There weren’t many constructive takeaways from the Boston Celtics’ loss to the Orlando Magic. Down three key rotational gamers, Orlando continued to behave as kryptonite for the Celtics, who misplaced the season collection in opposition to the Magic 1-3.
However amongst the chaos was Sam Hauser, who hadn’t performed double-digit minutes since January 9 and had earned two straight DNPs heading into the competition. On an evening when Boston would wish to depend on their depth, he delivered.
“Sam performed nice,” Jayson Tatum stated post-game through CLNS Media. “Clearly, we all know he can actually shoot the ball, however he had a contest on the rim, he blocked the shot, he got here off a pick-n-roll, got here down [and] made a layup. I feel simply being extra of a basketball participant. He’s a lot greater than only a shooter. So, I actually get pleasure from when he simply makes these basketball performs. I don’t wish to field him in as only a catch-and-shoot man. Sam’s a extremely, actually proficient basketball participant.”
Hauser ended the night time with 13 factors, two rebounds, an help, and a block on 5-of-9 taking pictures from the sphere and 3-of-6 taking pictures from deep. He logged 18:52 – probably the most minutes he’s performed since Boston’s January 3 loss to the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder and the second-most since their December 7 win over the Phoenix Suns.
The final time Hauser made three or extra threes in a recreation was again on November 28 in opposition to the Charlotte Hornets. And whereas Tatum pressured Hauser’s skill to contribute in different areas of the sport, his pathway to enjoying time runs via his shot-making.
“Simply the ebbs and flows of the season,” Hauser advised CLNS Media when requested about head coach Joe Mazzulla’s communication with him about his position. “Payton [Pritchard]’s been enjoying rather well, different guys have been enjoying rather well, so he’s rolling with them, and that’s cool. As a coach, you must really feel it out, and what’s working [is] working, you must stick with that. And if meaning some guys get demoted to their minutes, it’s what it’s. So, nothing actually to complain about, I simply gotta preserve working.”
Pritchard and Hauser have flip-flopped within the rotation over the past week or so. In the beginning of the 12 months, Pritchard was choosing up DNPs, whereas Hauser was red-hot from distance. Now, it’s the other, as Pritchard has emerged as an necessary sparkplug off of Boston’s bench, and Hauser has struggled to search out his shot.
By way of the top of November, Hauser was unstoppable from behind the arc. He was taking pictures 47.9% from deep on 4.4 three-point makes an attempt per recreation, incomes 17.0 minutes per contest – and he didn’t miss a single recreation. However within the video games since, issues trailed off, as he’s shot simply 30.4% on 3.3 makes an attempt. A chilly stretch that was capped off by his first two DNPs of the season in opposition to the Golden State Warriors and Toronto Raptors.
However regardless of the shortage of success, Hauser doesn’t plan on altering a factor.
“Actually, probably not,” Hauser stated through CLNS Media when requested if he’s trying to regulate something. “I imply, there’s nothing fallacious with my shot. They simply haven’t been falling as a lot recently. Shooters undergo slumps and I’ve undoubtedly been via one recently, however simply gotta preserve taking pictures.”
Hauser earned excessive reward from Mazzulla early within the season, because the coach gave a easy response when requested about how the ahead earned his belief – “not miss.” And whereas there have been loads of misses since then, he lastly noticed just a few pictures go down in opposition to Orlando.
With how proficient Boston is, Hauser’s spot within the rotation just isn’t assured, but when he’s hitting threes on the stage he’s able to, it’s laborious to maintain him off the ground. And due to that, staying assured is essential.
“I simply don’t need my confidence to waver, and that’s the most important factor,” Hauser advised CLNS Media. “Whenever you undergo a hunch, I feel it’s simple to form of go right into a shell just a little little bit of your self, and typically you must dig your self out of it. That’s how I’m doing.”
It’s simple to get down on oneself when subjected to the monitor Hauser has been on this 12 months. He labored laborious via the primary month of the season to ascertain himself as a mainstay in Mazzulla’s rotations and was computerized from three-point vary for an extended whereas.
So to go from that to choosing up DNPs and failing to capitalize on open three-point makes an attempt is a dagger. However quite than let these lows preserve him down, Hauser used them to raise him up.
“Oh actually, not enjoying final couple video games, it motivates you to work more durable,” Hauser advised CLNS Media. “And once you get your probability you don’t wish to take it with no consideration, and also you simply wish to give it your all. So I feel I did that fairly effectively tonight.”
