There weren’t many bright spots for the Celtics on Monday night in Atlanta as they got worked by the Hawks, 112-102. Boston was on the second night of a back-to-back, playing without Jayson Tatum and Neemias Queta, and it showed with the team looking a step slow and a little off for most of the night.
However, one positive was the play of Luka Garza, who stepped into the starting lineup and had a great game, putting up 20 points and 9 rebounds in 28 minutes. He shot 8/9 from the field, including 2/3 from three-point range, and he was the only Celtic with a positive net rating, at +6 for the game.
It was a solid night from Luka, but nothing out of the ordinary. He has been playing very well in the backup center role since Nikola Vucevic fractured his finger in early March. And frankly, Garza has played well enough that he deserves a chance to keep the backup center job even when Vooch is healthy.
Vooch was acquired to replace Garza
Garza started the season well, quickly supplanting veterans Chris Boucher and Xavier Tillman Sr. in the rotation. But despite his emergence, Joe Mazzulla almost immediately turned around and gave his job to Vooch after the trade deadline.
It seemed harsh, but it made sense considering the upside and pedigree of the newly acquired big man. Yet, when Vucevic went down with a fractured finger, Garza stepped right back into his old role and has played even better. He brings a relentless energy to the game that’s infectious; he’s a great screen setter, a hard roller, and a machine on the offensive glass.
It doesn’t always look pretty, and he’s got an unorthodox style, but even despite his shortcomings on the defensive end, the team has a high floor in his minutes thanks to his nonstop motor.
Garza may just be better than Vucevic at this point
The thing is, even in the ways that Vooch was supposed to give the Celtics an upgrade, Garza may now be the better option. He’s a crafty scorer around the basket and has great touch inside. He may not be as big as Vooch, but even when he gets pushed around, he gives as good as he gets. They’re both going to be defensive liabilities, but at least you know Luka will battle.
Perhaps most impressively, Garza has quietly become an outstanding three-point shooter. He’s up to 43% on the season, and shooting almost two per game. Furthermore, defenses are starting to react to his shooting, and Luka has shown improved mechanics and a quicker release as the season has gone on.
Maybe when he lost his job to Vooch, he saw his life flash before his eyes, and he’s now playing without fear. He looks more confident than ever, and it’s resulting in some great performances, like on Monday night. I’m not saying Vucevic should be put on ice thanks to his injury, but Garza has proven that it should at least be a real competition for the backup center job.