Luka Garza didn’t need long to make his case in Boston’s first preseason game. In under nine minutes as the starter, he flashed exactly why the Celtics have reason to feel good about their frontcourt depth.
The shot wasn’t falling - he went 1-for-5 from beyond the arc - but Garza still found ways to impact the game. He finished with six rebounds, including three on the offensive glass, and that kind of work can matter even when the scoring touch goes quiet. His plus/minus came out to minus-one, though the bigger takeaway was how useful he looked in a Mazzulla Ball setup.
That’s what makes Boston’s big-man situation so interesting. Neemias Queta and Mitchell Robinson are the two centers expected to lead the way, but Garza remains right there, ready to step in whenever needed. Last season already showed what he can do, and this latest outing was another reminder that he brings value beyond just spacing the floor.
Robinson’s availability has been part of the conversation, especially with questions about back-to-backs. Robinson has openly pushed back on that idea, but Garza’s play keeps raising the same question: does Boston’s depth make that concern less important anyway?
It’s not just that Garza is behind two strong centers. The Celtics’ overall depth is deep enough that finding him minutes could still be tricky. Even so, Garza may be too effective to keep locked into a simple “Stay Ready” role.
Joe Mazzulla clearly likes having options, whether that means different players or different lineups. He has shown a willingness to use depth aggressively and hunt advantages wherever they appear. Garza fits that approach because he is Boston’s lone stretch big, and that skill set has already been useful against top competition, including San Antonio.
There’s also the possibility of double-big looks. Mazzulla could lean that way against teams built around big lineups, such as Miami and Utah, where matching size with size might make sense.
So while Boston may not rely on Garza the way it did last season, he keeps showing he deserves real consideration. Nights like this are a strong reminder that he’s more than just emergency depth. He’s an asset who can fit into what the Celtics want to do.
In Other News...
Neemias Queta Is Chasing A Celtics Role Change Fans Will Notice
Neemias Queta has spent the offseason and training camp trying to expand the part of his game that could change how the Celtics use him. Already a useful interior big with rebounding, screening and finishing strength around the basket, Queta has focused on improving his 3-point shot so he can offer Boston a little more floor spacing when hes on the floor.
It would be a notable shift for a player who has rarely taken threes in the NBA or college and has only made one at the pro level. But for the Celtics, the appeal is obvious if Queta can make that shot a real part of his package, because even a modest threat from deep would make it harder for opponents to ignore him and easier for Boston to keep its offense moving. [Read more 🡒]
First Look At A Very Different Celtics Team Tonight
The Celtics open preseason play tonight against the Cavaliers, and the first look comes with an unusual setup on the bench. Assistant coaches Tony Dobbins and DJ MacLeay will handle the game in halves while Joe Mazzulla takes a back seat, a reminder that this stage is less about the final score and more about sorting through a roster that looks meaningfully different from last springs version.
Bostons group has undergone some real turnover, with Jaylen Brown out of the picture and Paul George, Mitchell Robinson and Mike Conley now part of the mix. Cleveland is also using October to sift through tweaks of its own after a quiet offseason, and both sides are treating this as an early evaluation night, even if the Celtics have not yet fully revealed who will actually be available to suit up. [Read more 🡒]
Joe Mazzulla Is Letting Celtics Assistants Face A Real Test
The Celtics first preseason game against the Cavaliers will come with a different look on the sideline, as Joe Mazzulla is stepping back and handing the coaching duties to two assistants. Tony Dobbins and DJ MacLeay will share the workload in Cleveland, giving Boston a chance to see how the staff functions when the head coach is not directing things in the usual way.
Mazzulla said the move is meant to give the assistants a real developmental opportunity, which matters for a bench that has already been asked to grow alongside a championship-caliber roster. It also adds a little extra meaning to the preseason opener, since both Dobbins and MacLeay have been on the radar for bigger roles and now get a live-game setting to show how they handle them. [Read more 🡒]