NBA Notes: Celtics, Luka Garza, Raptors, Brandon Ingram, Sixers

Celtics

Luka Garza didn’t come into the NBA as a sure thing. He’s turning into one anyway.

A college star at Iowa, Garza had to reshape his game to stick at this level. Now in his fifth season, he’s carving out a real role with Boston, averaging 7.4 points and 3.9 rebounds in nearly 16 minutes a night while shooting efficiently across the board, as written by Spencer Davies of RG.org.

The growth didn’t happen overnight.

“Every summer, I dedicate myself, and even during the season, to improving myself, especially in the seasons where I didn’t play as much,” Garza told Davies. “That’s my main focus: getting better. I think, especially in the NBA, you’ve got to be able to adapt and change your game or mold it to find a way to have an impact on great teams.

“So for me, that impact is a little different than it was in college. Not playing as much back to the basket, not having the ball in my hands every possession like I did. But I think I’ve found ways to be extremely effective through screening, through offensive rebounding, and through scoring when the ball is in my hands in different moments.

“Picking and popping, shooting, stretching the floor. Adding the slow step, other stuff into my game has really helped me. And so, yeah, I definitely developed, and I’m a lot better than I was back then.”

So less back-to-the-basket. More screening, spacing and timely scoring. He’s added range, found ways to impact games without needing touches, and earned trust on a contending team.

Boston bet on that progression last summer. So far, it’s paying off.

Raptors

Toronto has a roster spot to fill. It just isn’t rushing.

The expectation is the Raptors will use a 10-day contract before committing for the rest of the season, per Michael Grange of Sportsnet.

Meanwhile, Brandon Ingram has quietly stayed on the floor. He’s already played his most games since his rookie year, something the team has emphasized behind the scenes.

“It took a lot of work, a lot of preparation, a lot of dedication from everybody,” coach Darko Rajakovic said, via TSN. “I am super grateful for the group of people we have that care so much, and for BI and the way he has handled the whole process.”

76ers

There’s still a path. It’s just not the one Philadelphia wants.

Tony Jones of The Athletic notes the Sixers could miss the playoffs, land in the lottery and potentially keep their protected first-round pick. Otherwise, the pick gets sent to Oklahoma City.

Not ideal. But not nothing.