While many Boston Celtics fans are stressing out over how the team dropped a 22-point lead to lose to the Detroit Pistons on Opening Night, the players on the team seem less concerned despite the familiar collapse. We can count vet forward Sam Hauser among them, who said as much following Celtics practice on Thursday (Oct. 22).
"I don't think it's concerning," said the Virginia alum via CLNS Media. It's the first game of 82. "So there's definitely going to be kinks that we're going to have to work out. And obviously we ran into a few things last game. But I don't think we're concerned. I think we showed flashes of being really, really good and then flashes of areas where we need to improve."
"I think that's the battle you go through each and every season," added the Celtics sharpshooter. As to what went wrong in Game 1 of 82, he said "they picked up the pressure a little bit. We didn't handle it necessarily too well, (and should) execute a little bit better on offense and then rebounding at the end of the day is always important."
That rebounding was especially hurt by Boston's two best bigs, Neemias Queta and Mitchell Robinson, combining for just 7 boards. At least to start the season, their chemistry with the team seems off, which Hauser deemed important. "I think they're so involved in what we do," he said.
"Setting off ball screens, running the floor ... rolling the rim hard, protecting the rim on the other end. They do a lot for us and when they're at their best, then usually we're at our best too. So we put a lot on them and they can handle it. But it's not always an easy job. But those two and Luka (Garza) as well are cut out for it."
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This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Sam Hauser seems unworried about rough Boston Celtics start, bigs chemistry