Gordon Hayward and Jaylen Brown’s shift to the bench wasn’t exactly a positive at first. Guys weren’t getting enough touches in the first group and both Hayward and Brown weren’t as efficient as they needed to be.
That move seems like it happened ages ago, especially with the pair playing well of late.
Brown is coming off back-to-back 20-plus point performances following the 126-120 win over the Sacramento Kings on Monday. Hayward didn’t have a particularly impressive night against the Kings this time around (3 for 7 from the floor, 10 points), but it’s been just over a week since he scored the game-winning shot in Sacramento.
The twosome, as well as Terry Rozier who was out sick on Thursday, could play in most starting lineups in the NBA. Which is why Hayward spoke so highly of the second unit when addressing reporters on Thursday.
I think the second unit, we try to get in there and — I think we should dominate most second units in the league, if not all of them, just with the talent we have in that group. So, I think trying to get it up and push, especially with T-Ro [Rozier] and Jaylen we can really get out and run and get some easy ones and get ourselves going. Sometimes when you come off the bench it’s hard to get some rhythm, but if we get some easy stuff off the fastbreak it’ll make it a lot better.
With Kyrie Irving remaining the constant on this team, the second unit could be the difference in the Celtics making another postseason run or heading home early. Brown and Hayward are both showing signs they can handle those responsibilities and at just the right time.
