data-mm-id=”_vcaznu4v3″>There were a variety of reasons that the 2018-19 Boston Celtics did not become the team everyone believed they could be. There has been, and will continue to be, much debate about what those reasons are, but the one we can all agree on is that the expectations were far too high all-around. This is especially true in the case of Gordon Hayward. Twelve months removed from one of the most brutal injuries seen on the basketball court, fans and pundits alike were too optimistic on Hayward, and for every game he looked like old Hayward, there would be four more where it was clear he wasn't quite there yet. It has now been 24 months since the injury. Hayward is averaging 20.3 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 4.6 assists through the first seven games of the 2019-20 season. The question that has been asked for the last year (is Gordon Hayward back?) seems to finally have an answer, and I imagine if Hayward was posed that question, his response would be not unlike Keanu Reeves in the first John Wick movie: "Yeah, I'm thinking I'm back!" Okay, maybe not, because Hayward is too nice to say something like that, but he is most definitely back to his old ways, or as close as he could be after such a horrific injury. He's getting to his spots with an ease we haven't yet seen from him in a Celtics uniform, and when he's that comfortable, the shot-making is the easy part. His biggest game of the year so far was a 39-point outburst against the Cavs in which he shot an astounding 17-for-20 and absolutely owned the mid-range and paint. Much of this can just be chalked up to Hayward getting back into the flow of things. The comparison regularly made last season was with Paul George, who missed all but six games of the 2014-15 campaign with a similar injury. But when he came back in 2015, he was as everyone remembered. Most assumed Hayward would follow a similar recovery timeline of about a year and a half before rounding into form. But the difference was that George was able to spend an entire offseason getting back into "game shape", as it were; Hayward couldn't play five-on-five until August of 2018, and had to get back into the flow of it during games. That's difficult to do in a normal NBA season, much less on last year's Celtics team. He's now reached that level, and it can be seen most clearly in his drives to the basket. Last year, he moved well, but struggled with contact once he got to the rack. This year, though, he's using his wide frame to absorb the contact and has regained his feel. He still isn't getting to the line at the same rate (2.7 attempts per game this year, compared to 5.9 his last year in Utah), but he's shooting 75 percent from the restricted area. When he gets to the paint, it's almost always a bucket. This is obviously great to see on a variety of levels. His output has helped offset what has been a bit of a tough start to Kemba Walker's Celtics career, and his comfort driving into the paint has made him a complete pick-and-roll threat for a team that has very much relied on that set to start the year. It's been a long time coming, but Gordon Hayward looks like the guy Boston signed to a max contract in the summer of 2017.
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Vicente del Bosque says football has given him everything after receiving a lifetime achievement award.
Del Bosque, 61, coached Real Madrid to two Liga titles and two Champions League triumphs, before claiming the 2010 World Cup and 2012 European Championship with Spain.
This week the veteran coach, who made 312 appearances for Real as a player, was recognised at the As Del Deporte Awards 2012.
It makes me very proud, it is an honour for me, he told AS.
Football has given me everything. When I was 16 I arrived in Madrid as a provincial kid, with the dream of becoming a footballer. Now, at 61-years-old, I can say my wishes were fulfilled, thanks to being lucky enough to belong to two fine institutions in Real Madrid and the Spanish Football Federation. …
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Odds: 5/6 @
In what could prove to be an enjoyable affair from Home Park on New Year’s Day, Plymouth will welcome Watford to Devon.
Starting with the hosts, while Plymouth might have watched their four-match unbeaten run come to an abrupt end against Southampton over the weekend, the Pilgrims still sit in pole position to extend on their Championship status. Opening the New Year holding a commanding seven-point buffer from slipping into the drop zone, the Devon-based outfit will certainly be excited to make a return to Home Park here. Along with signing opening December with a 2-1 victory against Stoke, Plymouth are unbeaten in all of their previous six straight showdowns in front of their own supporters a run that stems all the way…
Tottenham have confirmed that Emmanuel Adebayor has been called up to represent Togo at the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations.
The 28-year-old had initially ruled himself out of the tournament due to fears over his safety and an ongoing row over player bonuses with the Togo FA.
But talks between Adebayor and Togo s president Faure Gnassingbe have prompted a turnaround from the Spurs striker.
The ex-Arsenal forward will be available for Tottenham s trip to Loftus Road to face QPR on Saturday, before travelling to South Africa to join up with the rest of the Togo squad next week.
Spurs manager Andre Villas-Boas had publically stated that he would not block Adebayor from partaking in the tournament, but the striker hinted at a disagreement with the Portuguese …
The FA has asked Sir Alex Ferguson for his observations after he criticised assistant referee Simon Beck during Sunday s 1-1 draw with Tottenham.
The Manchester United boss described the linesman s performance as shocking and slammed Beck s failure to award a penalty to Wayne Rooney after seeing his side concede a 90th-minute equaliser.
Tottenham s late goal from Clint Dempsey meant United s lead at the top of the Premier League was cut to five points, following Manchester City s victory over Fulham.
The 71-year-old also claimed that Beck had failed to spot that a Didier Drogba winner at Old Trafford back in 2010 was offside a result which effectively handed the title to Chelsea that season.
Ferguson now has until 18:00GMT on Thursday to respond to the r…
David de Gea may have made a rare mistake in Spain s friendly with Switzerland on Sunday but Vicente del Bosque believes the Manchester United stopper is the complete goalkeeper .
De Gea s strong club form included 18 clean sheets during the 2017-18 Premier League season, earning him the Golden Glove for the first time.
He was unable to keep Switzerland at bay in Villarreal on Sunday, though, spilling a shot from Stephan Lichtsteiner that allowed Ricardo Rodriguez to earn a 1-1 draw.
Despite that error the 27-year-old will travel to the World Cup as Spain s undisputed number one, and Del Bosque remains a big fan.
David is a really complete keeper, the World Cup and European Championship-winning coach told Omnisport.
He plays well with his feet, …
Borussia Dortmund have completed the signing of midfielder Thomas Delaney from Werder Bremen for an undisclosed fee.
The 26-year-old has signed a four-year contract with BVB after a deal in the region of €20million was reportedly agreed between the clubs.
The Denmark international, who had been linked with a transfer to the Premier League, moves to Signal Iduna Park only 18 months on from joining Werder from Copenhagen.
Borussia Dortmund have always had a top-class experience with Denmark internationals, sporting director Michael Zorc told the club s official website.
Thomas Delaney is a physically and mentally strong player. He will enrich our game with his physical presence.
Heute in Dortmund
— Borussia Dortmund (@BVB)
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Harry Kane s future at Tottenham is uncertain, with his contract due to expire in 2024.
As a result, speculation is developing about a move for the England international striker during the next transfer window.
Manchester United are known to be interested in the 29-year-old, while Bayern Munich were previously linked too.
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Paris Saint-Germain will battle it out with Manchester United to land Tottenham forward Harry Kane, reports Le Parisien.
PSG sporting director Luis Campos wants to bolster the side s attack and has identified Kane as their top target.
The French champions president Nasser Al Khelaifi has a good relationship with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy, which may help negotiation…
Concussion substitutes will be trialled in the Premier League from February 6, English football s top division has confirmed.
A maximum of two substitutes will be allowed in addition to the stipulated allocation of three substitutions in the event of a player suffering a head injury and showing symptoms of concussion.
The Football Association (FA) and the Premier League applied to the International Football Association Board (IFAB) to introduce the trials .
The 12:30 GMT kick-off between Aston Villa and Arsenal on February 6 will be the first game of the trial, which runs until the end of 2020-21, with an option to extend into next season.
The Women s Super League and Women s Championship will also take on concussion subs from the same date, with the men…
Central Coast goalkeeper Mat Ryan has backed a young Mariners squad to grind out a result in China on Tuesday.
With one eye Sunday s A-League semi-final showdown with Melbourne Victory, Mariners coach Graham Arnold elected to leave several experienced players in Gosford ahead of the AFC Champions League match with Guizhou Renhe.
Instead, he has placed his faith for the trip to China in a host of youngsters, with just three of the 15-man squad over 25.
Ryan turned 21 on Monday, but has 86 senior appearances since making his debut in 2010. He had some reassuring words for his young team-mates ahead of the match at the Guiyang Sports Centre.
There is nothing more I like than to see a young boy getting a chance and taking it, he said in a club statement.
…
Former Barcelona midfielder Deco believes comparisons made between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are not fair on either player.
The Clasico rivals are widely regarded as the two greatest players in the world, but the former Portugal international believes trying to choose between them is impossible.
Having played with both during his career, Deco believes they have very different characteristics that separate them from other players in the game.
It is a privilege to have played with both of them, he told Perform.
But I think it is unfair to compare as they have different styles, and are so good with their styles, that it would be unfair to judge who is better.
Last year, Cristiano was better in the first six months, I mean he had better numbe…