With the Celtics gearing up for what they hope will be a long playoff run starting on Sunday afternoon, most of their lineup questions have been settled. They’re still waiting to learn their first-round opponent, which will be the winner of Wednesday night’s play-in game between the Magic and 76ers, but for the most part, their strategy and scheme should be established regardless of opponent.
If there’s one thing that seems like it may still be up for grabs, it’s the backup center job behind Neemias Queta. Neemy has had a breakout season, going from a fringe NBA player to an everyday starter, the anchor of an elite defense, and one of the leading candidates for the Most Improved Player Award.
But the backup minutes have been a point of contention recently. To start the season, Boston was cycling through options like Xavier Tillman Sr and Chris Boucher, before settling on free agent acquisition, Luka Garza. Garza steadily got better and grew into the job, developing into an important piece of the rotation.
Garza has been out of the rotation with Vucevic healthy
Then, Nikola Vucevic came over from Chicago at the trade deadline and usurped Garza’s job, almost immediately. Vooch went down with a fractured finger, missed a month, and in that time, Garza stepped right back in and played even better than before. But Vooch recently returned, and Luka went right back to being out of the rotation.
Vooch looked better down the stretch, but still looks a step slow and awkward out there, and the fit hasn’t fully come around. Meanwhile, every time Garza steps on the floor, he looks like he belongs, including in the team’s miraculous season finale when he put up 27 and 12, and hit the game-winning three.
Garza didn't tip his hand in regards to playoff minutes
On Tuesday, Garza was asked about his relationship with Vucevic and what it’s like to compete for minutes, and Luka said all the right things:
“I think we’re both professionals at the end of the day. We care about winning. That’s what’s most important, and that’s not going to come between his and I’s relationship.”
Luka Garza on battling his friend, inspiration Nikola Vučević for playoff mins: "I think we’re both professionals at the end of the day. We care about winning. That’s what’s most important and that’s not going to come between his and I’s relationship.”pic.twitter.com/KMKYsedKNW
— Bobby Manning (@RealBobManning) April 14, 2026
If Garza is feeling hte heat of competition, or has an idea of what the backup center rotation will look like, he’s certainly not giving it away. Given how this season has played out, it would be perfectly reasonable for him to be a little annoyed with the recent reduction in role, but he has completely taken the high road instead.
However this plays out, I’m sure Garza will continue to be a pro, and to do and say the right things. But the bottom line is that he has outplayed Vucevic this season, and at this point in each of their respective careers, he may just be the better player. He deserves the minutes, and at the very least, he deserves real consideration for those minutes. Hopefully, Joe Mazzulla and the Celtics’ coaching staff agree.
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