2019 NBA Playoffs: Boston Celtics vs. Indiana Pacers preview

Key Question No. 1: What will Gordon Hayward bring to the table?

Gordon Hayward’s play has been one of the biggest question marks for the Celtics all season. A former All-Star, he’s clearly struggled to make it all the way back from a horrific ankle injury suffered last year, averaging the lowest points and minutes per game of his career since his rookie year.

Brad Stevens has been adamant about letting his former college pupil play through the struggles in the hope that it will pay dividends in the playoffs. It’s looked good in the month of April, as Hayward has averaged 18.3 points per game on 40 percent shooting from the 3-point line in four games so far, but there’s no telling what an increase in the opposition’s defensive intensity will do to his game.

When healthy, Hayward can bring a little bit of everything to the offensive end without sacrificing much defensively, capable of scoring 20 while functioning as a team’s primary ball-handler. But if he’s compromised physically, Steven’s would be hard-pressed in justifying big minutes in a postseason game.

Expecting elite playoff production from Hayward at this point may be wishful thinking given the small sample size of success in recent days, but if he can replicate some of the progress shown in April, it will go a long way towards Boston’s quest for championship No. 18.