The Boston Celtics have built a reputation for turning offensive-minded players into reliable defenders-and Anfernee Simons is just the latest example. Known primarily for his scoring chops during his time with the Portland Trail Blazers, Simons has started to round out his game in Boston, particularly on the defensive end. But he’s far from the only player who’s leveled up defensively in green.
One of the more under-the-radar success stories? Sam Hauser.
The sharpshooting forward isn’t exactly known for his lateral quickness or lockdown ability, but he’s become a quietly effective defender in Boston’s system. And according to Hauser, it’s not just effort-it’s preparation.
“The coaches do a good job of sending us personnel edits,” Hauser said after a recent Celtics win. That means detailed scouting reports-film breakdowns, tendencies, and statistical profiles of opposing players.
“They send us write-ups of percentages or where they're driving or how often they're driving that way,” he added. “What hand they like to drive with.”
That kind of granular intel makes a real difference for players like Hauser, who aren’t naturally built to be elite defenders. “I'm not like the quickest player laterally,” he admitted. “So for me to know that, and to try and anticipate some of these things are big for me to try to keep a guy in front and make it hard for them to try to shoot.”
This is the Celtics’ defensive blueprint in action-leaning into preparation, film work, and a deep understanding of opposing tendencies to help players stay one step ahead. It’s not about turning every player into a Marcus Smart clone. It’s about maximizing the tools each guy already has.
“I try my best,” Hauser said. “I don't always do it well, but I try my best most nights to try to play off the tendencies, and then try to force them to shoot shots that we want them to shoot.”
That last part is key. Boston’s defense doesn’t just aim to stop scorers-it aims to steer them into low-efficiency shots.
It’s a system built on discipline, communication, and trust in the scouting. And for guys like Hauser and Simons, that structure has helped them evolve into more complete, two-way contributors.
The Celtics are known for their offensive firepower, but it’s this kind of behind-the-scenes detail-coaching, film study, and player development-that’s helped them become one of the league’s most balanced teams.