Boston Celtics: 5 goals for Gordon Hayward in 2017-18

By Randy Porga | Sep 28, 2017

BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 1: Gordon Hayward talks with the media as he gets introduced as Boston Celtics on September 1, 2017 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images /

2. Get big on the boards

The Boston Celtics largely found success due to one main reason: their offense. Statistically on defense they were one of the worst, finishing 23rd in blocks and 18th in steals per game. But most importantly, they finished 27th in total rebounds per game.

With the swapping of Crowder for Hayward they added about two inches in height at the 3. It will take much more than that for the Celtics to overcome this issue though.

While Gordon has the ability to push the pace, as does Kyrie Irving, somebody has to man the glass. Marcus Morris averaged just 4.6 boards per game last season and Al Horford had a very low, career-worst 6.8 rebounds per game. Horford is not getting any younger, and manning the glass isn’t the best thing on Morris’ resume, so Hayward will need to help out in this area.

It is a tall task indeed to call on from your man at the 3-spot to help man the boards, but on paper, there does not seem to be any great solution currently on the roster.

Of course, one answer could be to just make more buckets and answer with offense, but that strategy may not work for an 82-game season, let alone in the playoffs when closing out defensive stops matters most.

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