Sam Hauser will make his first start of the season on Wednesday night when the Celtics face the Milwaukee Bucks, as Jayson Tatum sits out for his first missed game of the year.
The lineup change comes after Tatum played in each of the Celtics' first seven games, including both back-to-backs. That level of availability had been a steady part of Boston's early-season routine, but Wednesday brings a different look against a Bucks team that is struggling at 1-7.
Hauser gets a bigger role
This will not be Hauser's first career start for the Celtics. He started 49 games for Boston last season, so this is simply his first start of the current campaign. Even so, it is a notable move because it reflects how Boston is managing its rotation as the schedule moves forward.
Hugo Gonzalez had started the previous two games before this matchup, while the Celtics also made a different adjustment on Sunday when Paul George sat and Baylor Scheierman got the starting nod. That makes Wednesday another example of Boston mixing and matching its lineup depending on availability.
What it means for Boston
For the Celtics, the immediate takeaway is simple: Tatum is out for rest, and Hauser steps into the opening lineup. Boston has not needed a major overhaul to make the change, but it does alter the team's spacing and wing rotation for a game in which it will try to keep its early momentum going.
Against a Bucks team sitting at 1-7, the Celtics will still be expected to lean on their depth and keep things organized without Tatum. Hauser's shooting is part of that equation, and Wednesday gives him a chance to take on a larger role from the start.
