Gordon Hayward coming out of his walking boot was the best thing to happen in Celtics Nation today.
The Leprechaun that almost always blesses the Boston Celtics with good fortune, came through once again for Celtics Nation by removing the walking boot from Gordon Hayward.
https://twitter.com/NBCSCeltics/status/941060234168160256
If you have a short memory, Hayward hasn’t seen the NBA court ever since he took a stomach-churning fall in the Celtics season-opening game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, breaking his leg and likely ending his season. The Celtics have done just fine without him, compiling the best record in the Eastern Conference.
For the first time in nearly a month and a half, Hayward was able to walk under his own power without the boot, and though he’s not close to coming back to the court, there may be an encouraging sign that Hayward could be back in Celtics green before the playoffs begin.
Reading through Celtics Twitter, some want him to come back right now:
Good now get him in tonight’s game
— abc (@PacPan_) December 13, 2017
That’s (sort of) understandable given the current health of the team. Their firebrand, Marcus Smart, has been battling a nagging left knee injury and the king in their offseason, Kyrie Irving, missed Monday night’s game against the Chicago Bulls.
So injuries are becoming quite a problem for the East’s top team, but all of that was swept under the rug, at least for a moment, at the sight of Hayward not being in an ugly walking boot.
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Realistically, Hayward is still three months away from seeing any court action and it may be next season before he’s actually healthy enough to play, with the Celtics feeling comfortable enough to put him on the court. When that happens, the Celtics will truly be the team to beat in the East. Well, unless LeBron James has something to say about it.