Feeling better, Hayward gets back at it
CELTICS NOTEBOOK
Perhaps the greatest challenge for Gordon Hayward is wrestling with his own expectations, including when the odd minor injury steps in the way of his return to the Celtics after a lost season.
The veteran forward returned to the practice floor this week after missing last Saturday’s exhibition game in Cleveland with back soreness. One cortisone shot later, and he’s back in the flow, with his second full day of practice yesterday.
“I feel the best I’ve felt since I’ve been here, so that was encouraging,” he said. “My body felt pretty good, my back was definitely feeling better. Besides that, I was more comfortable in the offense and it was a good day for me. So we gotta build on that and have another good one today.”
Hayward’s challenge has been predictable, as he attempts to shed rust and regain the timing and flow he had only started to develop at the time of his season-ending injury on opening night in Cleveland.
“Improving each day. I think that’s all I can say about that,” he said. “It will come with time. It’s hard to put a percentage or number on it. I just think I’ll know when I know, so it’s still coming back.
“My back is feeling better. Some days off and treatment helped it. I have found out that it’s going to be a process because, not playing for so long, the rest of my body’s got to readjust to playing again. It’s very frustrating, but it’s definitely better right now.
“My back’s been ongoing a little bit, but definitely got progressively worse and that’s what made me think I need to dial it back a little bit. I think in the past, it’s bothered me, but it’s gone down with treatment and stuff. But this time it was getting worse, especially after playing. So, like I said, I have to rebuild the strength. My leg is strong because I’ve been focusing on that. But then you forget that you don’t focus on other things that are important and the back is definitely an important part. You can’t do much when your back is hurting.”
Don’t forget Theis
Daniel Theis is also recovering from surgery in the form of a repaired meniscus in his left knee. Like Hayward, the big forward is starting to show signs of his old self.
“Same stage as Hayward. So they’re going at about the same pace,” said C’s coach Brad Stevens. “They’re doing a lot in practice. Obviously, Gordon had a setback, with regard to his back, and I don’t think that’s going to be all that unusual when you come off a major injury and you get back going full steam again. The rest of your body has to readjust to playing all the time. With all those guys, we’re trying to monitor as closely as possible.
“I thought Theis had a really good year and I think that we talked a lot about the reintegrating of Gordon and Kyrie (Irving) into the lineup and what they’ve both come off of injury-wise. But probably not enough talk about Theis,” Stevens added. “I think that he looked more comfortable yesterday than I think he has in any of the first two weeks. But he didn’t play hardly any 5-on-5, maybe just a couple minutes here or there prior to the season, so we need him if we’re going to be at our very best, we need him available and to be able anchor our defense, roll to the rim, do a lot of the things that he brought to us last year. I thought he would have played a bigger role in the playoffs, considering our lack of depth at the end of the season.”
Role play will change
The returns of Irving, Hayward and Theis means that role changes are in store for a number of Celtics.
“It’s a good problem we have, because a lot of guys have developed and taken that next step,” Al Horford said. “There’s a challenge with everyone just fitting in together. That’s something every team deals with, and for us is very true this year. It’s us just figuring out how to play best, and most importantly defensively playing at a high level on defense. Have that translate to the offensive end.”