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Milwaukee Bucks: How Gordon Hayward’s injury changes season opener

By Matthew Hallett

MILWAUKEE, WI - NOVEMBER 29: Kyrie IrvingMILWAUKEE, WI - NOVEMBER 29: Kyrie Irving #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers is defended by Matthew Dellavedova #8 of the Milwaukee Bucks during a game at the BMO Harris Bradley Center on November 29, 2016 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI - NOVEMBER 29: Kyrie IrvingMILWAUKEE, WI - NOVEMBER 29: Kyrie Irving #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers is defended by Matthew Dellavedova #8 of the Milwaukee Bucks during a game at the BMO Harris Bradley Center on November 29, 2016 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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The injury suffered by Gordon Hayward in the season opener has changed the focus of the Milwaukee Bucks for their 2017-18 season opener.

Unfortunately for the entire NBA, the first quarter of the first game of the 2017-18 season saw the first major injury of the season.

The Cleveland Cavaliers hosted the Boston Celtics and Gordon Hayward went down with a dislocated ankle and a fractured tibia The whole league poured out prayers and well wishes for the 2017 NBA All-Star, hoping for a full recovery, however long that might take.

As the Milwaukee Bucks‘ season opener Wednesday is against the Celtics, his absence will affect how they prepare for the game.

Hayward was one of the marquee free agent signatures of the summer. He joined the Celtics on a max contract of four years worth $128 million. He also was reunited with Brad Stevens, his former head coach at Butler.

Any team preparing for the Celtics this year would have long meetings and practices dedicated to stopping the small forward. With his averages of 21.9 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game last season, it is easy to see why.

Thanks to his horrific leg injury that may see him miss the season, teams are going to prepare for the Celtics in a totally different manner. With Hayward out, Boston’s main experienced weapon is now Kyrie Irving.

Slowing Irving

The slowing of Irving is not an easy task. His incredible quickness and ball handling allows him get shot opportunities other players cannot get.

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Fortunately for the Milwaukee Bucks, they have two players who have the ability to defend Irving. Malcolm Brogdon, last year’s Rookie of the Year, was also the ACC Defensive Player of the Year in 2015-16. His defensive ability can be overlooked because he is a very talented offensive player.

He will also not give Irving a rest on the defensive end. Irving is not a noted defender, but he is going to have to be a leader. He is playing on a young team and needs to show his teammates what it takes to win.

The other player is Irving’s former teammate, Matthew Dellavedova, who is a noted defender. It’s impossible to forget the series he played against Stephen Curry when Irving went down with injury in the 2015 NBA Finals.

Dellavedova may not keep Irving as honest on the defensive end. What he will do is set up for others, which Irving will still need to stop.

Freeing the wings

The Celtics looked to Hayward to provide some of that stifling Utah Jazz defense from last season. He was a good wing defender, pressuring opponents with 1.0 steals per game.

With Hayward out, it is going to be difficult to stop both Tony Snell and Khris Middleton. Snell is turning into a fantastic 3-and-D player. He shot just under 41 percent from deep last season.

Middleton was able to shoot over 43 percent from deep in the 29 games that he played. Since his rookie season, he has shot under 40 percent from deep once, shooting 39.6 percent in 2015-16.

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This shooting is crucial to the success of the Milwaukee Bucks’ offense. Giannis Antetokounmpo can make use of any space he is given. With one of these two players being freed from the solid defense of a wing like Hayward, Antetokounmpo will have wide lanes open to him. We all know how dangerous this will be for opposing teams.

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