It's fair to say that Gordon Hayward is back. The Celtics player who spent the last season rehabbing one of the most gruesome NBA injuries in recent memory had a perfect night in Indiana, going 9-for-9 and scoring 21 points in Boston's win over the Pacers.
Celtics coach Brad Stevens was encouraged by Hayward's playing style, noting that he's able to play a very physical brand of basketball even coming off that injury.
Hayward playing hard is not too much of a surprise, considering how poorly he took having to sit out last season. Hayward admitted to being depressed during that year, saying that watching the team play without him was worse than the actual injury.
"It’s been painful, but it’s nothing like sitting around watching the team you were supposed to be playing with this year. I signed to play for the Boston Celtics this year now to only sit and watch the Boston Celtics this year," he said. "That part has been difficult and much more difficult to deal with than the pain."
