We’re struggling to recollect the final time a Sam Hauser 3-pointer touched something however the internet. It definitely didn’t occur on Wednesday night against Indiana, with all 5 of Hauser’s triples discovering nothing however twine.
Hauser nearly matched the Celtics’ single-game record for 3-pointers last Saturday in Atlanta earlier than hilariously getting snagged on 10 makes, and misfiring on six energy-drained makes an attempt earlier than coach Joe Mazzulla mercifully ended his night time in a lopsided win.
Hauser has made 25 3-pointers in his final 5 video games. Contemplate this: There are 279 gamers within the NBA who haven’t made 25 3-pointers all season. Sure, Hauser has extra 3-pointers in every week than half the league has made in half of the season.
Nonetheless, it’s been a little bit of a curler coaster for Hauser in 2025-26. He got here into the brand new marketing campaign as a starter on a robust $10 million per year extension, however acquired shuffled to the bench after three video games due largely to Boston’s rebounding woes. Hauser’s shot was off at occasions to start out the season, and his minutes dipped beneath even his common on Boston’s current talent-surplus groups.
Even in these moments, Hauser was a constructive for the Celtics when he was on the courtroom. However now his shot is falling, and he’s given an already-potent offense one other jolt whereas shuffling again to the beginning function.
Let’s crunch the numbers on all of the ways in which Hauser helps Boston thrive when he’s on the courtroom:
The turnaround
Let’s get the capturing dialogue out the way in which. After some woes to start out the season — no less than by his lofty, above-40 percent-on-3-pointers requirements — Hauser has discovered his groove over the past 16 video games. Simply have a look at the spikes in his scoring and capturing efficiencies:
Most notable: Hauser was capturing 32.1 p.c on all pull-up 3-pointers by way of the primary 26 video games. He’s as much as a scorching 52.4 p.c over his final 16 video games.
Catch and shoot will all the time be Hauser’s bread and butter — and even that share jumped 12.8 p.c to 47.2 p.c in his final 16 video games — however he’s creating all kinds of high quality makes an attempt currently, together with some sneaky moments the place he places the ball on the ground and ventures contained in the arc.
Nothing however internet for starters
The Celtics’ beginning 5 that includes Hauser is outscoring opponents by a whopping 19.2 factors per 100 possessions over 149 minutes of flooring time this season.
Among the many 40 five-man lineups within the league with no less than 100 minutes performed this season, Boston’s starters rank fourth in internet score behind solely lineups from Oklahoma Metropolis, Denver, and — surprisingly — Charlotte.
Slender that all the way down to the 25 lineups with 120+ minutes this season, and Boston’s beginning 5 vaults to second in internet score, trailing solely the Denver starters when Nikola Jokic was wholesome.
The Celtics rank second within the NBA in offensive score this season at 121.3, trailing solely the Nuggets (121.5).
Fast choices, good ball safety
Hauser is an ideal match for the beginning group partly as a result of his presence forces defenders to remain hooked up and creates area for teammates. What’s extra, he makes fast choices and takes care of the basketball.
The stat crunchers at BBall Index notice that Hauser ranks 74th out of 513 NBA gamers this season in quick-decision go share, with 86 p.c of his touches lasting 0.5 seconds or much less. Hauser ranks 57th out of 513 gamers whereas committing 1.75 turnovers per 100 touches.
His bad-pass turnovers have crept up a bit this season, however he’s routinely valued the ball all through his profession and is a prepared ball-mover when he doesn’t have a top quality look.
Defending with out fouling
It’s nonetheless comical to look at gamers journey throughout themselves making an attempt to go at Hauser in isolation. Hauser routinely competes in these conditions, all whereas avoiding fouls by preserving his arms up. In reality, the numbers counsel he’s been one of the best isolation defender on the staff this season.
Opponents are averaging 0.68 factors per play in isolation towards Hauser this season, one of the best mark of the ten Boston gamers who’ve defended sufficient possessions to qualify. Opponents are capturing 28 p.c in these cases and switch the ball over on 11.8 p.c of these possessions. Hauser ranks within the 89th percentile amongst all isolation defenders.
Total, the NBA’s monitoring knowledge means that opponents are capturing 0.7 p.c beneath anticipated output when Hauser is the closest defender. That is one other strong quantity contemplating the number of gamers Hauser defends.
On Wednesday night time towards Indiana, Hauser spent a number of activates Pascal Siakam. He had one wonderful isolation cease early within the recreation, then acquired beat off the dribble later within the recreation and dedicated a tricky and-one foul.
Nonetheless, Hauser commits fouls on simply 2.3 p.c of his staff’s performs, which is an elite quantity for a participant routinely tasked with defending an array of wings and bigs. What’s extra, he commits capturing fouls on a mere 7.4 p.c of his contested photographs, which ranks within the 89th percentile for his place.
Rick Osentoski-Imagn Pictures
Rick Osentoski-Imagn Pictures Sam Hauser has been one of many Celtics’ greatest isolation defenders this season regardless of routinely drawing robust matchups.
Cleansing the glass
Hauser additionally quietly does a pleasant job on the glass. His defensive rebound share is as much as 14.6 this season, which might be one of the best full-season mark of his profession.
Boston grabs 69.8 p.c of accessible defensive rebounds with Hausers on the courtroom this season, the third-best mark on the staff behind solely facilities Luka Garza (72.0) and Neemias Queta (70.2).
Last ideas
Whereas Hauser’s repute hinges closely on his shotmaking skills, he continues to search out methods to positively influence the Celtics past scoring.
In a league the place shooters with different abilities are a number of the Most worthy commodities, Hauser is a real luxurious, notably whereas accounting only for 6.5 p.c of the cap this season, whilst his extension kicks in.
With the NBA commerce deadline lingering, and the Celtics having solely a restricted quantity of tradable contracts, Hauser’s identify will invariably be floated at occasions. The previous few weeks have been a agency reminder of how helpful he’s to this staff and its quest to return to title contender standing.
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