[ad_1]
SALT LAKE CITY – The Boston Celtics wing, Gordon Hayward, knew that night was coming.
Finally, he should return to Salt Lake City – the city where he spent the first seven years of his career. Finally, he will face the boos of the fan base he left to the Celtics.
The meeting is a year later than expected, but no less acrimonious. Utah Jazz fans booed him every time he touched the balloon in the layup lines. Fans shouted at him before the match.
Brad Stevens said before the match that he knew how emotional it would be for Hayward.
"Obviously, he spent seven beautiful years here, and that meant a lot to him and his family," said Stevens. "I'm sure it's an emotional thing for him, the best we can do is concentrate on what you can control and get out of it." It would not be humane not to recognize that new emotions are associated with that. "
Hayward was part of Boston's semi-miraculous return to the Phoenix Suns on Thursday. Friday's game will be a consecutive match.
"It was all part of it," said Stevens. "This is the decisive test – the second night of a consecutive match at the same level he played – it should be about the same, in that 23 to 26 minute range."
Still, Stevens expects Hayward to succeed.
"We have all been home and everyone is treating them the way they do," said Stevens. "Over time, it will get easier and easier, but the first comeback is always unique and it will do very well."
Other pre-match notes:
– Former Celtics member Jae Crowder told reporters that he was still in touch with Isaiah Thomas. He said Thomas is working for a return.
"It does not allow him to get the best of him," Crowder said. "Obviously, mentally, it can be a struggle for him, the times I talk to him, he says that everything is fine, everything is going as planned, he's coming back soon, I'm happy for him, we still have a great relationship . "
Stevens praised Crowder's impact on the Celtics during his stay in Boston.
"Jae, along with a lot of his teammates, did an incredible job, and he continued down that path," said Stevens. "From what I see by far his best start to the season." He looks really comfortable, he's in a great system, he fits exactly what Quin wants to do. Our team wanted to become more versatile and at the time, Jae was our most versatile team, so there's a reason why his game is so beautiful and so well reflected in this extended NBA. "
– Terry Rozier will start in place of Kyrie Irving.
Source link
