Boston Celtics forward Sam Hauser kept the focus on consistency after a 123-91 Game 1 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday at TD Garden.
“Like Derrick said… the standard is a standard,” Hauser said. “You can take a lot from it but obviously it’s just one game and we got three more to win.”
The Celtics never trailed and built a 35-point lead, but Hauser stressed the need to balance positives with adjustments.
“Take what we can… what we did good and build off that and then figure out where we struggled a little bit and get better,” he said.
Boston’s defensive plan centered on Tyrese Maxey, who finished with 21 points on 8-of-20 shooting while facing constant pressure.
“He’s really good and obviously he’s going to score… he averaged almost 30 a game,” Hauser said. “We’re just trying to make his life hard.”
The wing pointed to limiting easy opportunities as the key.
“If he’s making tough buckets then we can live with that… can’t let him get easy ones and get himself going,” he said. “I think we did a pretty good job of that tonight.”
Boston’s switching defense required constant communication, especially between Hauser, Derrick White and Payton Pritchard.
“It’s just kind of like a read and react type thing… communicating so there’s no confusion,” he said.
The Celtics used 12 players, reflecting a rotation built on readiness rather than fixed roles.
“I know the coach has been talking to them just saying like be ready… might be 5 minutes, could be 20,” Hauser said. “You just got to make your minutes count.”
That approach showed in Boston’s balanced production, including Hauser’s seven rebounds and multiple defensive contributions.
“I think that’s kind of been our MO all year… every night it could be someone else’s night,” he said. “In the playoffs roles are really defined… what can I do on the floor to help our team be successful.”
Hauser also addressed the physical plays that swing momentum, including drawing a charge.
“I was scared but… just stepping in there trying to make a play and it went in my favor,” he said.
The forward reflected on Jayson Tatum’s return from a ruptured Achilles tendon, calling the performance notable.
“It’s pretty nuts kind of how far he’s come and how fast he’s gotten back,” Hauser said. “Just shows how determined and committed he was to his rehab.”
Tatum led Boston with 25 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists in just his 17th game this season.
Hauser connected the team’s success to internal standards rather than external expectations.
“We weren’t going to let what the outside people’s expectations… determine how we were going to handle our day-to-day process,” he said.
He also referenced the group’s mindset early in the season when Tatum was sidelined.
“JB kind of led us… the mindset each and every night was just to be the hard playing team,” Hauser said.
Boston shot 50% from the field and made 16 three-pointers, reinforcing its identity on both ends.
For Hauser, the message remains unchanged heading into Game 2.
“You got to have a lot of belief in yourself… and put a lot of work in,” he said. “That doesn’t stop on a daily basis.”
