Boston Celtics: Sam Hauser has re-discovered his sharpshooting touch

If all it took for Sam Hauser to regain his shooting touch was to be inserted into the starting lineup, the Boston Celtics should have made that move weeks ago.

Okay, yes, the move was necessitated by injuries. But Hauser stepped up in recent weeks and hopefully that momentum will be carried forward once play resumes after the All-Star break.

Hauser filled in with might and precision and has had a productive February. A fantastic sign, considering his struggles in recent months.

Hauser’s fire stretch for Boston Celtics

Greatness was thrust upon Hauser for a five-game stretch for the Celtics in February. With Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart both missing time, Hauser’s playing time increased and he accepted the challenge in style.

A five-game stretch saw Hauser score in double digits in each game. His best was a 20-point effort, with the aid of six 3-pointers, in a victory over the Memphis Grizzlies. In these five games, Hauser averaged 15.2 points per game and made 22-41 three-point attempts, including a 4-4 night in a victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.

The double-digit scoring stretch ended when Smart returned in Wednesday night’s victory over the Detroit Pistons. With Derrick White rolling and the Celtics nearly at full-strength, Hauser was not quite needed as much, resulting in only five points on four field goal attempts.

Hauser, even with a 0-point game in February, is still averaging 11.1 points. He’s doing so making 50 percent of his three-point attempts.

On the season, in just under 16 minutes per game (playing in all but two games), Hauser averages 6.3 points. He’s knocking down 41.5 percent from deep; a number that could be much better if not for a frigid December and January from the second-year player.

Boston Celtics: Hauser’s cold months

After the All-Star break, the Celtics will hopefully be healthy and back at full strength. This means Hauser returning to his previous role off the bench.

That shouldn’t mean, however, Hauser returns to his abysmal shooting during the months of December and January.

Hauser, much like his Boston teammates, started the season off with a bang. He had a 24-point effort in November against the Pistons and averaged 8.3 points per game that month.

Lights out turned to brick laying as Hauser struggled to find much rhythm and success during the months of December and January. Only twice did he score 10 points or more in these months and six times Hauser failed to register a point.

And it’s not like he wasn’t playing. It was simply a struggle to see the ball go through the hoop, as his expertise of the deep ball seemingly left him. Hauser connected only on 29.5 percent from three-point range in December/January, and many wondered if he was a true answer as the sharpshooter off the bench.

Thankfully, Hauser had a chance to get things going again. The real test lies ahead in keeping that production going. Expectations are not for Hauser to put in 10+ points every game. It’s definitely an added bonus, yes, but if Hauser can come in with quality minutes and eight or nine points per game, the Celtics will thrive. And the winning will continue, inching one step closer to gaining the top seed in the Eastern Conference.