Is Hayward playing like he's worried about his box score?

[Twin Towers]

Hayward is understanding his role more now. He knows he is not a go to scorer but he understands he is a decent at everything.
He should only be shooting 12 times a game at most.
He needs to keep playing this way. I would like him to only average 15 points 5 and 5.
He is a decent defender. Not great but he not great at anything. Great role player.
I think we need Burks in the starting lineup to take the scoring pressure off Hayward.
I have been so irritated with Hayward all year until recently. He is playing within his abilities more now.
Keep it up Hayward!

 

[Jazz Spazz]

He's decreased his shots per game by 3 over the last 2 months. He's almost entirely stopped leaking out on the break in order to collect defensive rebounds. When he drives, he never goes all the way to the basket, always passes, and 90 percent of the time passes out for long range jump shots. And yet he controls the ball more than 50% of the time on this team.

People will disagree, but in my opinion he's playing scared. He'll have the occasional hot shooting stretch, but he's reached the point where he knows he can't score with any regularity, and he's blatantly trying to inflate his other numbers to camouflage that fact. I like the kid, I sympathize with him, and the olympic/contract thing is obviously on his mind, but it couldn't be more clear that he's a complimentary player whose numbers will decrease on a good team.

I used to think I would match 10 million. Now I'm wondering if the number isn't 8, and he should be trade bait with Alec on the roster.

1. Gordo never takes last second heaves. Not that big a deal, but a sure sign he's putting his stats first.

2. Gordo's been passing the ball to players in worse position to score very late in the shot clock recently.

3. To compound the problem above, Gordo's been passing up open shots recently, putting the Jazz in a lot of low percentage late shot clock situations.

Dude's stat padding to the team's detriment. He's been doing it a lot more over the last couple weeks.

Seriously would take billyshelby and gvc takes over most other posters.

If Gordo is pulling a Korver that's pretty lame. I can give him a pass sort of but only this year because we need to lose as many as we can while still trying to win. My hesitation is that if it works he will continue to look our for himself to the detriment of the team next year and in future years. If we had one or two knock down 3 pt shooters it's not a bad idea to drive in and pass out for a long range shot. We don't have that right now though. You have to take the best available shot and not be afraid you will miss it and start losing money on a future contract. Its his own fault for not working something out with the Jazz FO before the season started.

My own take is that it's not that bad and that he's doing good things for the team. Even if he leaks out less for a fast break, maybe he was instructed to stick around more because of allowing too many offensive boards. You can't get a fast break if you don't get the board. In this league are there really any lock down defenders that play the 2? Hayward is a pretty good defender for the spot and it's nice that he can switch on bigger or smaller guys and still be decent. He's no Paul George or Andre Iguodala, but he's serviceable.

 

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Hayward haters are real.

Hayward apologists haven't substantively responded to either billyshelby or GVC, two posters that deserve serious reckoning.

 

[orangello]

I need to start an idiot list.

Tell me when you do because I've got some names to add.

Sent from the JazzFanz app

 

[orangello]

1. Gordo never takes last second heaves. Not that big a deal, but a sure sign he's putting his stats first.

2. Gordo's been passing the ball to players in worse position to score very late in the shot clock recently.

3. To compound the problem above, Gordo's been passing up open shots recently, putting the Jazz in a lot of low percentage late shot clock situations.

Dude's stat padding to the team's detriment. He's been doing it a lot more over the last couple weeks.

And the Jazz are losing, so what is the problem?

Sent from the JazzFanz app

 

[GVC]

Hayward apologists haven't substantively responded to either billyshelby or GVC, two posters that deserve serious reckoning.

We're just haters (who were on board with Hayward getting a $10mm/year extension last summer...).

 

[GVC]

And the Jazz are losing, so what is the problem?

Sent from the JazzFanz app

Having a team full of players who put stats ahead of winning + top draft picks = The Sacramento Kings of the last 6-8 seasons. That's our goal?

 

[orangello]

Having a team full of players who put stats ahead of winning + top draft picks = The Sacramento Kings of the last 6-8 seasons. That's our goal?

So says you.

Sent from the JazzFanz app

 

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I like Hayward, but this experiment with him as the linchpin should have ended 25ish games ago, at the latest. While there isn't a clear alternative, we should have put Hay in a better position.

If I were running things, I would have emphasized high-screen action with Burks and Burke, and tried to work in some more high-low action with Kanter and Favors. Basically, any scenario that has Hayward looking for spot-up 3s and secondary screen-roll action.

Whatever.

 

[Thee Idiotic Minivan K]

Tell me when you do because I've got some names to add.

Sent from the JazzFanz app

Knew I could count on you


Sent from the JazzFanz app

 

[NUMBERICA]

1. Why wouldn't he be? Honestly?
2. Maybe he's coming to terms with what the knock on him always has been and has been especially evident this season: he's not The Guy and he never will be.
3. If he's playing to the team's detriment at the moment, then that's absolutely perfect.

 

[NUMBERICA]

By the way, I haven't liked Hayward's body language this entire season. Maybe he doesn't have enough tats/melanin for people to complain about it every game.

 

[Ben10]

He knows we aren't playing for anything right now. Losing actually helps the team. I would be padding my stats to try to get more money if it were me also.
***not saying that is what is happening but I don't blame the guy if it is.

 

[Jazz Spazz]

I like Hayward, but this experiment with him as the linchpin should have ended 25ish games ago, at the latest. While there isn't a clear alternative, we should have put Hay in a better position.

If I were running things, I would have emphasized high-screen action with Burks and Burke, and tried to work in some more high-low action with Kanter and Favors. Basically, any scenario that has Hayward looking for spot-up 3s and secondary screen-roll action.

Whatever.

Hayward is shooting 33% this year in catch and shoot situations this year. Are we sure we want more of this?

 

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Hayward is shooting 33% this year in catch and shoot situations this year. Are we sure we want more of this?

His career averages suggest that catch-and-shoot should be his main weapon. And transition.

 

[akirac73]

I agree with the OP...it's quite obvious Hayward is in stat-padding mode. In my opinion, his greatest strength as a player is in the open court/transition (both offensively AND defensively)...he is the last person that should be trying to go after rebounds instead of getting open/running down the court in transition. On offense, for a guy that plays the most minutes and has the ball in his hands more than our point guard, 5 assists a game isn't very impressive, especially when you consider his propensity to turn the ball over. Like someone else mentioned, nearly all of his assists are always drive and kick. A basket is a basket, I get that, but if Hayward knew how to run pick and roll, it would result in better percentage shots for his teammates and likely higher assist numbers. All in all, 17-5-5 isn't all that great when considering how much minutes he plays, how much he has the ball in his hands, how many shots he takes a game, and how unsuccessful the team is. But I'm sure some sucker NBA GM will fall for it and pay him what he reportedly wanted, $12M+/year...hopefully DL is not the one.

 

[fishonjazz]

I like Hayward, but this experiment with him as the linchpin should have ended 25ish games ago, at the latest. While there isn't a clear alternative, we should have put Hay in a better position.

If I were running things, I would have emphasized high-screen action with Burks and Burke, and tried to work in some more high-low action with Kanter and Favors. Basically, any scenario that has Hayward looking for spot-up 3s and secondary screen-roll action.

Whatever.

Im on board with that plan

 

[Ben10]

All in all, 17-5-5 isn't all that great when considering how much minutes he plays, how much he has the ball in his hands, how many shots he takes a game, and how unsuccessful the team is.

All in all I don't disagree with your post except this part. There are only 3 players in the NBA that are averaging 17-5-5. LeBron, Durant, and Westbrook (who has been injured and doesn't have the minutes played that the other 2 have). Gordon is next on the list with a point average of 16.3. Good for 4th in the entire league in this stat search.

Heck there are is only one other guy in the league averaging over 15-5-5 and thats MCW.

Sorry but the 16-5-5 that Gordon is averaging for this season is in the elite. The problem is his shooting percentage and turnovers make it less. When only 3 guys are ahead of you and 2 of them are Durant and LeBron you are in great company

 

[mellow]

Boris @BorisGolubov
#BorisNation wants to congratulate one if it's biggest supporters, @gordonhayward, on finally getting #Gold in #LeagueOfLegends
Retweeted by Gordon Hayward

Maybe it's not box score watching that is distracting him.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

All in all I don't disagree with your post except this part. There are only 3 players in the NBA that are averaging 17-5-5. LeBron, Durant, and Westbrook (who has been injured and doesn't have the minutes played that the other 2 have). Gordon is next on the list with a point average of 16.3. Good for 4th in the entire league in this stat search.

Heck there are is only one other guy in the league averaging over 15-5-5 and thats MCW.

Sorry but the 16-5-5 that Gordon is averaging for this season is in the elite. The problem is his shooting percentage and turnovers make it less. When only 3 guys are ahead of you and 2 of them are Durant and LeBron you are in great company

I really like the style Hayward is playing right now. Obviously he needs to up his 3pt%, but I like how he is looking for others on his drives. Obviously next year he will probably use less possessions, but I think he can get 15-5-5 again, but with better efficiency.