What Gordon Hayward’s Possible Return Means For The Boston Celtics In Eastern Conference Finals

The Boston Celtics are heading to the Eastern Conference Finals following Friday’s Game 7 victory over the Toronto Raptors. After a back-and-forth second-round series, Brad Stevens and Co. now stare down a matchup with the Miami Heat, and reinforcements could be on their way.

Gordon Hayward returned to the bubble earlier this week after suffering a Grade 3 ankle sprain in round one against the Philadelphia 76ers. The forward cleared quarantine Friday afternoon, which allowed him to get shots up with the Celtics staff prior to the tip-off of Game 7. Stevens was asked about Hayward’s status following the team’s series-clinching win.

“I think he’ll be back at some point in that series (vs. Miami),” Stevens said. “But I don’t know when.”

TNT’s Rebecca Harlow reported during Friday’s broadcast that she spoke to a member of the Celtics organization who said they were happy with Hayward’s progress. That source told her they expect Hayward back “sooner rather than later.”

Yes, Boston’s bench came up big on countless occasions throughout the Eastern Conference semifinal matchup with Toronto, but Hayward’s presence would have been a huge addition thanks to his playmaking, shooting and versatility on both ends. His shot-making alone would have been a huge issue for Toronto’s zone defense, something the Heat likely will throw at Boston on occasion next round.

Hayward has faced the Heat just twice this season, with the first matchup coming on Jan. 28. On that night in Miami, he went for a game-high 29 points and nine rebounds on 10-of-14 shooting with a game-high net rating of 15.8. On Aug. 4, Hayward scored 15 points in a Miami win, Boston’s second loss of the bubble’s seeding-game schedule.

It’s not breaking news that Hayward’s talent brings the Celtics’ depth to another level, and they’ll need all the help they can get against a confident Miami team that’s firing on all cylinders coming off a commanding 4-1 series win over the No. 1 seed Milwaukee Bucks. Hayward is another offensive weapon for opponents to worry about while helping Boston minimize the minutes of non-shooters off the bench, who Miami would potentially sag off of on defense.

The Heat are a tough matchup, but their defense isn’t to the level of Toronto’s. If Boston can re-acquire Hayward’s shooting and prowess in the midrange, it could stifle some of Miami’s defensive efforts, particularly those zone sets.

Defensively, Hayward’s size would be a massive addition to help contain the Heat along the perimeter. His length and versatility causes headaches for opponents trying to determine the best point of attack, and attempting to contain Jimmy Butler becomes a bit easier if you have Hayward to rely on behind you. Stevens’ defensive system generally relies heavily on switches, and having Hayward in the fold makes that a whole lot easier against a team like the Heat.

In Boston’s seeding-game loss to Miami, Hayward guarded four separate Heat players for two or more minutes (Andre Iguodala, Duncan Robinson, Kendrick Nunn and Jae Crowder). In 35.9 possessions against that group, he allowed just eight points, per the NBA’s tracking data. That is a prime example of the versatility Hayward brings against an opponent like Miami. Iguodala and Crowder are two big, strong wings. Robinson, on the other hand, is a sharpshooter, while Nunn is a quick, shifty point guard. There aren’t many players Hayward’s size that can defend up and down a lineup like that without skipping a beat.

In Boston’s win over Miami on Jan. 28, Hayward logged 12.1 partial possessions against Butler, per NBA stats, allowing only two points in roughly three minutes of matchup time. All of the aforementioned versatility he showed against Miami in the regular season would be a huge boost for the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals. Mixing and matching lineups will make it tougher for Boston to find a rhythm, but the addition of Hayward would assist in curbing that struggle.

On a very straightforward note, the Celtics are coming off a long, grueling seven-game series, while Miami has been awaiting its opponent for three days. When it comes to the bubble’s postseason schedule, an extra three days of rest is a lifetime. If Hayward can help give Boston some fresh legs and take just a bit of weight off his teammates, it’ll go a long way.

Hayward’s initial injury timeline was 4-6 weeks, and Sunday will be four weeks to the day. Time will tell if Hayward’s official return to the court falls within that fourth week, but optimism seems to be increasing around the organization. Keep in mind Hayward’s wife, Robyn, is pregnant with the couple’s fourth child. She is due later in September and Hayward will be leaving the bubble whenever she ultimately goes into labor.

Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals is set for Tuesday night on ESPN. Tip-off will either be at 6:30 p.m. or 8:30 p.m. ET, depending on the remainder of the Western Conference semifinals.