The Celtics may already have the stretch big they’ve been hunting for, and Luka Garza is making it hard to look anywhere else.
What started as a nice little shooting wrinkle last season has turned into something much bigger. Garza kept knocking down threes throughout his first year as a rotation player, and now he looks even more dangerous.
Nine games into the season, he’s hitting 54.2% of his three-pointers while taking almost three a night, all in just 13.2 minutes per game. When he’s open - and he’s often open - he’s firing without hesitation, and the stroke looks clean.
That kind of start would be eye-catching on its own, but it’s not coming out of nowhere. Garza shot 43.3% from deep last season on 127 attempts, so this isn’t just a tiny hot streak.
The sample keeps growing, and the results keep holding. He’s clearly put in the work, and Boston needs to lean into it.
The center rotation makes the case even stronger. Neemias Queta has been excellent again and has looked even better since returning to the starting lineup, but Mitchell Robinson has been a disappointment.
Garza’s shooting gives the Celtics something different at the five: real spacing, not just the idea of it. That should matter.
He’s never been just a shooter, either. Garza has always brought elite rebounding, solid screen-setting, and soft touch around the rim.
Now he’s added a dependable three-ball and taken real steps defensively, turning himself into a high-impact role player. At some point, the numbers stop being a curiosity and start becoming the story.
And the numbers are loud. His per-36 production looks like a 20-and-10 player with wild efficiency, and Boston is plus-55 when he’s on the floor this season despite his 119 total minutes. That’s not something to shrug off.
The Celtics don’t need to turn him into a featured centerpiece or suddenly hand him 30-plus minutes a night. But they do need to give him a much longer look. Garza has answered every test so far, and he’s earned a bigger role.
In Other News...
Celtics Injury Scare Faded Fast But One Bigger Concern Still Looms
Payton Pritchards brief scare in Wednesdays game turned out to be exactly that, a scare. The Celtics guard left after a right eye abrasion affected his vision, but he was back in the mix by Friday at Charlotte, easing immediate concern around a player who has become a steady part of Bostons rotation. Pritchard also dealt with a right shoulder contusion, and he spoke about the teams progress this season as the Celtics continue sorting out their early rhythm.
The larger question around Boston, though, still sits with Jayson Tatum and the long road back from his Achilles injury. Tatum has been managing occasional rest nights as he works through the recovery process, a reminder that the Celtics are still balancing short-term availability with the bigger picture of getting their star fully right. For a team trying to build momentum, Pritchards quick return helped, but the more important health storyline is still the one that will shape Bostons season for a while. [Read more 🡒]
Derrick White Just Gave The Celtics What They Need Most
Derrick White gave the Celtics a needed lift in the win over the Hornets, blending the kind of joy and aggression that has made him such an important part of Bostons rotation. He finished with 18 points, knocked down four 3-pointers, and added five assists, four rebounds and a steal while looking every bit like the steady two-way presence the Celtics lean on when the offense needs a jolt.
Whites value goes well beyond the box score, though his shot-making was especially welcome after an uneven start to the season from deep. Boston has long counted on him as both a playmaker and a defender, and nights like this are a reminder of why his game fits so cleanly alongside the teams bigger stars. [Read more 🡒]
Former Celtics Big Is Suddenly Becoming A Real Rotation Factor Elsewhere
Charles Bassey has gone from a brief Celtics stop to carving out a real role in Golden State, where his energy and physicality have made him a useful rotation piece. The big man has already appeared in seven of the Warriors nine games, giving them a steady interior presence while scoring efficiently, rebounding and protecting the rim in limited minutes.
The early returns have been hard to ignore for a Warriors team that has clearly benefited from his presence. Bassey is shooting 65.5% from the field and averaging seven points, 5.3 rebounds and a block per game, but the bigger sign of his value has been how much better Golden State has looked with him on the floor, a reminder that some frontcourt fits take a little time to surface. [Read more 🡒]