How did Dawson Garcia look in his NBA Summer League debut with the Detroit Pistons? GI gives you the entire breakdown now!
First Quarter. Garcia started the game on the bench as expected but checked in for the Pistons at the 4:29 mark. Immediately Dawson's excellent box-out hit forced a Knicks foul as Garcia made contact and held it while getting fouled. A minute later as a teammate missed a foul shot, Garcia grabbed the offensive board and immediately kicked out to a teammate for a wide open shot. For Garcia it was instant impact with hustle plays.
Back on defense, Garcia forced a kickout from a Knicks guard with his help on the ball screen and then he quickly battled back to his man who then grabbed him (again) only this time the ref missed it and Garcia was whistled for a defensive foul for boxing out too aggressively. Something a team will definitely live with as Garcia attempts to defend professional centers.
Dawson's fist shot attempt was a three after fading from a ball screen but Garcia came up short. Back the other way, Garcia got muscled to the rim by 6'11, 250 pound James Ivey leading to Garcia picking up his second foul. Two possessions later Garcia showed well on his screen, recovered, and this time 6'11 250 pound Ariel Hukporti used his size to muscle into Dawson drawing a Garcia foul (his third). Garcia earned his first defensive rebound after a Piston miss. Hukporti scored over Garcia in the post just before the first quarter buzzer on a really nice pass from Tyler Kolek (Knicks second round pick from Marquette).
Second Quarter. Garcia started the second quarter on the bench but was back on the court at the 6:07 mark. On his defensive possession of the second quarter Garcia got to his help forcing a turnover. Moments later on a switch 6'6 Kevin McCullar tried to post Garcia but Dawson blocked the shot immediately out of McCullar's hand.
Offensively Garcia had an open shot but went with the high percentage "next pass" getting his teammate a great shot and it became Garcia's first assist. Unfortunately the next possession Garcia was giving Ron Holland II a dribble pitch but Holland's effort to get open was lazy at best and the delay led to a Garcia travel. Dawson came out of the game at the three minute mark.
Third Quarter. Garcia returned to the court at the 3:14 mark of the third quarter. Garcia helped his team mid-lane forcing a miss with his shot contest and a few seconds later after forcing the miss, Garcia collected the defensive boards and started the Piston transition. Moments later Dawson battled to cut off a player trying to attack and cleared a man with a great block out followed by a floor run where he was open to score but his teammate selfishly attempted a contested shot and was swatted.
Garcia actually ran the point with a minute to go in the half off-setting the pressure from the Piston lead guard. His defender fouled him in a panic. Moments later he grabbed his fourth rebound of the game.
Fourth Quarter. Stepped on the floor for the final time with just inside of three minutes to play once again playing the five. Set a screen at the top of the key, rolled to the elbow, received the ball there and hit an 18 footer for his first professional make. And just before the buzzer Garcia found a loose offensive board for a collect and finish at the rim for his second score.
Overall. Garcia finished with four points on two of three shooting with five rebounds, one assist, one block and four fouls. The Garcia defensive effort and offensive decision making was excellent. Dawson was surely looking to screen and move the ball more than he was being aggressive offensively and the way the Piston guards/wings were moving the ball (they really weren't), the team needed somebody to do it but that led to Garcia not getting much for scoring opportunity. Dawson had a really good defensive game overall but he did get stuck on 6'11, 250 pound guys a few times in isolation and that NBA center size was tough for him to deal with. Overall though I thought it was a solid debut in 14 minutes of play.