Out on the floor, hours before the game starts, Sam Hauser runs through his routine. He takes the typically different types of shots a shooter might take. Some are simple catch-and-shoot, some are off a cut, some off the dribble. But no matter which shot he shoots, two things remain the same: his form, and the high arc.
“Honestly I’ve been shooting like that since I was a little kid and they go in a decent amount,” he said after the team’s loss to the Raptors. “It’s not really something I think about. It’s just kind of the way my shot comes off my hand and that’s about it really.”
It might be the softest 3-point shot in the league. The sound of it when it goes through the net seems … different. It’s almost as if the angle and the speed of it makes the nylon thwap at a different frequency.
The most important thing, though, is that they're going in. He has nine 3-pointers over his first two preseason games with the Celtics, suddenly asserting himself as an important part of what the Celtics are trying to accomplish this season.
Hauser was a critical part of game-breaking runs in both preseason games, finding the proper spots to give Malcolm Brogdon outlets on drives. Of Brogdon’s 18 assists so far this preseason, seven have gone to Hauser, more than any other of his teammates.
“Yeah, two Virginia guys,” Hauser joked about the Cavalier connection. “When I’m playing with him just to stay ready, because he knows where I’m at on the floor at all times. So he’s easy to play with. He’s a playmaker. He gets others open as well as himself, so it’s fun playing with him.”
It’s hard to go from\undrafted to a potentially key piece of a championship contender after just one season, but Hauser’s shot-making ability at 6’7” gives Boston a floor spacer with size. Joe Mazzulla has told Hauser to just hold his own on defense, which he has done often enough to be encouraging. That's not exactly the most ringing endorsement of his defensive skills, but all he needs to be is adequate if he keeps hitting shots the way he is.
And while it would be nice if Hauser continued to hit 69% of his 3-pointers, everyone knows that number is not sustainable. But what is, is his ability to navigate the open space left in the wake of the team’s stars … and that will give him the chance to hit enough shots that it won’t matter that he’s more 3 than D.
“I tell Sam he should send me a thank you card for being on the floor together,” quipped Jayson Tatum. There's no greater sign of respect from Tatum than him busting your chops in the media. “Sam is obviously a great shooter and his game has come a long way. I’m happy for him. I’m happy he’s getting these opportunities, and he’s obviously making the most out of it, and we’re going to need him. He’s going to play a role for the team this year.”
Jaylen Brown agrees.
“Sam’s light’s out,” Brown said, “Him being able to spread the floor makes the game easier for everybody else, especially when he's shooting the ball like that. Watching Sam out there today was fun.”
Circumstances change in an instant in the NBA. Hauser’s life changed when Danilo Gallinari went down with a torn ACL in the Eurobasket tournament. Boston was suddenly without a key element of its offense, but instead of rushing out to fill the void with someone like Carmelo Anthony, they decided to be patient and see if Hauser could handle the job.
The answer so far is a resounding yes.
“Them showing confidence in me gives me confidence to kinda show what I can do to the best I can and help these guys win and try to get back to where we were last year,” Hauser said.
Last year, he was watching from the bench in street clothes. He was a two-way player with one skill and a lot of other stuff to work on. Now, he’s been thrust into an important element of a Boston offense that's been humming so far in the preseason. His ability to hit shots is sending a warning to defenses around the league that they have to respect him on the floor or pay a steep price. If he can keep this up, the symbiotic relationship between floor-spacer and stars can be beneficial to everyone.
Hauser is a 3-point specialist, and those guys are like home run hitters in the NBA. The ball travels a long way and when it lands where it’s supposed to, it can light up an arena. The thrill of a guy like Hauser catching a heater can change the momentum of a game, even a preseason game like this one.
“I could hear the ‘ohhhhh,’” Hauser said of the crowd’s anticipation after his shot went up. “It’s cool. I didn’t get to play much last year and experience the atmosphere on the floor. So it’s been pretty cool these last couple of games to take it all in and I can’t wait for the crowd in the regular season.”