3 Studs, 3 duds from Celtics blowout preseason win over Nuggets
By Jack Simone
Stud - Sam Hauser
In Boston’s first preseason game, Sam Hauser shot just 2-of-8 from behind the three-point line. It was less than ideal. But he bounced back in a big way on Sunday.
By the time he checked out for good, Hauser put up 15 points and snagged eight rebounds. He shot 6-of-7 from the field and 3-of-3 from beyond the arc.
Usually, it’s Hauser’s three-point shot that determines whether or not he has a good game. That was largely the case in the first preseason game in Abu Dhabi. In the second game, Hauser was much more than his threes.
It looks fairly clear that Hauser worked on his game off the dribble this summer. He looked very comfortable putting the ball on the floor and working in the mid-range area.
He was driving on defenders and pulling up with ease, sinking most of the shots that came his way. Shot creation isn’t always going tobe Hauser’s specialty, but with some preseason freedom, he capitalized.
If he can become a player the Celtics trust to put the ball on the floor and make a couple of plays every game, it could unlock new offensive options. That would be yet another luxury in the Celtics’ lineup.