BOSTON – Heading into the season, the Boston Celtics’ largest query mark was depth.
“For you guys, not for me,” head coach Joe Mazzulla mentioned when posed with that concept.
He was by no means nervous.
On Friday evening, down three of their high 9 rotation gamers and squaring off towards an Orlando Magic squad that had crushed them 4 straight occasions courting again to final season, the Celtics wanted everybody to step up. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have been lively. As have been Derrick White and Jrue Vacation. However the Celtics wanted extra.
Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser gave them extra.
“Since Day 1, I coached them each in Summer season League, so I’ve at all times recognized they’re going to be nice rotation gamers, and I had full confidence in them final yr, and [I have] full confidence in them this yr,” mentioned head coach Joe Mazzulla.
Pritchard completed the evening with 21 factors, three rebounds, 5 assists, and one steal whereas capturing 7-of-10 from the ground and 6-of-7 from past the arc. In the meantime, Hauser put up 11 factors, seven rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals whereas capturing 4-of-8 from the sphere and 3-of-6 from distance.
Hauser (31:30) earned the second-most minutes on the staff behind Tatum, and Pritchard (28:17) wasn’t far behind in fifth. Regardless of all of the injury-led excuses that would have gotten in the best way, Pritchard and Hauser helped Boston overcome one of the biggest thorns in their side.
“We simply bought to encourage it extra,” Brown mentioned of their performances. “Video games like as we speak, it was nice to see Payton [and] Sam having the ability to [gain] confidence and be capable to simply proceed to excel. We’re gonna want that happening the road additional.”
Not solely have been the 2 bench guys capable of play throughout the Celtics’ star-heavy offense, however in addition they discovered a rhythm enjoying off one another.
“I’ve been with Sam for some time now, and in apply, we work out collectively,” Pritchard mentioned. “I feel he makes me higher.”
Bus One Boys memes apart, Pritchard and Hauser have developed an actual chemistry on the court docket. No one on the staff has assisted Pritchard extra this season than Hauser had, and the identical may be mentioned in regards to the Pritchard-to-Hauser connection, too.
“He makes me turn out to be a greater shooter as a result of I don’t know anyone that basically shoots like him,” mentioned Pritchard. “Like, catch-and-shoot, he’s unbelievable. So, I do know what sort of participant he’s, and I’m at all times on the lookout for him.”
Over the course of Boston’s final 10 video games, Pritchard is capturing 41.9% from deep on 4.3 makes an attempt per sport, whereas Hauser is capturing 49.1% on 5.5 three-point makes an attempt per contest.
They’ve been lights out from distance, however that’s not the place their affect ends. Pritchard and Hauser have at all times been top-notch three-point shooters, however now, they’re including expertise on the opposite facet of the ball.
“I feel the expansion for them this yr has been on the defensive finish,” Mazzulla mentioned. “They proceed to get higher in our system.”
In the midst of the primary quarter, Paolo Banchero attacked them. On two possessions throughout the span of a minute, he went at Hauser and Pritchard. Neither sport him an inch.
Hauser’s defensive enhancements have been clear all season, and Pritchard has at all times been an effort-first participant on that finish. However to see them step up on each ends of the court docket in a sport as huge as Friday’s was telling.
“We bought to proceed to emphasise after we can to play via Sam, play via Payton after they’re enjoying effectively. You already know what I imply?,” Brown mentioned. “I feel that’s going to be extra vital to the long run than enjoying via me proper now, you understand, or enjoying via JT. We bought to instill confidence in these guys.”
Tatum may have his moments. Brown will, too. However as December nears its shut and groups across the league solidify their identities, the star-studded, supposedly top-heavy Celtics are getting contributions up and down the roster.
And it’s laying a basis that would pay dividends down the road.
“I’m loving what I’m seeing proper now,” Brown mentioned. “D-White’s assured. He’s enjoying unreal. Payton and Sam are assured. They’re enjoying effectively. We bought guys coming in that haven’t performed in a month and [are] contributing. It’s simply [such] good power proper now.”
