Looking ahead
The Celtics need to move past scary injury to Hayward and not dwell on what ifs
CLEVELAND As dejected as the Boston Celtics’ Brad Stevens, Kyrie Irving and Al Horford were after Gordon Hayward’s rotten injury, they understand they must move forward.
In the wake of a devastating injury, the Celtics still have a ton of basketball to play. They still have goals and players to develop and chemistry to build.
Hayward was a big part of that, but now that those plans are altered without him, Boston can’t dwell on what ifs.
“It’s not a great sight to see, but you’ve got to pick yourself up and keep fighting,” Irving said.
“It hits hard, but then you look at the other guys on the team and you still have a game to play,” Horford said.
In fact, 80 more games after Boston’s home-opening loss Wednesday night to the Milwaukee Bucks. Boston can still be a good team without Hayward — did you see the comeback against the Cleveland Cavaliers? — just not as good. It would seem Boston’s Eastern Conference championship aspirations were derailed.
They acquired Hayward and Irving to beat Cleveland and win the East. Just barely five minutes into the season opener, Boston’s season was altered.
To address Hayward’s roster spot, Boston can apply for a disabled player exception, which would give the Celtics $8.4 million to acquire another player via signing, claiming off waivers or trading for a player who has one year remaining on his contract. The deadline to use a disabled player exception is March 10.
Silver linings, as dull as they might seem now, are what the Celtics have, and they must take a look at the bigger picture beyond this season.
Second-year wing Jaylen Brown, who turns 21 next week, and rookie Jayson Tatum, 19, already have significant roles. Brown is growing into a talented two-way player (43 points in two games), and Tatum has an opportunity to use and improve his offensive skills while learning how to play NBA defense. Guard Terry Rozier, 23, is another young player who can help.
Stevens will also work other rookies into the rotation with more minutes: Semi Ojeleye, Abdel Nader, Guerschon Yabusele and Daniel Theis.
Marcus Smart moved into the starting lineup Wednesday in Hayward’s absence and is a strong defender who needs to expand his offense. Marcus Morris will help as well when he returns from a sore knee.
The injury also means more responsibility and minutes for Irving and Horford.
The Celtics will experience more growing pains earlier than expected, but those pains can pay off when Hayward is healthy and those players have more experience than they would’ve received had Hayward not been injured. It can make Boston a deeper team in the long run.
Finding positives in a devastating injury is the best — and the only — way for Boston to move forward.
“It hits hard, but then you look at the other guys on the team and you still have a game to play.” Celtics center Al Horford