he thinks he'll be back sooner - or leaving later.
I still retain a view that he'll be back for the birth, given that is what the family and media has consistently said and a view that "we won't see Dad until there's a baby boy" could easily mean he goes to the hospital when she goes into birth.Maybe we all mis-read that social media post by his wife, or perhaps the family has had a change of heart. But that post seemed to indicate he wouldn't be coming home until after the baby was born.