It’s been a strong opening stretch for the Boston Celtics, and the numbers back it up.
After beating the Philadelphia 76ers, Boston sits atop the Eastern Conference standings and owns the NBA’s best net rating at 12.4 points per 100 possessions. The Celtics are doing damage at both ends, ranking third in offensive efficiency and third in defensive efficiency.
One of the biggest reasons for the offensive surge is a simple but effective action: the flare screen.
A flare screen is when a player sets a pick for a teammate moving away from the ball, usually toward the perimeter. Boston has used that action to create clean looks, and Neemias Queta has been a major part of it.
In one example, Derrick White had the ball on the right wing while Queta screened to free Paul George for a cut toward the left wing. Because Queta is not a serious perimeter threat, Joel Embiid could cheat off him and help elsewhere. But once George’s defender, VJ Edgecombe, got tangled up on the screen, George ended up open on the 3-point line.
That’s the kind of dilemma Boston keeps forcing on defenses.
Queta has been setting flare screens at a heavy clip this season. On Nov. 9, NBA analyst Nekias Duncan noted that Queta had already logged 59 flare screens through the first 10 games, a total that ranked higher than all but eight teams.
Not eight players. Eight teams.
The fit with George has been especially dangerous. According to NBA.com, George is averaging 1.88 points per possession on those plays, the best mark in the league by a wide margin.
That number probably won’t hold all season, but George has long been one of the league’s better off-screen scorers. He shoots it well and gets into his shot quickly once a screen creates space.
The action also puts defenses in a no-win spot. If they overplay the 3-pointer, they open the door to layups and dunks.
Boston has even leaned on flare screens in early offense. As Steve Jones wrote, “The Boston Celtics love to set a flare in early offense.
Tatum is trailing the play, Walsh turns right at the wing to flare for him. With Queta trailing, Embiid is lifted.
If you’re not clean on that switch there is no help. Layup is there.”
Opposing coaches have taken notice.
“Boston is one of the best teams in the league off the ball,” Chicago Bulls head coach Tiago Splitter said. “It’s impressive how they play all those flare situations. It’s really difficult to be aware of the flares that are coming.”
With George, Jayson Tatum, Derrick White and other shooters ready to punish mistakes, Boston has turned Queta’s screen-setting into another layer of trouble for defenses. It’s making an already dangerous offense even harder to read.
In Other News...
Neemias Queta Just Gave The Celtics A Real Embiid Answer
Neemias Queta has spent the season looking more and more like a useful piece for Boston, and his latest work against Philadelphia only strengthened that case. In the Celtics win over the 76ers, he chipped in 4 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists while giving the team a sturdier presence in the middle, the kind of minutes that can matter against a frontcourt centerpiece like Joel Embiid.
What stood out was not just the size, but the discipline. Queta showed the benefits of his offseason development by moving with better control on defense and making smarter decisions as a passer, helping Boston keep Embiid from getting comfortable and preserving the kind of edge that comes with beating a direct conference rival. The result also helped the Celtics stay in first place in the Eastern Conference, which is exactly the sort of payoff they need from a young big finding his footing. [Read more 🡒]
Celtics Are Forcing A Bigger Title Debate Than Fans Expected
Bostons early-season start has already pushed the Celtics into a bigger conversation than most people expected this soon. After the win over Philadelphia, they sit atop the Eastern Conference at 9-2, and the numbers back up what the eye test has suggested so far: this group has looked balanced, deep, and difficult to play against on both ends.
What makes the discussion more interesting is how complete the profile has been across the board. Basketball Reference has the Celtics near the top in offensive, defensive and net rating, a combination that usually belongs to teams with real championship traction rather than clubs still settling into November. It is early, of course, but Boston has done enough to make the title debate feel less like hype and more like a legitimate question. [Read more 🡒]
Celtics Suddenly Have A Paul George Concern Fans Can't Ignore
The Celtics head into their next stretch with a small but notable wrinkle on the injury report, as Paul George will sit out the upcoming game against Toronto because of an illness. It is a brief absence, but it comes at an awkward time for Boston, which has leaned on Georges steady production early this season and has seen him settle in as one of the teams most reliable options.
George had just been at the center of Bostons win over the 76ers, and his recent form has only reinforced how important he has become to the rotation. He has missed only one other game this season, so this will amount to a rare pause, with extra recovery time now built in before the Celtics see Dallas next. [Read more 🡒]