Sam Hauser can seize the day and become a fulltime member of the band

Alternatives to alter your life or your profession don’t come round that usually. However they’re normally totally different than the films. Very not often are our lives outlined by one huge, make or break selection of which the destiny of you, or your loved ones, or typically the world is determined by. As a substitute, these alternatives play out over weeks, months, and years. The primary-year regulation scholar strolling into their very first contracts class. The apprentice electrician exhibiting as much as their first job website. Reel Huge Fish entering into the studio to document Flip the Radio Off.

Sam Hauser sits on the precipice of such a possibility. Regardless of being undrafted, he’s made his means into an NBA contract. He’s joined the Celtics on tour, now he simply must turn into a full-time member of the band.

There are steps for undrafted gamers to make the NBA and ultimately a rotation. Just like the indie band peddling their first EP from the trunk of their automotive, step one is getting the best folks to note you. Hauser did that two years in the past when the Celtics inked him to a 2-way deal. His mixture of capturing and dimension was precisely the archetype that Brad Stevens needed to encompass the Jays with.

The following step is securing the safety, whether or not it’s a document deal or an NBA contract. Hauser confirmed sufficient promise in restricted NBA minutes and never so restricted G League minutes to do exactly that. He made pictures, he didn’t get utterly toasted on protection, and he performed inside himself, a recipe for a stable function participant. He had discovered his place, now he wanted to carve out his sound.

Hauser’s 2022-23 season was an enormous preliminary step to cementing himself. Whereas his conventional stat-line was modest (6.4 factors, 2.4 rebounds, 0.9 assists), there are some encouraging traits. Simply the most important concern with Hauser was on the defensive finish. How he slot in an NBA offense was apparent, he’s an elite, deadeye three-point shooter. Effectively, the Celtics had been 1.5 factors per 100 possessions higher with Sam on the courtroom against off. The explanation for this sizeable differential? The protection was 3.6 factors per 100 possessions higher when Hauser performed.

Brad Stevens began his tenure because the President of Basketball Operations with a really clear mantra, he needed to search out gamers that complement the Jays. He needed backup singers, rhythm guitarists, and possibly a dude that performs the cowbell. Hauser did simply that in his first full season. He had a optimistic impact on Jayson Tatum’s internet ranking once they shared the courtroom. With Tatum on and Hauser off, the Cs had a internet ranking of +7.9 (per PBP Stats). With each, the web ranking jumped a not inconsequential 1.4 factors per 100 possessions to +9.3. For context, the Celtics led the NBA with a internet ranking of +6.7. His impression on Jaylen Brown was much more pronounced. Jaylen’s internet ranking with Hauser off was +4.3, with Hauser on, +7.9. His early returns as a backup singer had been proper on key.

Which brings us to this upcoming season. Hauser’s probability to turn into an irreplaceable member of the band. It’s not with out fear although. The rosy numbers cited above concerning Hauser’s optimistic impression on the group and the Jays are primarily as a result of protection enhancing. Hauser is a stable, first rate defensive participant that has the impact of luring groups into attacking him. They assume he’s an open wound, a smooth spot in an in any other case stable defensive position. The one band member that’s just a bit off beat, however he’s not.

He’s additionally not the kind of defensive participant that improves your protection by 3.5 factors per 100 possessions. There’s undoubtably some noise in these numbers. Whereas there’s seemingly some regression to be anticipated defensively, we’d get the other offensively. The Celtics had been 3.1 factors per 100 possessions worse with Hauser on the courtroom. Once more, a part of that’s most likely noise, however one other a part of that’s how one dimensional he was final season.

If he actually desires to carve out an enormous function on the Celtics, if Hauser desires to be greater than a travelling backup singer, he must diversify his offensive assault. There’s a world the place Sam Hauser is enjoying 25 minutes an evening and will get actual, trustworthy playoff minutes, he simply must perform a little extra offensively.

Hauser’s jumpshot is a weapon. One which he can leverage to create alternatives for himself. He took 396 subject targets final 12 months. 307 of them had been 0 dribble threes. He’s excellent at catching and capturing, it bends defenses and will enable him to do two issues he may be good at with out the necessity of an improved deal with or above common athleticism.

The primary is minor relocation threes, the Duncan Robinson particular. When he comes off screens, or catches out of choose and pop, defenses scramble. They know in the event that they depart him open, that shot goes in. He shot 0 dribble threes at an elite 42.7% final 12 months. When defenses overreact like that, you’ll be able to take benefit. A pump faux, one dribble, and he can generate a large open three on command. The issue is that he barely took some of these pictures, and he was fairly unhealthy at them when he tried, albeit on a small pattern dimension.

All these pictures are very makeable for a shooter like Hauser, he simply must get extra aggressive in taking them. It’s going to open him up as a respectable offensive choice on the weakside flying off screens and might carry a distinct dimension to the Celtics offense they haven’t had because the days of Ray Allen.

Second is a taller ask, however nonetheless doable. Typically the backup singer must step up and belt out a solo. Typically Sam Hauser must step up and go to the rim. The specter of his jumpshot will get defenders working at him typically. They are going to attempt to run him off the road. In the event that they do, he must drive, and drive arduous. He did that sometimes final 12 months, and when he did, it was extremely profitable.

He shot 80% underneath 5 ft final 12 months; the issue is the quantity. With solely 45 makes an attempt, about 0.5 pictures a recreation, he’s not producing any actual worth. He merely must be extra aggressive attacking the rim towards arduous closeouts. I don’t count on him to be Paul Pierce pumping and blowing by defenders to complete over size, however he can undoubtedly be Duncan Robinson. Utilizing the specter of his shot to maintain defenders off steadiness and make it straightforward for himself.

Attending to the rim even as soon as a recreation will go an extended solution to diversifying Hauser’s recreation. In case you mix that with a extra aggressive pull-up repertoire and stable however unspectacular protection, he can flip himself into a completely totally different participant. Sam will go from buzzing the refrain whereas the Jays belt it out to having a solo of his personal each from time to time. The Celtics can go from being a three-piece band to a full-on orchestra, and that all the time sounds higher.