Over the past few seasons, Sam Hauser has been a vital part of the Boston Celtics rotation. Hauser’s size, shooting, and high IQ make him an ideal fit in the Celtics’ system. However, the 6-foot-8 wing is in the midst of a down season, in large part due to a back injury that has kept him sidelined at various points of the season. Let’s dive into Hauser’s comments and how his back injury is impacting his play.
Celtics’ Forward Sam Hauser Opens Up About Nagging Injury
Before the Celtics’ recent game against the Indiana Pacers, Hauser discussed his back injury and how it’s affected his season so far.
Sam Hauser on having to deal with back injuries:
“It sucks, obviously, getting hurt — but just trying to do everything I can not to let it happen again.
“It’s been a little frustrating… trying to find a rhythm. And that’s tough sometimes, but just working through it.” pic.twitter.com/bPK0ZxAw1z
— Noa Dalzell
(@NoaDalzell) December 27, 2024
Last season, Hauser averaged 9.0 points and 3.5 rebounds on 44.6 percent shooting from the field and 42.4 percent from beyond the arc. Through 24 games this season, he is averaging 7.7 points and 3.3 rebounds on 42.5 percent shooting from the field and 35.6 percent from beyond the arc. Hauser’s injury is a key reason for his down year. Notably, Hauser has already missed more games than the previous two seasons combined. His dip in three-point shooting has been the most noticeable drop-off.
Hauser’s shooting has been a central part of his and the Celtics’ success in recent years. Before this year, Hauser had shot 40 percent or more in each of his three seasons, dropping to a league average 35 percent is certainly concerning. This dip in shooting is paired with the Celtics’ three-point percentage declining from 38.8 to 36.6 while the team is taking eight more threes per game. Additionally, Hauser looks less mobile on both ends of the floor. In the Celtics’ recent game against the Pacers, Hauser earned a starting spot with Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday sidelined, he scored four points on 2-8 shooting from the field and 0-5 shooting from beyond the arc.
Can Hauser Get Back on Track?
While Hauser has struggled so far this season, he is still an important part of the Celtics’ rotation, and there’s plenty of time for him to get back on track. Despite his struggles, Hauser is still averaging 21.7 minutes per game compared to 22 minutes last season; this underscores Joe Mazzulla‘s trust in him.
Hauser has missed five games due to his back injury, including recent consecutive games against the Chicago Bulls and three straight games in October. He also missed a game against the Detroit Pistons in December with an abductor injury. Furthermore, he has frequently been a game-time decision at various points this season due to his back injury.
To Hauser’s point, it’s challenging to find a rhythm, especially as a spot-up shooter, when you are constantly in and out of the lineup. Back injuries can linger for a while, for Hauser and the Celtics’ sake, let’s hope this injury goes away sooner rather than later. Ultimately, Hauser returning to his 2023-24 season form would greatly benefit the Celtics.
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