The query to Jayson Tatum was direct, and so was the Celtics star’s reply, even when it was clearly in jest.
Is Sam Hauser a greater shooter than you?
“Hell no,” Tatum stated emphatically.
Tatum, to be clear, does assume Hauser is an efficient shooter — evidenced by the brand new Celtics weapon’s 5-for-8 night time from 3-point vary in Wednesday’s preseason loss to the Raptors. During a mic’d up phase posted by the C’s from a follow earlier this week, Tatum even sung the praises of Hauser.
“He can shoot,” Tatum stated. “Yo Sam, you can shoot, bro!”
Hauser noticed the clip, however it apparently missed one thing else Tatum stated.
“He claimed he’s a better shooter than me, but I don’t think he thinks that’s true,” Hauser joked. “So we’ll see.”
Tatum had a humorous response able to go.
“I tell him all the time, if I was that wide open, if people left me that wide open and all I had to do was catch and shoot, I would make a lot more shots as well,” Tatum joked. “So I tell Sam he should send me a thank you card for being on the floor together.”
All kidding other than the budding good natured rivalry, Hauser’s emergence this preseason is properly obtained by Tatum and the remainder of the Celtics. The second-year ahead, undrafted out of Virginia final yr, has nearly already locked up a roster spot after two terrific preseason video games during which he’s scored 36 factors on 9-for-13 taking pictures from deep, changing into a fast fan favourite at TD Garden within the course of.
In the wake of Danilo Gallinari’s ACL damage, Hauser is displaying he can deal with an vital position as a deadly taking pictures choice off the bench.
“Sam’s light’s out,” Jaylen Brown stated. “Him being able to spread the floor makes the game easier for everybody else, especially when he’s shooting the ball like that.”
When Gallinari went down this summer time, the Celtics didn’t panic. There had been rumors that the C’s would attempt to signal a veteran scorer like Carmelo Anthony, however they didn’t go that route. They had confidence that Hauser, who’s made large strides, may fill the void. So far, he’s rewarding that religion.
“You never want to see one of your teammates go down like that,” Hauser stated. “It’s definitely a next man up mentality and them showing confidence in me gives me confidence to kinda show what I can do to the best I can and help these guys win and try to get back to where we were last year.”
Tatum could have been joking when he stated all Hauser has to do is catch and shoot, however it’s precisely what the C’s are searching for from him. When he’s surrounded by the plentiful of scorers and playmakers the Celtics have, Hauser will usually discover himself free for wide-open seems.
Hauser appears prepared to achieve that position, one thing the C’s haven’t had a lot of lately.
“That’s kind of what I’m known for: shooting,” Hauser stated. “That’s how I will help this workforce in the easiest way doable. …
“My job is to just space the floor, find openings and be an outlet for those guys like JT, JB, Malcolm (Brogdon) and (Marcus) Smart, the guys who are making plays. So just trying to do that to the best of my ability.”
Tatum, joking apart, understands the significance of a participant like Hauser is for a Celtics workforce constructed to win a championship.
“Sam is obviously a great shooter and his game has come a long way,” Tatum stated. “I’m happy for him. I’m happy he’s getting these opportunities, and he’s obviously making the most out of it, and we’re going to need him. He’s going to play a role for the team this year.”
Small ball?
As Joe Mazzulla experiments with lineups within the preseason, the brand new coach has been testing out smaller combos that embody the 6-foot-8 Tatum because the tallest participant. Mazzulla stated it’s not one thing the C’s have practiced, however likes the concept of the lineup due to the ability, velocity and excessive basketball IQ that it brings. The coach will proceed to attempt it if the chance presents itself, particularly with Rob Williams out for the opening months of the season and the frontcourt a bit skinny.
When the C’s play that lineup, they know they’ll should put extra effort into rebounding.
“We’ve got to be aggressive on the boards,” Brown stated. “If we do that, we’ll be tough.”
Tatum appears to embrace the concept of taking part in the 5, even when that’s not how he’s essentially pondering.
“I was the tallest guy out there, but we’re just all interchangeable, moving the ball, so it’s not like I’m just sitting in the post setting screens,” he stated. “We all rebound. I might be guarding the tallest player, but I don’t look at that as playing the 5. I’m just the tallest guy out there at the moment.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com