Alternatives to alter your life or your profession don’t come round that usually. However they’re normally totally different than the films. Very not often are our lives outlined by one massive, make or break selection of which the destiny of you, or your loved ones, or typically the world depends upon. As a substitute, these alternatives play out over weeks, months, and years. The primary-year regulation pupil strolling into their very first contracts class. The apprentice electrician displaying as much as their first job website. Reel Huge Fish moving into the studio to report Flip the Radio Off.
Sam Hauser sits on the precipice of such a chance. Regardless of being undrafted, he’s made his manner into an NBA contract. He’s joined the Celtics on tour, now he simply must turn out to be a full-time member of the band.
There are steps for undrafted gamers to make the NBA and finally a rotation. Just like the indie band peddling their first EP from the trunk of their automotive, step one is getting the suitable individuals to note you. Hauser did that two years in the past when the Celtics inked him to a 2-way deal. His mixture of capturing and dimension was precisely the archetype that Brad Stevens wished to encompass the Jays with.
The subsequent step is securing the safety, whether or not it’s a report deal or an NBA contract. Hauser confirmed sufficient promise in restricted NBA minutes and never so restricted G League minutes to just do that. He made photographs, he didn’t get utterly toasted on protection, and he performed inside himself, a recipe for a strong function participant. He had discovered his place, now he wanted to carve out his sound.
Hauser’s 2022-23 season was an enormous preliminary step to cementing himself. Whereas his conventional stat-line was modest (6.4 factors, 2.4 rebounds, 0.9 assists), there are some encouraging traits. Simply the most important concern with Hauser was on the defensive finish. How he slot in an NBA offense was apparent, he’s an elite, deadeye three-point shooter. Nicely, the Celtics had been 1.5 factors per 100 possessions higher with Sam on the courtroom against off. The explanation for this sizeable differential? The protection was 3.6 factors per 100 possessions higher when Hauser performed.
Brad Stevens began his tenure because the President of Basketball Operations with a really clear mantra, he wished to seek out gamers that complement the Jays. He wished backup singers, rhythm guitarists, and perhaps a dude that performs the cowbell. Hauser did simply that in his first full season. He had a optimistic impact on Jayson Tatum’s web ranking once they shared the courtroom. With Tatum on and Hauser off, the Cs had a web ranking of +7.9 (per PBP Stats). With each, the web ranking jumped a not inconsequential 1.4 factors per 100 possessions to +9.3. For context, the Celtics led the NBA with a web ranking of +6.7. His impression on Jaylen Brown was much more pronounced. Jaylen’s web ranking with Hauser off was +4.3, with Hauser on, +7.9. His early returns as a backup singer had been proper on key.
Which brings us to this upcoming season. Hauser’s likelihood to turn out to be an irreplaceable member of the band. It’s not with out fear although. The rosy numbers cited above relating to Hauser’s optimistic impression on the group and the Jays are primarily because of the protection bettering. Hauser is a strong, respectable defensive participant that has the impact of luring groups into attacking him. They suppose he’s an open wound, a gentle spot in an in any other case strong line of defense. The one band member that’s just a bit off beat, however he’s not.
He’s additionally not the kind of defensive participant that improves your protection by 3.5 factors per 100 possessions. There’s undoubtably some noise in these numbers. Whereas there’s possible some regression to be anticipated defensively, we’d get the other offensively. The Celtics had been 3.1 factors per 100 possessions worse with Hauser on the courtroom. Once more, a part of that’s in all probability noise, however one other a part of that’s how one dimensional he was final season.
If he actually desires to carve out a giant function on the Celtics, if Hauser desires to be greater than a travelling backup singer, he must diversify his offensive assault. There’s a world the place Sam Hauser is taking part in 25 minutes an evening and will get actual, trustworthy playoff minutes, he simply must perform a little extra offensively.
Hauser’s jumpshot is a weapon. One which he can leverage to create alternatives for himself. He took 396 subject targets final 12 months. 307 of them had been 0 dribble threes. He’s superb at catching and capturing, it bends defenses and will enable him to do two issues he might be good at with out the necessity of an improved deal with or above common athleticism.
The primary is minor relocation threes, the Duncan Robinson particular. When he comes off screens, or catches out of decide and pop, defenses scramble. They know in the event that they go away him open, that shot goes in. He shot 0 dribble threes at an elite 42.7% final 12 months. When defenses overreact like that, you may take benefit. A pump pretend, one dribble, and he can generate a large open three on command. The issue is that he barely took a lot of these photographs, and he was fairly dangerous at them when he tried, albeit on a small pattern dimension.
If Hauser can diversify his offense a bit, he can actually turn out to be a weapon on that finish. 307 of his 396 FGAs had been 0 dribble 3s. Shot an elite 42.7% on them, however he is fairly 1 dimensional. His 3pt% dropped to 32.1% if he took 1 or extra dribbles. 1 dribble relocation can be lethal. pic.twitter.com/Y8aJPBhuDg
— Wayne Spooney (@WSpooney) July 22, 2023
Some of these photographs are very makeable for a shooter like Hauser, he simply must get extra aggressive in taking them. It should open him up as a respectable offensive choice on the weakside flying off screens and might deliver a distinct dimension to the Celtics offense they haven’t had because the days of Ray Allen.
Second is a taller ask, however nonetheless doable. Generally the backup singer must step up and belt out a solo. Generally Sam Hauser must step up and go to the rim. The specter of his jumpshot will get defenders operating at him typically. They may attempt to run him off the road. In the event that they do, he must drive, and drive onerous. He did that sometimes final 12 months, and when he did, it was extremely profitable.
It could be nice if Hauser acquired extra aggressive on the drive this season. He truly completed very well across the rim (80% from <5 toes), however solely 45 makes an attempt in reg. season and 1 (sure 1) within the playoffs. Would maintain D trustworthy and open up his sport loads. pic.twitter.com/pyUad7NsYj
— Wayne Spooney (@WSpooney) July 25, 2023
He shot 80% beneath 5 toes final 12 months; the issue is the quantity. With solely 45 makes an attempt, about 0.5 photographs a sport, he’s not producing any actual worth. He merely must be extra aggressive attacking the rim in opposition to onerous closeouts. I don’t anticipate him to be Paul Pierce pumping and blowing by defenders to complete over size, however he can positively be Duncan Robinson. Utilizing the specter of his shot to maintain defenders off steadiness and make it simple for himself.
Attending to the rim even as soon as a sport will go a protracted solution to diversifying Hauser’s sport. When you mix that with a extra aggressive pull-up repertoire and strong however unspectacular protection, he can flip himself into a wholly totally different participant. Sam will go from buzzing the refrain whereas the Jays belt it out to having a solo of his personal each occasionally. The Celtics can go from being a three-piece band to a full-on orchestra, and that at all times sounds higher.
