Here's why Javonte Green will soften the loss of Gordon Hayward

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/blakely-heres-why-javonte-green-004632691.html




Here's why Javonte Green will soften the loss of Gordon Hayward




A. Sherrod Blakely, NBC Sports Boston

18 hours ago



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While the Boston Celtics are likely to keep a relatively tight rotation after Gordon Hayward's broken left hand, don't be surprised if Javonte Green forces his way in.

Green, a summer league invitee who worked his way into securing the lone available roster spot, could be called upon more often in the coming weeks to help fill the void left by Hayward's injury.

Dating back to his play with Boston's summer league squad as well as what we saw in the preseason, Green's knack for scoring could make him an invaluable option for the Celtics in the coming weeks.

Green's scoring ability in little to no time is clearly one of his greatest strengths.

We saw that in the first half of Saturday's 135-115 win at San Antonio with Green scoring his first points of the game less than a minute after checking into the game. He wound up with six points on 3-for-5 shooting in 13 minutes.

He came into Saturday's game averaging 2.4 points per game. But when you look at his numbers per 36 minutes played (19.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 55.6 percent shooting from the field), they aren't that far off from what the Celtics were getting from Hayward.

So yes, Marcus Smart and Jaylen Brown will likely log a good chunk of the minutes Hayward played, but don't be surprised if Green once again crashes the playing time party and works his way into a more meaningful role and in doing so, softens the blow for the Celtics of losing Hayward.



bob
MY NOTE:  It will be interesting to see how Brad divvies up Hayward's minutes.  I don't think he can give that many more to Smart and Tatum.  He could give more to Jaylen, but not 32 minutes worth, maybe 2-4 minutes more (Jaylen is already averaging 30.0mpg and we don't want him averaging much over 34mpg, if that).  How many does the older, more experienced (both overall as well as in Brad's system) Javonte Green get vs how many the #14 lottery pick Romeo Langford, who missed summer league and preseason and has played < 1 minute of NBA ball with the Celtics so far?  I'm sure they'll both get some, but how many to each?  The injury to Hayward really throws a monkey wrench into Brad's small ball plan.  He either starts becoming more traditional, more big, or he gives 15 mpg to both of these two or 20 mpg to one and 10 to the other or...one of them, I believe, is about to become a solid rotation player, but which one? 

Feel free to explain, when you post to this thread, your prediction as to how Brad will distribute Hayward's minutes.


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Bob the J's are still pups and each can easily play 35 MPG.  They are young enough to do that right now.  Below links displays MPG from top to bottom in the NBA

https://www.espn.com/nba/stats/player/_/table/general/sort/avgMinutes/dir/desc

Even if they play more minutes it will not make up for all the things that GH has been doing.  The Celtics will need a rotation guy to play 18-20 minutes at PF.  Green is an undersized wing.  He could slide into the wing spot when either Tatum or Brown play at the 4.  He is not a PF option.

Grant Williams and Semi Ojeleye can give us minutes at the 4 as well and both are good defenders but not much on offense.

Daniel Theis should also be able to play PF but curiously Brad has refrained from playing big lineups but I think he needs to try that option.  Robert Williams should be able to also play some 4.

GH runs the offense up top quite a bit so now you need someone to do that.  I think Jason and Brown can help with that task.

You can compensate for Hayward on defense but on offense you have to figure something out.

Romeo may finally get a chance to wet his feet playing the wing along with JT and JB.   I think he will become the solution.  Both JB and JT will be playing more at the 4 along with sufficient rotation minutes from someone off the bench.