When facing an opposing team's best players, there are usually two approaches for a coach. That of trusting your usual major players to do their best. Or that of sending strong defenders on a mission, in sequences, to block the star opposite. Luka Garza doesn't really fit into those two categories. However, it is to him that Chris Finch called on Tuesday to oppose Nikola Jokic.
It must be said that the Timberwolves coach didn't really have a choice. Chris Finch had to face a massacre at home, with the long-term absence of Karl-Anthony Towns and the evening packages of Rudy Gobert and Naz Reid.
The Minnesota technician tried the Kyle Anderson option as a false pivot. But the Swiss Army knife took three fouls in the first three minutes, during which the Nuggets had already taken three offensive rebounds. Enter Luka Garza, 17 appearances this season for barely four minutes per game.
Holding on against Jokic, already a success
The challenge for the former Iowa pivot seemed titanic: slowing down Nikola Jokic, the favorite for the MVP title and the most dominant interior in the league. Despite a first half largely dominated by the Serbian, already in a double-double at rest (22 points and 10 rebounds), Luka Garza hung on, receiving congratulations from the Target Center and encouragement from his teammates.
“ He withstood the shock, that's all we could ask of him tonight » said Jaden McDanielsaware that few teams manage to really get Nikola Jokic out of his demolition business.
Luka Garza did not hesitate to flex his muscles in the second period, his defense being the clearest weak point upon leaving the NCAA, where he had shone offensively with two seasons at 24 points per game.
“ I need to trust myself more and believe in myself more on that side of the floor. » he commented. “I really worked hard on my foot speed, my movement, my power… I think we could see in the second period that I was harder than I had been in the first. I respected him a little too much. But I can reach another level. I know I'm going to get there because I'm working as hard as I can to get better at this business. I just want to be able to be on the floor, be a solid defender and compensate on offense. Because whatever the scenario, I will score and do the right thing when I have the ball in my hands. »
Another asset for Wolves spacing
A little out of control in shooting (4/11 including 2/8 from distance), Luka Garza had the merit of not letting himself be weighed down by his failures. Because his ability to spread the play with his outside shot allowed at the same time to keep Nikola Jokic away from the racket and thus limit the Wolves' deficit on Tuesday under the circle – three of his misses were thus able to be followed by an offensive rebound from one of his teammates – while opening up the game more for his team.
For the greatest pleasure by Mike Conley, who with Luka Garza was able to rediscover the automatisms of his game with his usual friends on the racket. “ We would love to play even more pick-and-pop, I think that's our strength with these guys, Naz, Luka, KAT obviously… We have some of the best interior shooters in the league. If we can give them open shots, we should try to make it happen. »
Luka Garza may still be called upon Friday against the Cavs if Rudy Gobert and Naz Reid are not back in time. With 11 points, 6 rebounds and even 2 interceptions, the pivot was rather profitable during his 23 minutes, his most playing time of the season. And Nikola Jokic's Nuggets had to fight until the end.
