Gordon Hayward: A Big Difference Maker for Boston

"They (Celtics) could have won it anyway but Gordon Hayward gave them another dynamic. And he dd help break the zone (defense) of Miami," that's what Jinno Rufino said about Gordon's first game back from an injury.

Jump Thru Hoops aired its sixth episode on Tuesday and one of the topics that were heavily discussed was the difference one Gordon Hayward made for the Jayson Tatum-led Boston Celtics as Jinno Rufino and Aaron Atayde were joined in by a pinoyliga.com hooper in Stephen Ku.  

Hoping to help his team avoid going down 3-1 against the Miami Heat, Gordon Hayward made his return to the Boston Celtics' lineup in Game Three of the National Basketball Association (NBA) Eastern Conference Finals and finished with six points off the bench in 31 minutes. More importantly, Hayward's mere presence on the court helped Boston survive a late Miami run and get away with a 117-106 victory.

As Rufino pointed out, "The zone which killed them (Celtics) in the first two games, was not as effective with Hayward there. You have a bigger guy who can attack the gaps of the zone. He's a threat from the outside. He just gave them another weapon that Coach Erik Spoelstra and the Heat are gonna have to tweak that zone again or try to find something else because the zone wasn't working in the last game,"

Atayde then chimed in saying that "Boston should be up 3-0 in this series. They were up by double digits in both of the (first two) games. They have been the better team except for that small chunk of the game when it mattered most. I think that's when Gordon Hayward has brought to this team," 

The experience of a veteran. That is what Gordon Hayward can bring to the table for Boston and that's why he's a big difference maker come Thursday's Game Four and beyond.

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