While injuries and bumps slowed down Sam Hauser to start the season, it’s clear the reserve wing has turned a corner in recent weeks. Hauser confirmed that after his 15-point game as the Celtics beat the Heat in Miami on Monday.
“Quite honestly, I don’t know, just feeling better overall in general in terms of my body,” Hauser told reporters in Miami. “I think that’s the biggest part. … It’s been going pretty well. I’ve been feeling a lot better.”
Hauser helped spark the Celtics as the team started off cold, shooting 2-for-18 on 3-pointers in the first quarter. The Heat held an 11-point lead in the first quarter, but it was all C’s from there. Hauser shot 5-for-8 from deep all in the first half as the Celtics stormed in front.
Then, afterwards, it was the Jayson Tatum show once again in the third quarter. Tatum took over, shooting 8-for-11 from the field for 20 points in the frame. While the Heat threatened to make it a game after a run to end the second quarter, the C’s sprinted ahead to improve to an NBA-best 22-6 on the road.
“When you see the first one go in, sometimes the rim looks a little bit bigger after that,” Hauser said. “I guess you could say that’s the reason I made some tonight.”
Hauser dealt with back issues dating back to training camp, forcing him to miss games. Even when he was active and saw the court, it appeared to affect his play. But he’s put together healthy weeks together as the shooting numbers are also up to his lofty standards.
Through October and November in 16 games, Hauser hit 34.1% of his 3s. But in the 29 games since then, Hauser has converted on 44.5% of his 3-pointers. He’s now up to 40.5% from deep on 5.3 3-pointers per game this season. As always, though, Hauser isn’t interested in the makes-or-misses as much as the process of how he’s getting to his looks over the course of a game.
“It’s just sticking to the process and not necessarily the results of everything,” Hauser said. “Seeing if you’re taking good shots, taking the right shots. If you’re helping yourself out by getting into windows, running into transition, trying to find pockets to get a shot off. I think all that is coupled with making or missing shots.”
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