Could Utah Jazz Guard Gordon Hayward Be A Defensive Player? Ask The Celtics!

Published: 29^th Mar 12 12:20 am

by Eric Haftel
Eric Haftel

RANT It!

Could Utah Jazz Guard Gordon Hayward Be A Defensive Player? Ask The Celtics!

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Utah Jazz guard Gordon Hayward looks about 15 years old but plays like a veteran. He has been one of the Jazz’s most improved players this season and looks to have quite the future with the team.

In this, his sophomore season, he has averaged 10.4 points a game with 3.1 assists as well as only 1.5 turnovers. Those may not sound that great but he is up from 5.4 points last season. Look for him to get even better moving forward. He already has five 20 point plus games this season.

One stat that has been overlooked this season out of Hayward is his nearly one block a game. He is 6-9 and only gets one block a game? That is a stat that needs to improve and it seems that he took notice.

Check out this sequence during tonights Utah Jazz vs. Boston Celtics game.

Who was that 15 year old jumping like it was nothing? Oh that was Hayward showing how good of a defender he can be.

Seriously, that was unbelievable. The first block on Keyon Dooling was tough enough but the second block on Avery Bradley he gave a look of, “O come on. Again?” He barely put effort into it. He just leaped and blocked Bradley with a nonchalant effort.

If Hayward can show this type of defense and some better offensive number in the future, expect to have a hell of a ball player.

If the Jazz want to advance to become a playoff contender, look for them to work with Hayward a ton this offseason. Hayward should work with his teammates, Paul Millsap and ‘Big’ Al Jefferson, as both are offensive and defensive menaces.