When Sam Hauser drained a three at the 5:50 mark in the third quarter on Monday night, he did it after coming off a Luka Garza screen. But before he shot, he paused, just for a millisecond, and looked at Garza. He saw that Garza was ready to roll to the hoop, and he put up the shot.
Garza has emerged as one of the most impressive offensive rebounders in the NBA, and the Boston Celtics are using that skill to their advantage. Hauser knew that when he shot the ball, Garza was going to be ready to fight for an offensive board if the shot missed.
That time, it didn’t. But in that moment, he and the Celtics sent a clear signal: If Garza is rolling toward the basket, fire up shots.
If Luka Garza is on the court, fire away
In football, when a receiver is good enough, a joke phrase often pops up. Take Justin Jefferson, for example. If JJ McCarthy is getting swarmed in the pocket, but Jefferson is in a one-on-one situation, the phrase, ‘F*** it, Jefferson’s down there somewhere,’ is applicable, as McCarthy could just heave the ball in his general direction.
For Boston, that phrase takes a similar meaning. If Garza is running toward the basket, it’s, ‘F*** it, Garza’s down there somewhere.’
That’s what happened on Monday night against the Indiana Pacers.
Early in the second quarter, Anfernee Simons found himself open with space to shoot behind the three-point line. He looked at the paint, saw Garza, and fired up the triple.
The shot missed, but Garza made good on his unspoken promise. He corralled an offensive rebound with four Pacers players around him and put it back up and in for two points.
Again, mid-way through the third, Simons came off a screen from Garza. He peeked over, saw Garza rolling, and fired up a shot. It missed, but Garza got the offensive board.
It’s very possible, perhaps even likely, that Simons, Hauser, and whoever else finds themselves in this position is merely reading whether or not they have a pass to Garza open on the roll.
However, in the back of their minds, they know what he’s capable of when he’s on the floor. They are very clearly more comfortable taking shots when he’s around the basket. He’s a human vacuum on the offensive glass.
On Monday night, his efforts on the boards lifted Boston throughout its comeback, and they managed to take down the Pacers.
The Celtics are sending a clear message: If Garza is on the floor, shoot away.