Flashing back to Hayward’s injury
CELTICS NOTEBOOK
CLEVELAND — The Celtics stepped onto the Quicken Loans Arena floor for the first time yesterday since that morose night, on Oct. 17, when Gordon Hayward’s season ended before it had a chance to begin.
“I think about Gordon. That plays on my mind,” said Al Horford. “And then that being the beginning of this journey for our group, the ups and downs and everything we’ve been through. Yeah, it’s a lot of positive things in regards to the group. Once that happened we were able to regroup, and get playing the right way.”
Few across the league envisioned that team playing in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals last night against Cleveland.
“Seems like a long time ago, but that definitely brings that memory back into my mind,” said Jayson Tatum. “Definitely seems longer than October.”
For Tatum, the loss of Hayward led to opportunity, and a chance to emerge as the young star he is now.
“Man, I’ve grown in every aspect of the game. Just the feel of the game,” he said.
But the Celtics have advanced so far beyond that night, there’s a lot of distance between now and last October.
“It seems like a long time ago. The way the NBA schedule worked this year was crazy when you think about we go to Cleveland on (Oct. 17),” said Brad Stevens. “And then we got to Philly on Oct. 20 and we don’t go back the rest of the year now until May. But it’s been a long year. A lot’s happened.
“Obviously that was an emotional night. And I don’t — other than now, watching and re-watching the game and breaking it down just from a getting ready for this series standpoint — if you had asked me in February, I wouldn’t remember much of the game obviously other than what happened to Gordon.”
Detailed breakdown
Kobe Bryant’s “Detail” video series for ESPN has been insightful and, in the case of his latest subject, fascinating.
Bryant said he sees room for growth in Tatum, particularly in the rookie’s spot up shooting and his use of picks (he doesn’t stay tight enough to the pick-setter). Bryant suggested that Tatum study the machinations of former Detroit Piston Richard Hamilton.
Tatum was admittedly thrilled by the video, and the narrator.
“I’ve probably watched it like 25 times already. So yeah it’s very helpful information that I can take with me,” said Tatum. “That was really cool for me. Growing up, that was my favorite player. That was really a special moment for me.
“He was talking about one of my drives that my foot was pointing toward half-court instead of pointing at the basket. It was just something he noticed and, I mean, it made a lot of sense when he pointed it out.”
Clean Bill of health
Bill Russell tweeted yesterday that he’s fine, after the Celtics legend briefly checked into a hospital suffering from what was described as dehydration.
‘Thank you everyone for the kind thoughts, yes I was taken to the hospital last night & as my wife likes to remind me I don’t drink enough. On my way home & as most my friends know I don’t have a heart to give me trouble.”
No rush for Shane
Shane Larkin continues to increase his activity, but still has no timetable for a return from his left shoulder strain.
“Just progressing every single day, getting treatment and trying to take a step every single day so I can get out there and help my team,” he said. “I can get my arm above my ear, so that’s finally there. I’m getting my full range of motion back. Just working on my strength and trying to get back out there.
“I mean as soon as possible,” Larkin said of his goal. “Obviously I don’t want to do anything that would prolong the time I have to sit out. But at some certain point you just want to get out there and help your teammates.”
The hard part is watching this team surge into the conference finals while stuck in the trainers room and on the bench.
“You make it this far, it’s been a wild ride based on injuries and all the things that have happened,” said Larkin. “So it’s not the greatest situation not to be able to go out there and help your team but it’s just another obstacle I’ve got to overcome.”