Sam Hauser is absolutely torching the nets this season, hitting a career-high 43.5% from three-point range, and yeah, I owe the man a huge apology. After last season wrapped up, I genuinely thought his time in Boston was probably winding down. My thinking wasn’t a jab at his skills, but I figured the team needed a shake-up, and his contract looked like the easiest way to make that happen, or at least open up minutes for some of the younger wings to prove their worth. Turns out, that analysis completely missed the mark, undervaluing how flat-out awesome Hauser has been for a long, long time.
Hauser Is Back and Better Than Ever
Forget that “down year” last season where he shot 39.3% from deep. Hauser has bounced back big time, and then some. He is currently hitting a blistering 43.5% from beyond the arc. That’s not just good, that’s career-high good! He has reestablished himself as one of the league’s top marksmen, ranking fourth in the entire NBA in three-point attempt rate. With Boston’s offense flowing more freely this year, Hauser is a massive part of their system, whether he is setting on-ball or off-ball screens. He is the guy flying around stagger screens, catching passes, and draining shots on the move. Plus, his usual ghost screen and pick-and-pop game are creating all sorts of advantages, either for himself or whoever is handling the ball.
The Perfect Offensive Piece
Seriously, this guy is a wizard without the ball. Hauser’s ability to maintain proper spacing and generate those crucial 2-on-1s might fly under the radar for some, but they are absolutely essential to how the Celtics want to play. He is an incredibly threatening off-ball option, and it is no surprise he has been a staple of those Jayson Tatum-led bench units that, let’s be real, historically crush opposing teams. This year is no different. When Tatum and Hauser share the floor, the Celtics boast an insane +26.6 Net Rating. You know I try not to treat small samples as gospel, but for these two, that number is backed by years of data. Hauser’s spacing opens up the floor for Tatum to operate, and Tatum’s gravity creates wide-open looks for Hauser. It is a perfect partnership, pure and simple.
And if that wasn’t enough, the fit with Paul George has been incredibly natural. The combined shooting threat from those two is just ridiculous, making it nearly impossible for defenses to keep up. One brief mix-up, and the defense is sprinting in rotation to Hauser, leaving someone like Payton Pritchard completely wide open in the corner. That’s the kind of chaos Hauser creates just by being on the court, and it is a nightmare for opposing teams. The Celtics beat the Milwaukee Bucks 109-102 on November 4, 2026, a game where Hauser’s impact was surely felt. This dude is a key contributor, period.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Celtics Blog.
Leave a Reply