It’s starting to look like the Boston Celtics have finally flipped that imaginary switch.
A week ago, they played the Indiana Pacers to a tight 114-112 finish in Boston — which the Celtics won. Things went a bit differently on Friday. The Celtics blew the Pacers out of their own building in a 117-97 win.
Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 22 points and Aron Baynes had a double-double (11 points and 12 rebounds), but they were not the story.
Gordon Hayward was. Again.
He scored 21 points, so the Celtics remain undefeated when Hayward scores 20 points or more this season.
But that’s still not the most notable part.
Gordon Hayward took nine shots against the Pacers. He did not miss one of them, becoming the first Celtic to accomplish such a feat since Kevin McHale scored 25 points and went perfect from the floor in 1986, according to @Celtics_Stats on Twitter.
It’s also the first time in Hayward’s career where he finished perfect from the floor in a game he’s scored 15 or more points.
Friday’s performance marks the seventh game in a row where Hayward has finished in double figures. That’s his longest streak of the 2018-19 season.
If Hayward still isn’t “back” Boston may have more talent on its hands than initially thought.
Even if this is everything Hayward has to offer, he’s clearly capable of being a primary piece on this team.
