‘Setback’ or not, Hayward unlikely
NEW ORLEANS — Reports of Gordon Hayward’s setback may have been greatly exaggerated. This according to the self-confessed exaggerator, who says now he was mistaken in his choice of words.
Though some, including Hayward, are still holding out some measure of hope that he could return this season from the horrific ankle fracture he suffered in the season’s first game, Danny Ainge appeared to douse that flickering candle in his weekly radio appearance on The Sports Hub.
The outlook for Hayward seemed to change dramatically when the Celtics’ president of basketball operations revealed the prized free agent signee had hit a pothole on his road to recovery.
“He had like one setback for a couple of weeks, maybe a month and a half ago,” said Ainge. “We were progressing a little bit too fast, we thought.”
The comment was big news, but Ainge told the Herald it was a little specious, if not fake.
“You know what? Sometimes I talk too much,” said Ainge. “’Setback’ wasn’t the right word, so let me rephrase that because it’s not exactly true to say it — or say it that way.
“What happened is he went on the AlterG (antigravity treadmill) the first day and he felt some soreness. It was the first day he tried the AlterG, a long time ago. He just wasn’t ready for it at that point. That’s all it was.
“So I think ‘setback’ is the wrong way to put it. I misphrased that. I’m not sure what the right word is, but he wasn’t ready for that. So we waited a couple of weeks before we started that again, and since we started that again it’s been great and he’s progressed along on the AlterG. That’s all. It wasn’t like he had an accident or anything like that.
“I used the word ‘setback,’ and it became a headline. Like, ‘Oh, setback.’ It got blown out of proportion. It’s my fault. I’m not blaming anybody. ‘Setback’ was probably too strong of a word.”
The Celtic position from the start has been to not expect Hayward to play again this season. The surgery revealed no greater issues, which left open the possibility, but people can heal differently, and the club didn’t want expectations hanging over his head as he tried to thread the rehabilitation needle to return.
“The bottom line is he’s not on the court other than shooting and ballhandling and some sidestepping,” Ainge told the Herald. “But he hasn’t done any running or even jogging or real jumping on the basketball court yet, and we have less than a month left in the regular season.
“It just doesn’t seem likely, so I don’t want to put any pressure on him. Gordon can say whatever he wants, but we are not planning on him playing this year. I don’t see that happening; that’s why I keep saying that.”
Irving sits again
Kyrie Irving was hoping to play on this trip, but he and the Celts decided it was best to sit him out another game to deal with the soreness in his left knee.
“I think he feels better and better,” said coach Brad Stevens before taking on the Pelicans. “He just doesn’t quite feel 100 percent, so until that point, he’ll be out. There was a chance that he would play (last night), but (Saturday) he just didn’t quite feel that. And, again, we’re going to make sure that he feels that way.”
As for the question of regret or value of having Irving make the trip to Orlando and here, Stevens said, “You know, every meeting is important, every walkthrough, every film session. I’m sure that you take something from it. You’d rather have all your guys on the road, but sometimes because of the opportunity for rehab in our facilities that we have and our equipment that we have, we leave them back. But for the for the most part he can do everything he needs to do on the road, so it certainly doesn’t hurt to have him here as far as picking things up.”
Brown on track
Jaylen Brown is still on track for making the trip west with the Celtics later this week, but for now he remains in the NBA’s concussion protocol.
“He’s doing good through his progressions so far,” Stevens said. “Still has a few days left. Don’t see how he’ll play (tomorrow in Boston against Oklahoma City) either, but from everything I’ve heard, we’re getting closer. But that’s all pending no setback.” …
Former Celtic Rajon Rondo said he hopes to get past the drama rekindled with the publication of Ray Allen’s book. The issues between those two — and among that whole group from the 200712 Celts — got another airing in the book.
“I’ll probably give him a call sooner or later,” Rondo said before tipoff. …
The C’s activated twoway contract player Jabari Bird. The 6-foot-6 guard has been out dealing with a back problem. …
Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry was fined $15,000 by the NBA for publicly criticizing the league’s officiating following New Orleans’ loss to Houston Saturday.