Chowder and Champions
Fansided

Boston Celtics: Gordon Hayward’s 3 keys to success in 2019-20 NBA season

By Jason Haskins

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - APRIL 21: Kyrie Irving #11 ,Marcus Morris #13 and Gordon Hayward #20 of the Boston Celtics celebrates in the 110-106 win over the Indiana Pacers in game four of the first round of the 2019 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on April 21, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that , by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - APRIL 21: Kyrie Irving #11 ,Marcus Morris #13 and Gordon Hayward #20 of the Boston Celtics celebrates in the 110-106 win over the Indiana Pacers in game four of the first round of the 2019 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on April 21, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that , by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 4
Next
Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics Gordon Hayward (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

Establishing a role

In bringing Gordon Hayward back from his injury, head coach Brad Stevens often switched up Hayward’s role between bench and starter. Much of this was due to minutes and health allocation while injuries to other starters dictated where Hayward played.

More from Chowder and Champions

The upcoming season should see Hayward with a cemented role, unless a massive drop-off in production occurs.

Hayward continued to improve as last season progressed. The last four games of the regular season saw Hayward average 18.3 points per game. He scored in double figures in each of the last eight games, only once shooting under 50 percent from the field.

Now entering his 10th season, Hayward’s role will also be that of grizzled veteran. Nurturing the growth of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown will be expected of Hayward. He’s been around the league for awhile now and his wealth of knowledge on-and-off the court will also be valuable to newcomers like Carsen Edwards, Romeo Langford, and Grant Williams.

Questions still remains as to if Hayward will be a starter or coming off the bench. The Celtics can choose to go small, with Kemba Walker, Brown, Tatum, and Hayward all in the starting lineup. Or he can be used as a scorer off the bench. In-season adjustments will of course be made, but if Hayward falls into an established well early — and it’s stuck to — then the chances of success for the Boston Celtics will rise tenfold.

Home/Boston Celtics