Getting thrown into a NBA playoff game after five weeks off due to an ankle injury is a tough ask for any player. For Gordon Hayward on Saturday night, the assignment went beyond that. The Celtics were playing for their season and coming off a pair of dismal losses that featured blown double-digit leads.
In such a high-pressure scenario, any miscues would be magnified as the Heat were searching for the kill in the series with a 2-0 commanding lead in hand. There was no time for Hayward to get comfortable before being thrown into the fire though and that included a rehab plan that lacked even a full-court game over the past week. Hayward wasn’t at 100 percent just five weeks out from the Grade 3 ankle sprain but the Celtics needed whatever they could give him after dropping five of their last seven games leading into Game 3.
“[Saturday’s game was] the first time I’ve played 5-on-5 basketball, just with the way rehab had to be done here, it’s just been so different, so I haven’t had really an opportunity to get going, and I think definitely not 100 percent, but it’s kind of just what it is,” said Hayward of his return from a Grade 3 ankle sprain. “We’re in the Eastern Conference finals. So I’m going to give us whatever I can. I think as we keep going, I’ll find my rhythm and get better and better. That’s the plan at least.”
For night one, the plan worked. Four different Celtics scored 20+ points against the Heat, the first time that happened in a postseason game since the 2018 playoffs for the Celtics. Jaylen Brown was the star of the night with 26 points that was fueled by aggressive finishes and tenacious defense that led to fast break points. Jayson Tatum (25 points, 14 rebounds) posted his sixth double-double in his last seven games. Marcus Smart (20 points) set a new career-high with 10 free throw attempts and Kemba Walker continued to snap out of his 3-point shooting funk with four 3s in a 21-point effort.
Hayward played 31 minutes but did not come close to that 20-point threshold. His six points on 2-of-7 shooting was an underwhelming line from afar in a 117-106 Game 3 win over the Heat.
As has been the case with Hayward all year though, the sacrifices and savvy of the 30-year-old veteran helped to make his teammates better. Some of his contributions showed up in the box score (5 rebounds, 4 assists, team-high 3 steals and a block) while others went beyond the stat sheet. However, it came as no coincidence though that the Celtics played their best offensive game in weeks with Hayward’s presence allowing everyone to play more comfortable roles while stretching the Heat defense thin.
“I thought he did what he's done all year,” Brad Stevens said. “He didn't shoot it quite as much. But he is a stabilizing force for our team. He just can make the right play and make a play for somebody else at the right time. And he hit the big three as they were making a run, so I think he makes us better, that's for sure.”
Finding where Hayward brought his impact can be shown in a few clear examples in the win, some of which came at critical junctures.
Zone offense was a thorn in the side of the Celtics throughout Game 2, but that changed on Saturday night. According to ESPN Stats and Info, the Celtics shot 59 percent against the Heat’s zone defense in Game 3 after shooting 30 percent in Games 1 and 2.An aggressive team mentality that led to quick passes and strong attacks in the seams helped unlock Boston’s scoring against the 2-3 zone.
However, Hayward’s offensive IQ and willingness to sacrifice for his teammates came in handy here as well when Miami was in man-to-man defense as well. Watch his improvisation on a Walker 3-point at the end of the second quarter. Hayward is spacing the floor from the corner as Tatum gets a mismatch against Tyler Herro after Walker sets a screen. The Heat are going to collapse on a Tatum drive in order to help Herro and that includes Walker’s man (Jimmy Butler) at the free throw line. Hayward recognizes this and sets the back screen on Butler to free Walker for a kick-out pass. Instead of waiting for a kick out himself in the corner, Hayward’s unselfishness got Walker free ahead of a late closeout from Herro who must scramble all the way from guarding Tatum to cover for Butler. A jab step from Walker opens up the space for him to hit a corner 3.
Nice play by Gordon Hayward here. Boston is small, look at the spacing. Kemba screens for Tatum, Herro switches on to Tatum. Miami sticking with their principles of help you see Butler and Dragic at the elbows. As Tatum drives watch Hayward come set a screen for Kemba. pic.twitter.com/bJdljRyrxk
— Steve Jones Jr. (@stevejones20) September 20, 2020
Beauty of a Hayward pass. Beauty of a Tatum finish. #Celtics pic.twitter.com/oGLyeH28k3
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) September 20, 2020
Kemba is the king of stopping Heat runs#Celtics pic.twitter.com/vIyE1adGp5
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) September 20, 2020