Hayward takes rest day
Out because of ‘soreness’
CELTICS NOTEBOOK
NEW YORK — Though Gordon Hayward is under a minutes restriction at least for the short term, missing the second half of back-to-back games is not part of the Celtics forward’s rehabilitation program.
That’s why the decision to sit Hayward last night against the Knicks — the result of “general soreness” in his surgically repaired left ankle area — was a surprise.
According to Brad Stevens, Hayward experienced some soreness following his 14-point performance Friday night in Toronto.
But the Celtics coach also stressed that there’s not a great deal of concern about the development.
“We didn’t plan on that,” he said before the C’s 103-101 victory. “This is something we’ll take game by game, night by night. Obviously with the minutes restriction we’re monitoring it very closely. It’s general soreness, so not overly concerned about it.”
Kyrie won’t fool Fiz
This is considered another comeback year for Kyrie Irving after last season’s knee surgery, though for most NBA coaches, like the Knicks’ David Fizdale, that’s a purely relative term.
“Every time I see him, he’s back. He’s the one guy I would pay to see,” Fizdale said. “He’s a difficult cover, man, that’s all I can say. His skill set — I don’t know if you can practice that stuff, or get good at it. He’s a natural performer. He looks the same, if not better.”
Considering that Fizdale is developing young players in all facets of the league, Irving actually served a rare purpose in last night’s game. He was bound to be a teacher. “You have to compete,” Fizdale said of his message to anyone drawing the Kyrie straw last night. “You have to work hard. You can’t be cool against him. What happens against a guy like that, you don’t want to get embarrassed so you try to play cool like you’re not trying hard. And that’s when you get embarrassed.
“So my message to my team is we have to show him respect by competition,” he said. “Do you stop him? I don’t know if you stop him. Can you wear on him, make it tough on him? Make him have a low field goal shooting percentage night? Maybe.”
Fizdale’s praise aside, Irving is still trying to find his form in the only way he knows, by attacking.
“That’s who I am. That’s gonna be who I am,” he said. “As well as looking for others. I felt like I needed to put it in print, coming from last game, just making a few shots, settling in and being who I am.”
Official return
Prior to last night’s deactivation, Hayward had been showing a particularly solid feel for his mid-range game, especially during Friday’s second half.
“He got a chance to really let loose a little bit, kind of get in the mid-range, be aggressive in transition as well as off those pick-and-rolls,” said Irving. “He just kind of threw himself into the game (Friday), obviously, just playing hard and playing himself into game shape. It’s going to take him a little bit, obviously, he has a minutes restriction now, but going forward … he looked great, he looked great. So I look forward to him progressing more.”