When it comes to what a reserve player needs to carve out a role with the Boston Celtics, Frank Garza, father of backup Boston big man Luka Garza, has had a front row seat to seeing it as his son works to do exactly that. But as one might expect from Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla, the principles of what the younger Garza is trying to bring to bear on the court apply to his teammates in similar positions as well. "The player development guys on the team are excellent," said the elder Garza in a recent interview with CLNS Media contributor Bobby Manning.
"And they not only know the game, they know how to coach and help a player see what he needs to do, because you just can't be a player," added the elder Garza. "They're all great players. You
have to be a solution. So what are you as a solution for the team? What are the two things you do that no one else does well?"
"Luka, offensive rebounding and stretching the court," he continued, "and he's a great bench guy, he's a great locker room guy, so you've got to be a solution."
"The staff does an excellent job of making sure each player knows what that is, and then from (Celtics president) Brad (Stevens) all the way down," said the elder Garza. "But particularly with coach Joe (Mazzulla); he believes in his guys and Luka is the best."
"Man, he'd run through a brick wall, an infernal fire to go do whatever coach asked him to do, because he loves him and he believes in him. And that belief factor is the secret sauce; it's almost a superpower."
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This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Belief, being a solution: two Boston Celtics factors for success
