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“Every summer, I dedicate myself, and even during the season, to improving myself, especially in the seasons where I didn't play as much,” Garza said. “That's my main focus: getting better. I think, especially in the NBA, you've got to be able to adapt and change your game or mold it to find a way to have an impact on great teams. “So for me, that impact is a little different than it was in college. Not playing as much back to the basket, not having the ball in my hands every possession like I did. But I think I've found ways to be extremely effective through screening, through offensive rebounding, and through scoring when the ball is in my hands in different moments. Picking and popping, shooting, stretching the floor. Adding the slow step, other stuff into my game has really helped me. And so, yeah, I definitely developed, and I'm a lot better than I was back then.”
Garza credits Boston’s coaching staff for getting the most out of the guys. It’s easy to look at him, Neemias Queta, Baylor Scheierman, Hugo Gonzalez, and Jordan Walsh as prime examples of what it takes to stay ready so they don’t have to get ready. “We do have a lot of great coaches who understand the game at a high level and push us in the right ways and kinda put you in a good spot,” Garza said. “I think that's helped. They put us out there. “But at the end of the day, all of us are just guys who've worked hard our entire careers and wanted the chance to show it, but haven't necessarily had the opportunity to. And so, when that time comes, luck, opportunity, timing, that's a recipe for success.”
At that point, Garza had played double-digit minutes in 25 consecutive games, establishing himself as Neemias Queta’s primary backup. Vucevic, a former All-Star and perennial NBA starter, was undoubtedly going to shoulder significant frontcourt responsibilities, and it was almost inevitable that Garza’s minutes would decline. To Garza’s surprise, after the trade, teammates went out of their way to encourage and motivate him. “When the Vooch trade happened, obviously, it was an amazing thing for our team, and he’s a great player,” Garza said on Tuesday afternoon at a court renovation in Hyde Park. “But obviously, guys know, as a team, that that would probably impact my minutes a little bit. And, I was just really surprised at some of the guys coming up to me and really just kind of giving me motivating thoughts and being like, ‘Hey, like, stay ready. We’re going to need you. You’ve done good things for us.’”
Garza was struck by the fact his teammates opted to so thoughtfully consider his situation in the aftermath of that trade. “As people, as players, that’s the kind of guys that are in that locker room,” he said. “And for me, that really meant a lot. I’m always going to be the guy with a very positive mindset. But, when you hear things like that, it helps you a lot.”
Last week, for example, the team watched a movie together in Oklahoma City. And, players regularly grab food and discuss things unrelated to the game itself. “Guys get more comfortable with each other as the season goes on — obviously, you’re on the road, you start going to dinner more, and just kind of learning more about each other.” So, when adversity strikes, players know they can lean on one another. “With this team, I think it’s honestly unique, just how close we are off the court,” he said. “Just everyone wanting to know about each other’s personal lives, and checking in, and all those kinds of things.”
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Gary Washburn: On a surreal night at TD Garden, Jayson Tatum returns to scored 15 points, with 12 rebounds and 7 assists in 27 minutes and the #Celtics beat the #Mavericks 120-100. Jaylen Brown 24, Derrick White 20, Payton Pritchard 18, Neemias Queta 16, Luka Garza 10; Klay Thompson 19, Cooper Flagg 16 (7 for 23 FG), Naji Marshall 13, Max Christie 12, Brandon Williams 11.
In a post made to the Celtics’ Instagram account, the team shared a photo scroll of 10 pictures of Jayson Tatum recently getting a workout in with the team. While the majority of the images were solo shots of Tatum, one of the pictures showed the Celtics’ star getting defended by big man Luka Garza. That image was the first indication that Tatum is at least practicing with his Celtics teammates again, and would seemingly signal that his return could be imminent. But when Tatum spoke with reporters on Saturday, though, he downplayed that idea. “I do not have a date,” Tatum said of his return. “I just take it one day at a time. I feel better than I did yesterday, and that’s the most important thing.”
Garza's modest 7.5 points per game this season don't necessarily jump off the page. Look deeper though, and it's understandable why he's earned the trust of coach Joe Mazzulla. Garza leads the team with 48.9 percent shooting from 3 and a stellar 71.8 true shooting percentage. He never takes bad shots. His 20.6 Player Efficiency Rating (PER) is behind only Jaylen Brown on the team. And that box score metric doesn't even begin to capture the hustle plays that he has become known for. "He’s been really good for us," Mazzulla told The Sporting News, pointing to Garza’s shooting, scoring, rebounding, and screening.
Growing up, he pored through old VHS tapes of superstars like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kevin McHale, and Hakeem Olajuwon. Nobody put more work in than him at becoming an old school post-up master. It took great humility to give that part of his game up. "Obviously, I love playing in the post. I will always love playing in the post. Any opportunity I get in there, I'm going to try to," Garza said. "But the role I have on this team emphasizes my screening, my ability to stretch the floor, crashing the glass. And having a role and being able to impact winning is amazing. I wouldn't trade it for anything."
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Jon Krawczinski: Wolves did a nice little welcome back video for Luka Garza and Josh Minott. Chris Finch called Garza a "culture driver" when he was here.
Taylor Snow: FINAL: Celtics 121, Clippers 118 ☘️ Brown: 33 PTS, 12 REB, 3 AST, 2 STL ☘️ Pritchard: 30 PTS (8-13), 4 REB ☘️ White: 20 PTS, 7 REB, 9 AST, 2 BLK ☘️ Queta: 14 PTS, 9 REB, 3 AST ☘️ Garza: 13 PTS, 4 REB
And, according to Noah Basketball, a data service NBA teams use that tracks how many shots players take – and make – at practices and shootarounds, Garza attempted more practice shots last year than any player in the NBA. (Only two NBA teams – one of them being the Celtics – don’t utilize that service). “The person who shot the most shots in practice, and after practice, in all of the NBA was Luka Garza – a little bit over 42,000 shots,” Frank said, his voice teeming with pride. “And the person who was next closest to him was about 12,000 shots away. So here’s a guy in Minneapolis who’s not getting any time, and is practicing three or four times more than any other player.”
Anfernee Simons ignited the Celtics in the first half, Luka Garza shifted the momentum late and Jordan Walsh provided the finishing touches to steer the Celtics to a 111-107 road win over the Magic on Sunday. Simons poured in all 25 of his points before the break, putting on a show in his hometown. Garza contributed 16 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists in 17 minutes and delivered in the clutch. Walsh canned a big-time corner 3 with 13.2 seconds remaining to extend the margin to five, and Boston held on from there.
