Doctor: Looks like wait til next year for Hayward

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BOSTON – The recent video shot by the folks at The Players' Tribune showing Gordon Hayward jogging at the practice facility, got fans in a tizzy that maybe Hayward’s return is around the corner.

Celtics coach Brad Stevens immediately shot down (again) talk about a Hayward return this season.

“We can talk about the videos, but he’s not playing [this season],” said Stevens.

But what does Hayward’s light jogging, at this point in the recovery process, mean in the grand scheme of things?

Dr. Chris Chihlas of Southcoast Health is an orthopedic surgeon who, as it turns out, is on the mend from a similar injury that Hayward suffered.

When he learned of Hayward’s injury back in October, he was among those optimistic of a speedy recovery that could potentially have the 6-foot-8 forward back on the floor prior to the regular season ending.

Now, considering Hayward is just starting to do light jogging, he believes that ship has sailed.

“His rehab has not been going as quickly as I had thought,” Dr. Chilhas told NBC Sports Boston. “There were a couple of reports about him having a setback, he was still on the Ultra-G [the anti-gravitational treadmill] that allows patients to have a cardio workout in a limited or non-weight bearing capacity). Those are all kind of not the greatest of signs as far as the ability to come back this season.”

Dr. Chihlas is quick to add that Hawyard not being ready to play at this point is not a sign of him being behind schedule.

“I wouldn’t consider it a bad sign, just longer than anticipated,” Dr. Chihlas said. “Ultimately, he’ll be good, but like coach [Stevens] said, the potential for him to come back this season is not going to happen now.”

There are several potential factors that may have contributed to Hayward’s recovery not coming along as quickly as he would have liked.

“With this type of injury, there’s definitely a lot of scar tissue that develops and that’s stiff – not that it hurts – it’s just stiff and your motion is a little bit difficult to get,” Dr. Chihlas said. “But if he’s just starting to jog on it now, he’s looking at still probably a good 6-8 weeks until he’s able to compete at an NBA level.”

When there was talk of Hayward returning this season, that was a best-case scenario and would involve most if not all aspects of his rehabilitation going better than expected.

Where he’s at now is not all that unusual in terms of the recovery time from such a gruesome injury suffered just five minutes into the Celtics' season-opener at Cleveland on Oct. 17.

“But these things, best-case scenario is 5-6 months which is where he is now,” Dr. Chihlas said. “But the average Joe Blow like me, it’s typically 6-12 months. He ultimately will be fine and good for next season. But in the short term, his rehab has gone a little bit slower than anticipated and consequently, the possibility for this season is out.”

 

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