Now that Jayson Tatum is back in the Celtics lineup, everything has fallen into place for the team, and all things are perfectly balanced. They’ve got two alpha initiators in Tatum and Jaylen Brown, a do-it-all point guard in Derrick White, a perfect sixth man in Payton Pritchard to run the second unit, a breakout young center in Neemias Queta, and a plethora of young, exciting wing players.
Lost in the shuffle has been Sam Hauser, who has been as consistent as ever. He got off to a slow start shooting the ball this season, but there has never been any doubt about his prowess from long distance, and even on off-nights, his spacing and gravity are massive for the offense.
That’s true more than ever with Tatum back in the fold. The Celtics have so many players who can create offense, so many playmakers, play-finishers, and energetic players who can create extra possessions.
But there’s still nobody on the roster who provides the elite level of shooting that Hauser does. Lots of players on the Celtics are sharpshooters. Sam is on another level. He has gotten so good at moving around in this offense, finding the open space, and forcing defenses to pay attention to him.
Hauser has become much more than a shooter
The shooting has always been there, but it’s not equally impressive how he weaponizes it. He has become a solid screener and someone who can be involved in actions, or away from the play. His ghost screens for the Jays leave teams with impossible choices, and Sam has excelled at reading coverages and making opponents uncomfortable.
Beyond how perfectly he fits into the offense as a shooter, it’s a marvel to see how far his all-around game has come. He’s a much-improved passer, a rock-solid offensive rebounder who has nearly mastered the corner crash, and a guy who can attack a closeout when necessary. The shooting sticks out because it’s on another level, but he has become a very complete player.
That tracks on the defensive end as well. For years, teams have constantly picked on Hauser due to his reputation as a shooter and the plethora of strong defenders who have surrounded him. But that bad rap is unfounded, as Sam has proven to be a solid defender, a guy who can handle most switches, moves his feet well, and uses his body to wall guys off.
He’s a heady player and is rarely caught out of place. Sure, he’s going to struggle with the quickest guards, the strongest bigs, and the most athletic wings, but Hauser is far from a defensive liability.
Hauser is obviously far from the team’s best or most important player, but he’s an absolutely perfect role player for what they need. It’s no coincidence that they always play well when he’s on the floor, and he deserves more recognition for the season he has had and the player he has blossomed into.