Boston Celtics: How the Celtics will manage without Gordon Hayward?

In Game 1 of the first round of the NBA playoffs, Gordon Hayward sprained his ankle. The Boston Celtics will need to figure out how to replace him in the rotation.

Gordon Hayward left the game as the Boston Celtics were up by 10 in the fourth quarter of Game 1 against the Philadelphia 76ers. Hayward had five made shots from the field on 13 attempts for 12 points in his 34 minutes of action, before he left after landing awkwardly on teammate Daniel Theis‘ foot.

He left the game for good with a sprained ankle and was seen leaving the arena on crutches. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, he’ll receive an MRI. His status is questionable for Game 2 but the Boston Celtics should certainly prepare for the worst.

Over the past three years with the Celtics, it seems as if Hayward has always been hurt. However, this season he finally seemed healthy enough to contribute as much as the Celtics expected him too when they originally signed him to a max contract. This season, in particular, he has become an essential part of the Celtics on both sides of the ball.

Hayward’s perimeter defense and offensive role with high gravity, spacing out the floor, has made indispensable. In the bubble, Hayward has been one of the most efficient players on the team, while scoring 19.3 points per game, with 7.5 rebounds, and 3.8 assists. Replacing him will be tough, and there is no way the Celtics can fully recreate what he brings to the table.

The Boston Celtics lack of depth at the center position will likely be exposed without Hayward no matter what they do. Boston could always put Jayson Tatum at the small forward spot, which is his natural position. If they do so, it would mean the Celtics would likely start Theis alongside either Robert Williams, Grant Williams, or Enes Kanter, who will match up with Al Horford and Joel Embiid.

Even though neither of them has played poorly against the two big men, neither played particularly well either in Game 1. It would also mean that on the bench, the Celtics would lose one of the three too.

The other potential lineup is replacing Hayward with Smart and playing small. Although this is the most talented potential lineup Stevens can go with, going small against the Sixers may not be the best idea. If the 76ers use Tobias Harris with Horford and Embiid down low, the Celtics would likely have trouble getting rebounds and protecting the paint. The Celtics would have to be extremely scrappy to even have a chance against the Sixers.

The 76ers do not have Ben Simmons, and without him, the Sixers face similar struggles, so the Celtics may not be in total desperation. But the bigger question is if the Celtics win, will Hayward be able to play in the second round, against presumably the Toronto Raptors? Even when the Celtics have been fully healthy, the defending champions have been able to make it tough for the Celtics, and without Hayward in the lineup, it will be a particularly difficult challenge.

Losing Gordon Hayward will be a significant loss for the Boston Celtics, and it will mean that they will have to make some adjustments, changing both their offensive and defensive approaches. The timetable on his return is still up in the air, but the Celtics need to do their best to manage without him. The team still hopes he will return healthy as soon as possible.