After holding a 12-point lead going into the 4th quarter, the Celtics finally fell brief of their rematch with the Cleveland Cavaliers who’re nonetheless the #1 ranked workforce within the NBA. Whereas the style through which Boston misplaced was actually disappointing, the end result wasn’t essentially sudden coming into the night time. The Celtics had been down two of their high 4 gamers, with Jaylen Brown being sidelined as a result of a non-COVID sickness and Derrick White with a foot sprain.
One massive cause this sport felt inside attain was because of the contributions of Sam Hauser, who obtained the beginning instead of White. Hauser performed the third most minutes of anybody within the sport at 36:04, solely behind Tatum at 37:48 and Pritchard at 36:07. Sam possible would have surpassed Pritchard as nicely if it weren’t for him fouling out with simply 15 seconds left.
Sam gave his final two fouls inside 7 seconds of sport time of one another in an effort to increase the sport. After receiving his sixth, he was visibly a bit annoyed, most likely as a result of he was giving his all all through the whole sport and wished an opportunity to assist the workforce shut it out. At that time, Payton Pritchard had simply hit a 3 to carry the Cavaliers’ lead right down to 1. With one other foul, the Celtics would have had an opportunity to tie or take the lead relying on what number of free throws Cleveland hit.
With the way in which Hauser had been capturing, he would have been a high candidate to take that deciding shot on the Celtics’ subsequent possession had he not been pressured to sit down. Finally, Darius Garland sunk each free-throws, and Kenny Atkinson had his workforce flip to the foul sport as nicely to forestall the Celtics from doubtlessly tying the sport, leading to a 4-point Cleveland win.
Boston dropping this sport might have overshadowed Sam’s efficiency, however he quietly crammed out the stat sheet. He ended the sport with 13 factors, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and three steals on 5-8 capturing, 3-6 from three. His 3 steals had been tied for a game-high with Porzingis, and every one gave the Celtics a giant push. A lot in order that Sam was second on the workforce by way of +/- at +3, solely behind Al Horford who was a +6.
Hauser most likely would have earned himself a number of Tommy Factors as nicely, tied or main the workforce in a number of hustle stats as nicely. In line with NBA monitoring information, Sam lead each groups in deflections at 5, the subsequent highest whole being 2 by various gamers throughout each groups. He additionally had 2 recovered unfastened balls, tied for probably the most on each groups with a number of gamers. He and Kornet additionally contested the second most photographs for the Celtics, solely behind Porzingis.
Sam stepped up when his title was referred to as, and it appears as if his journey to the NBA has instilled him with an actual profitable mentality. From being undrafted and dealing his method by way of the G-League to finally being a key-rotational participant for a championship workforce, Sam provides his all each night time. He’s usually focused on protection, however groups haven’t but caught on to the truth that Hauser doesn’t again away from a problem, and infrequently turns it in his favor.
Equally, he’s been having a down capturing 12 months to this point, however that appears to solely gas his effort ranges all through every sport. He by no means passes up an open shot or loses confidence. He doesn’t take possessions off when he doesn’t get the ball both, setting screens, spreading the ground, and crashing the offensive glass from the corners almost each time a shot goes up. Like he did tonight, he fights to maintain possessions alive, and provides his full effort on protection irrespective of the end result.
Regardless of signing a brand new contract extension this previous offseason, he’s not glad, and he by no means provides something lower than 100%. He was an enormous figuring out think about Boston’s success final 12 months, and he possible will likely be once more this 12 months. Sam Hauser is a profitable participant – plain and easy. He wouldn’t have gotten this far if he wasn’t. His efficiency final night time solely additional bolstered that.
