Three Leaf Clover: PP’s defensive tenacity, Sammy’s floater, and the insanity of proposing at a stadium

You simply have to like the Boston Celtics fanbase. From declaring this workforce a bunch of pretenders after shedding to the Warriors in extra time to dancing on the grave of literal Kings. The rollercoaster of feelings is upon us, and I wouldn’t have it every other method. As we dive into the vacation season, let’s speak about some function gamers.

Stat of the Week: 62.5 FG%

Sam Hauser’s capturing is foundational, the kind of talent a real, sincere NBA function participant can lean on and make himself 10s or 100s of hundreds of thousands of {dollars}. Simply by advantage of capturing over 50% on extensive open 3s (an precise stat), Hauser can be within the NBA for a really very long time.

However if you wish to take your recreation to the subsequent stage, you’ve obtained to take the recommendation of the well-known funding agency Wu-Tang Monetary: you must diversify. And we’re beginning to see simply the preliminary hints of Sam doing so.

Photograph by Maddie Meyer/Getty Photographs

Given his athleticism and ball dealing with limits, I doubt we ever see Hauser add the kind of off -the-bounce assault out of spot ups that somebody like a younger Jaylen Brown had. He’s at all times going to be restricted within the variety of occasions he can get all the way in which to the rim, and his ending skill when he will get there (though he’s 10/16 within the restricted space this season).

What we would see, and are within the early phases of seeing, is Sam discovering his floater and quick mid-range recreation. The 62.5% quantity in daring above is his FG% on paint makes an attempt outdoors of the restricted space — in different phrases, floater vary. The issue is that it’s solely on eight makes an attempt. The excellent news is that 7 of these 8 have come throughout the final 5 video games. Like giving Pikachu the thunder stone, Sam is evolving proper in entrance of our eyes.

Together with his unimaginable gravity, Hauser can stroll into the quick mid-range after a pump faux mainly at any time when he desires like he did towards Sacramento the opposite evening.

He’s even began to get a little bit fancy at occasions. Is that Luka Doncic I see?

The extra numerous Hauser’s recreation turns into, the extra harmful the Celtics can be, and so they already look fairly freaking harmful.

Xs and OOOhhhhhhhh’s: Payton Pritchard the hound

There’s solely a lot you are able to do defensively as a 6’1” guard, however Payton Pritchard is doing nearly every thing he bodily can. Sure, the protection will get worse when he’s on the market, nevertheless it’s nonetheless superb. It’s a must to bear in mind who he replaces, and Payton is unfortunate sufficient (or perhaps fortunate sufficient) to interchange two All-Defensive Group stage guys in Jrue and Derrick.

Pritchard won’t ever be a optimistic change defender, however what he does have, he’s obtained in abundance. This dude fights for each inch on the basketball courtroom, he hounds ballhandlers, even when it typically results in him getting beat, like on this play the place he’s throughout Malik Monk.

He doesn’t even get beat all that dangerous, nevertheless it’s sufficient to place the Celtics in slight rotation. This permits the weakside crash from Trey Lyles who places within the tip dunk. However you already know what? I’d reasonably have Pritchard aggressive, attacking his matchup’s deal with each likelihood he will get. Even when it will get him in bother on occasion, over the course of a recreation, it wears gamers out. It’s annoying and irritating as hell. Like a mosquito I feel I’ve killed a dozen occasions, however he retains coming again for me.

He additionally understands scheme and personnel, like on this play the place he jumps out at Paolo Banchero, forcing him to choose up his dribble and toss an uncomfortable move out of bounds.

While you’re on the assault on protection, good issues are inclined to occur. His display navigation isn’t good, nevertheless it’s stable. When he’s requested to go over screens towards ballhandlers, he does a great job of imitating Derrick White and his good rear-view contests.

Once more, Pritchard won’t ever be an elite defender — he’s merely not constructed for it. However he makes up for it with pure uncut tenacity. That dude by no means stops, even going at 7-footers to sluggish even the sniff of a transition alternative.

All of it provides as much as a bench guard that’s taking part in some very stable basketball. Lengthy reside Quick PP.

Non-basketball Stuff of the Week: proposing at a stadium

I used to be watching a current Warmth recreation, don’t recall who they had been taking part in, and the League Move stream will usually pipe within the in-stadium video. A few of my favourite NBA moments are from the in-stadium video, however the occasion specifically obtained me pondering.

A pleasant couple was taking part in an affordable model of the Newlywed Recreation (it’s Miami in spite of everything) and had been requested the place they went on their first date. The girl flipped over her small whiteboard with some identify I don’t keep in mind. The person flipped his over and it stated, “will you marry me?” She stated sure, very cute.

Photograph by Scott Cunningham/NBAE through Getty Photographs

I should not have that cocktail of confidence and delusion to suppose proposing in entrance of 10,000 individuals is a good suggestion. I used to be mainly sure my spouse would say sure after I proposed, however there’s at all times that .001% likelihood you’re off base. I hated getting rejected on the bar in entrance of my small group of pals, by no means thoughts in entrance of 10,000 individuals pretending to be Warmth followers. However kudos to that man, and anybody that suggest at a venue crammed with hundreds of strangers. You’re insane.