Boston Celtics: 3 takeaways from Game 3 loss vs. Bucks

2. Gordon Hayward still isn’t Gordon Hayward

Everytime it feels like Gordon Hayward is turning a corner and fully rebounding into being the All-Star forward he used to be, a stretch of games happens that serve to remind us he’s not quite there yet.

After the horrific ankle injury he suffered to open the 2017-18 season, and the rehab process he’s gone through to get to this point, it still feels like piling on to blame a loss on his play.

Unfortunately, his inefficiency offensively in games like Game 3 is a big part of why the Celtics bench struggles so mightily at times. Hayward was one of only two bench players to get involved in the scoring department, notching 10 points in the contest.

However, they came on just 2-for-8 shooting.

During a very late run in the fourth quarter, in which the Celtics had an opportunity to claw back into the game and potentially force an overtime, Hayward took an ill advised mid-range jumper that all but doomed the comeback attempt.

It’s a stark reminder of the struggles he has faced throughout the season.

Often, when Hayward’s struggles were at their worst, he would press by forcing shots. When Hayward has been at his best, it’s an aggressive mentality that places the interior as the point of attack.

As much as has been said about him getting healthier and playing better, which is true, he still is not the player he once was.

His play has been inconsistent, but what’s more concerning is that his mindset seems inconsistent as well. On nights when he decides he’s going to get to the rim and shoot seven free throws, he looks like his old self.

However, when he opts instead to settle for jump shots, he looks like a shadow of the player he once was.

Hayward is still searching for his game, and at times it’s harmful that he hasn’t found it. The Celtics will need him, as they have yet to lose when Hayward scores 20 or more points. Unfortunately, those games haven’t come often.