Thunderous Intentions
Fansided

Five players set to break out this postseason

By Derek Peterson

Apr 8, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) calls for the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers during the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 8, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) calls for the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers during the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 6
Next
Apr 4, 2017; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) tries to dribble past Portland Trail Blazers guard Evan Turner (1) during the fourth quarter at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Utah won 106-87. Mandatory Credit: Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 4, 2017; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) tries to dribble past Portland Trail Blazers guard Evan Turner (1) during the fourth quarter at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Utah won 106-87. Mandatory Credit: Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports /

Gordon Hayward – SF, Utah Jazz

Another breakout candidate is another relative newcomer to the postseason stage: Gordon Hayward.

Hayward, the Utah Jazz’s offensive ace, has been to the Playoffs just once before – a 2012 sweep at the hands of the San Antonio Spurs in Hayward’s second season. In those four games, Hayward averaged just over seven points on an unsightly 18 percent shooting.

That won’t happen again.

MUST READ: 2017 free agent targets for the Thunder

This season Hayward has been terrific. First ever All-Star appearance? Check. Best scoring year to date? Check. Career-high efficiency? Check. Hayward has done a little bit of everything for a Jazz team that finally appears to have arrived after winning 50 games for the first time since the 2009-10 season.

On any given night, Hayward is the best player in a Jazz uniform. Most of the time he’s the go-to offensive dynamo, but sometimes Hayward is Utah’s best creator. He can push the tempo with fearless drives to the basket and score effectively in the half-court.

Against the Los Angeles Clippers, Utah’s opening round opponent, Hayward will need to be at his best. In the regular season, he struggled to find the range against LA and hit just 38 percent of his looks. As you’d expect, the Jazz lost two of three meetings.

The Jazz will ultimately go as far as Hayward takes them, and this time around, that could very well be past the Clippers and into the second round.

Home/Thunder News