Garza's preferred finishing style at the rim

[hawkeyeguy44]

Hi all, Garza has clearly been nothing short of beast mode this entire season, particularly under the rim. However, he very clearly prefers to play off the backboard or goes to the jump hook and rarely if ever dunks.

I'm curious why. He usually makes a lot of moves in the post, do these typically put him off balance enough that dunking isn't an option? Does he lack the explosion? Or is it just a preference thing?

I never played myself so my understanding of the game is limited. I'm curious what folks think.

 

[unoHawkeye]

Imo, he usually has guys draped on him and doesn’t have the explosive ability of a guy like Tyler Cook, who was frequently able to dunk through contact. Garza usually only dunks when wide open

 

[Phenomenally Frantastic]

He cannot broad jump very high so its not that easy for him. White man problems. Need a bit of a lane and a couple steps which he rarely gets. He can flush just not easy when getting draped on by 1-2 defenders.

 

[Herky T Hawk]

Those other responses.

Plus, once you put the ball off of the backboard, the defense can't touch it or it is a goaltend. So it makes sense to use the backboard from many of the positions that he is putting the ball up while in the post. He's shooting through double-teams often and the sooner he gets the ball up off of the backboard the more likely he is to avoid a help-side shot blocker. His mid-range and long-range game is more similar to a traditional jump shooter that doesn't use the backboard.

 

[CaboKP]

He prefers AND 1s

 

[hawkeyeinmo]

Hi all, Garza has clearly been nothing short of beast mode this entire season, particularly under the rim. However, he very clearly prefers to play off the backboard or goes to the jump hook and rarely if ever dunks.

I'm curious why. He usually makes a lot of moves in the post, do these typically put him off balance enough that dunking isn't an option? Does he lack the explosion? Or is it just a preference thing?

I never played myself so my understanding of the game is limited. I'm curious what folks think.

He certainly has not dunked as much this year as in the past and I think it is just because of all the attention he gets from the opposition. I recall a thread the end of his sophomore year where someone made a comment about his lack of dunks. After someone did the research (no idea where they got the stats) there where only 2 or 3 players who had more dunks than Garza in something like the last 10 years. I’m sure Aaron White and Cook had more. Point is, I think he dunks more than what most think.

 

[FranklinHawk]

Imo, he usually has guys draped on him and doesn’t have the explosive ability of a guy like Tyler Cook, who was frequently able to dunk through contact. Garza usually only dunks when wide open

I think often Cook had dunked before the drapers knew what hit them. That guy was amazingly quick getting off the floor.

 

[fezzador]

Just about any big man can dunk. Not every big man has Garza's arsenal - layups, mid-range jumpers, 3-shots, and yes, even dunks.

 

[Quintana]

I think often Cook had dunked before the drapers knew what hit them. That guy was amazingly quick getting off the floor.

keegan has uber quick ups too. makes it look effortless.

 

[CO_hawk]

Umm he can't dunk without a running start... Have you watched Iowa over the years? These are things you learn while watching players play.

 

[hawkeyeinmo]

Umm he can't dunk without a running start... Have you watched Iowa over the years? These are things you learn while watching players play.

Most his dunks are without a “run”. Pick, roll, jump with both legs, two hand flush.

 

[hawkeyeguy44]

Great thoughts folks! Him getting doubled definitely seems like a huge aspect of it. Plus, his high FG% working off the glass and tendency to get fouled favor this approach. Luka and his father seem very intentional, so I'm sure they along with Fran have discussed when to go for the jam, and when to work off the glass.

Keegan is super quick off his feet, man is he going to be fun to watch.

 

[blockm2]

He certainly has not dunked as much this year as in the past and I think it is just because of all the attention he gets from the opposition. I recall a thread the end of his sophomore year where someone made a comment about his lack of dunks. After someone did the research (no idea where they got the stats) there where only 2 or 3 players who had more dunks than Garza in something like the last 10 years. I’m sure Aaron White and Cook had more. Point is, I think he dunks more than what most think.

What you are looking for is Torvik's website. Under the "player stats" section you can sort by all kinds of things along the left side including dunk attempts and total number of dunks. Or by clicking on an individual player you can scroll down to their shot attempts by type in a given season. All of it is pulled from play by play data I believe.

Garza has 36 career dunks per that site with 5 this season and a max of 16 in any season. Tyler Cook had 50+ dunks in each of his 3 seasons with Iowa. Aaron White had 32 as a freshman and then 50+ his next 3 seasons.

Charles Bassey leads the country with 30 dunks so far this season and Kofi Cockburn is next with 25.

This is the Iowa single season leaderboard since 2008. Basically just Cook, White, and Basabe at the top.