Jayson Tatum and Kristaps Porzingis managed the sport on Monday night time. The Boston Celtics took down the Charlotte Hornets, and the 2 stars acted as puppeteers of the offense. However Sam Hauser took middle stage.
As Tatum and Porzingis picked aside the Hornets, there was at all times house on the ground, and Hauser at all times managed to search out stated house.
If two guys went to the ball, Hauser discovered room to get open. If the Hornets had been misplaced in transition, Hauser made them pay. If Charlotte tried to cease a drive with assist protection, Hauser was proper there, able to obtain a go.
His massive night time was highlighted by a falling-away three within the nook that got here off a transition alternative.
It was his fifth triple of the night, and at that time, all he wanted was the ball and house to get the shot up.
“If I can get my toes down beneath me and explode up, I believe it has a very good likelihood of stepping into,” Hauser stated.
Hauser completed the night time with a team-high 25 factors whereas taking pictures 7-of-9 from past the three-point line.
Payton Pritchard and Hauser have developed nice chemistry over the course of the season. The bench duo ranks thirteenth in help combos on the workforce, as Pritchard has dished out 43 dimes to Hauser this yr (not together with Monday night time’s affair).
Being an incredible shooter is one factor, and with the ability to transfer with out the ball is one other. However Hauser’s capability to grasp and react to his teammate’s tendencies is what makes him such a strong weapon in Boston’s offense.
“Yeah, I imply, I’m sprinting to the nook, after which if he begins to snake dribble to the center, I’m gonna attempt to fill again up,” Hauser stated of his chemistry with Pritchard. “I believe all through this yr, I’ve type of gotten a really feel of enjoying with him enjoying with D-White enjoying with Jrue [and] seeing what they love to do.”
The Celtics’ star energy is what makes them a very good workforce, however their function gamers make them nice. Having snug off-ball gamers makes a world of a distinction, particularly when the beginning lineup consists of 5 guys who thrive with the ball of their arms.
As Tatum, Porzingis, and the remainder of the primary 5 undergo their progressions, slowly breaking down the protection, Hauser is at all times there.
“His confidence,” Joe Mazzulla stated on how Hauser has grown this season. “However I believe simply layers of our offense is what unleashes him and the fellows’ understanding that he’s a weapon in several methods. And so after we get to the second and third layer of our offense, particularly when groups are guarding us a sure manner, it actually unleashes guys like Sam.
“And so simply his confidence, after which his teammates, persevering with to belief him and discover them inside the layers of our offense.”
