How Gordon Hayward’s Game Got Better

Jan 16, 2015; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) hangs on the rim after dunking the basketball against the Los Angeles Lakers during the third quarter at EnergySolutions Arena. Utah Jazz won the game 94-85. Mandatory Credit: Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports

While at work between jobs with my Utah Jazz fanatical buddy we began discussing Gordon Hayward‘s game from last season as compared to this.

"Work Buddy: How about Gordon Hayward though?Me: Right? He’s killin’ it! And it’s not like he’s doing anything that different than last year.WB: Maybe the system some.Me: Gotta be a factor f’sure. Without looking it just feels like he’s doing the same things, only shooting more efficiently.WB: Yeah?Me: Yeah. I mean, he’s just hitting shots at a more efficient rate is what it seems like. Otherwise, I bet his numbers are about the same as last year. I’ll have to look later and see."

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So, let us see.

We know that Gordon Hayward’s game is climbing the ladder of the elite, and posted some numbers last season, and early this season that are on par with the best the game has to offer. But what’s happened to sway the perception of fans away from disdain for his lucrative new contract?

Beginning at BasketballReference.com, we see that Gordon Hayward’s basic stats per game have stayed pretty level this season as compared to last, with one exception: He’s shooting a little more, and hitting on those attempts a lot more.

Gordon Hayward per stats game comparison

Other than an increased efficiency as compared to last year, it’s the same Hayward as far as rebounds, assists, steals and blocks. His 49% two-point rate and 39% three-point rate of makes from the field are outstanding shooting numbers this year for a wing.

If we normalize the small discrepancy in minutes played using per-36 numbers, Hayward’s numbers are even more like last seasons’s in areas not shooting related.

Gordon Hayward per-36 minutes per game

Weird, right? It’s almost like he’s the same guy we thought he was, only not slumping from the floor anymore. The difference in shooting from last year to this year is even more stark when visualized with his shot charts from 2013-14 and through early February of 2014-15.

Gordon Hayward field goals 2013-14 NBA season

Gordon Hayward field goals 2014-15 NBA season through February 4, 2015

What is the reason for the improvement in Gordon Hayward’s game? There’s at least four major factors in play here that help us explain the vast difference between seasons.

It was a gamble, one Gordon Hayward accepted utterly. That comes with immense pressure in the NBA. Hayward holds himself to a high standard as a competitor

Last Season Was an Aberration 

Before the 2013-14 NBA season, in his three seasons prior, Gordon Hayward shot .476 field goals from two-point range and .411 from three-point range.

In the 2013-14 NBA season he shot an audacious .453 from two and .304 threes. And I mean it when I say audacious. He was firing up contested jumpers at a career high rate as the sudden leader of a very young team who was expected to shoulder a corpulent load.

Gordon Hayward’s career average from two is .469 and from three .371, both very respectable shooting percentages from the wing.

Howbeit, why was last season such a departure from the norm for Hayward?

New Money Equals a New Man

The Utah Jazz and Gordon Hayward had reached a stalemate in contract extension talks creating an environment for a perfect storm.

On one hand, Hayward’s camp felt like he was worth more than Jazz brass had offered him leading up to the contract extension deadline in October 2013. On the other hand, Jazz brass felt like they needed to determine Hayward’s actual worth through a couple of means.

Hayward had played only third banana at best up to the 2013-14 NBA season. He was handed the reins of the offense to see what he could do and told in no uncertain terms he was the leader of the new Utah Jazz. GM Dennis Lindsey and Co. were willing to allow him to prove what his worth was, telling us the entire time they intended to keep him, regardless.

It was a gamble, one Gordon Hayward accepted utterly. That comes with immense pressure in the NBA. Hayward holds himself to a high standard as a competitor, believing in his ability to hang with anyone.

"Signing my contract to return to the Jazz was a big sigh of relief for me. There were so many people talking about it last year, when we didn’t get the extension done. It was all really up in the air. I didn’t really know where I’d end up.–GordonHayward20.com, Back Where I Began“I feel like one of the elite players in the NBA,” Gordon said at Utah’s media day Monday. “I feel like I have the confidence in myself that I should be one of those players. But, being a star will come with how good our team will be.”–GordonHayward20.com, Gordon, Jazz Ready To Begin New Era"

Some may take the watered-down approach that any player, any time they step on the court should be the best they can be at all times, completely discounting that things like, say, a pending $16 million dollars a year might just play a small factor in the mentality of a player, affecting performance, attitude and approach.

Security in knowing where you will be, what you will be doing and how much you’ll be getting for your efforts is a pretty big deal to even professional athletes, who, believe it or not, are very much like you and I when all is said and done.

Yes, Gordon Hayward bleeds when you prick him. I know, crazy, right?

Floor Spacing Under Quin Snyder

Tyrone Corbin approached basketball as a coach the way he was taught by Jerry Sloan. It’s an old school approach that’s somewhat plodding in the half-court, heavy in low post plays and few three-pointers that won’t draw a stern look, even when they’re made.

To this day, former Sloan assistant Phil Johnson, Jerry’s right-hand man for decades, will still say on a game broadcast “I don’t like that shot” of a made three-pointer if it didn’t come with less than five seconds left on the shot clock.

Whereas under Sloan or Corbin a player may get chewed out for taking an open shot early in the shot clock, Snyder will chew you out for passing up such a shot

The Sloan system way of playing often left Hayward in the precarious position of forcing up a contested shot with few options, if any, and a dwindling shot clock — often a long two, a difficult and very low percentage make in basketball.

But, Hayward had to take them, then endure the criticism of doing so knowing he had little choice in the matter at the time. He took it in stride, taking blame for bad games and losses, saying the things a leader says.

Quin Snyder changed the offense dramatically in Utah this season, and while the Jazz’s overall pace may be slower than last season, the ball is pushed up the floor. Whereas under Sloan or Corbin a player may get chewed out for taking an open shot early in the shot clock, Snyder will chew you out for passing up such a shot.

The new Jazz head coach’s shooting theory is very different in this regard, encouraging all of his players to take an opening when it presents itself rather than waiting to try for a higher percentage shot later as under the Sloan system — a system that worked well for it’s time and personnel, but not so much for this roster in today’s changed game.

All that practice taking tough shots last year in the antiquated Sloan system under Corbin has served Gordon Hayward well. Now when he’s in such a position he’s put in the situational practice already, adding a more dangerous facet to his game.

At the same time, the Snyder system has allowed Hayward to take full advantage of any opening more effectively, making his ability to put the ball on the floor to create a shot for himself or a teammate a deadly option always looming over the opposition.

Gordon Hayward no longer has a little voice in the back of his head tossing tendrils of doubt about whether or not he should take a shot or try to put the ball on the floor and get closer or force a difficult pass to a teammate fighting for position on the block.

Gordon Hayward is now free to pull up for any shot his discretion and confidence tells him to take.

Improved Teammates Relieve Pressure

Not only was the pressure release valve opened for Gordon Hayward’s future security, it’s secondary valve is speeding along the process. Hayward’s teammates are improved from last season, taking much of the opposing defensive focus on him.

Last season, the Jazz were an easy scout with teams knowing night in and out that Hayward would be the primary offensive weapon of choice, making him an easy cover, often drawing double teams.

A year later, Enes Kanter is a terror in the paint and Derrick Favors has developed that thing many worried he never would: a potent offense that teams have to now prepare for.

Put it all together and it’s a recipe for the success Gordon Hayward’s game has treated fans to in 2014-15.