Hayward out four weeks
While the National Basketball Association playoffs just started on Monday, the Boston Celtics have already been dealt a serious blow in their quest to win a championship. It was announced on Tuesday that Gordon Hayward suffered a Grade 3 right ankle sprain and will be out of action for at least four weeks. The injury not only rules him out for the remainder of the Celtics’ opening round playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers but also the second round as well – if they get there.
Boston head coach Brad Stevens isn’t giving up hope though and still believes that his team can accomplish what they set out to do, even without Hayward in the lineup for the foreseeable future.
“I think we can certainly do a lot here but all that is stuff is to be determined,” said Stevens said after the Celtics practice on Tuesday, via ESPN.
“He’s bummed, as you can imagine,” Stevens continued. ” [He’s] put in a lot of time and effort, and you do so for this time, for the playoffs. That’s what we all look forward to, and we’ve been really lucky thus far in the bubble to have good health and, of course, [after] Game 1 we don’t.
“But that’s part of it. We’ve lived this before and we’re going to have to have other people step up. That’s why you have a team.”
Hayward has played a crucial role in Boston’s success this season, averaging 33.5 minutes played a game. He played 34 minutes in game 1 against the 76ers, putting up 12 points, four rebounds and three assists. He averaged 17.5 points a game, 4.1 assists and 6.7 rebounds during the regular season.
Boston is trying to remain positive though as they search for their first NBA championship since 2008 and their 18th overall.
“We’re doing everything we can as the older guys, the guys that’s been here, to really get those guys ready on what to look for and what to expect when they get in the game,” said Boston veteran Marcus Smart of the team utilizing their entire roster. “Just be ready and not get caught by surprise.”
Smart will more than likely fill the void left by Hayward going forward, having come off the bench for most of the campaign.
“The way they’ve been handling it, the way that they’ve been preparing has been very professional and we applaud them for it. We know they’re not going to be perfect, just like we’re not going to be perfect, but as long as we are on the same page and playing hard and communicating out there, we think we’ll be all right.”
Boston finished third in the Eastern Conference during the regular season, with an impressive 48-24 record. A win over the 76ers in the opening round would likely set up a second-round playoff series against the defending champions Toronto Raptors who are up in their series against the Brooklyn Nets.
Boston plays Philadelphia in the second game of their series on Wednesday evening, before playing game three on Friday.
