The Celtics don’t have much reason to rip Neemias Queta out of the starting five just to get ahead of “hack-a-Robinson” tactics.
That strategy will still show up if Mitchell Robinson is on the floor. Opponents are going to keep looking for ways to send the poor free-throw shooter to the stripe and disrupt Boston’s rhythm. But the payoff should be a lot smaller than it was with the New York Knicks.
With the Knicks, the logic was simple. Robinson was a monster on the offensive glass, and getting him off the court meant taking away one of the league’s best extra-possession generators.
It also removed New York’s rim-protecting center from the game. Boston’s setup makes that gamble less attractive.
If Robinson sits, the Celtics are far more likely to replace him with Queta. And Queta brings real value in the same areas that made Robinson such a headache. Among players who appeared in at least 60 games and logged 19 minutes or more last season, Queta was also in the top 10 in offensive rebounds per game, per NBA.com.
He was just as impactful on the other end of the paint. Among players who suited up at least 60 times and played 25 minutes or more per game, Queta finished in the top 10 in blocks per game. His 1.3 rejections ranked ninth.
That matters because Boston was already a strong offensive rebounding team before Robinson arrived. The Celtics grabbed 12.5 offensive boards per game last season, good for seventh in the league.
New York was sixth at 12.7. So even when Robinson goes to the bench, Boston still has plenty of bodies who can keep possessions alive.
The Celtics also have wings who crash the glass hard in Jordan Walsh, Hugo Gonzalez, and Baylor Scheierman. Add Robinson to a frontcourt depth chart that already includes Queta and Luka Garza, and the second-chance production should stay strong even if the new center isn’t on the floor.
That doesn’t mean “hack-a-Robinson” disappears. Teams will still try it. Sending a shaky foul shooter to the line is still a clean way to interrupt an offense.
But the move should be less damaging in Boston than it was in New York. And if it turns into a real problem, Joe Mazzulla can always pivot and put Robinson in the starting group.
The bigger point is that the Celtics can adjust without forcing the issue from day one. Queta was a top-10 player at his position in the regular season, and there’s no need to ask him to change roles before the season even gets rolling.
He handled a role change in Game 7 against the Philadelphia 76ers. The question isn’t whether he can do it again.
It’s why Boston should make him do it before it has to.
In Other News...
Celtics Add Another Developmental Lottery Ticket To A Crowded Camp Battle
The Celtics kept building out their training camp ledger by adding Gabe McGlothan on a training camp contract, another name in a group of Exhibit 10 players all trying to make an impression before the season gets moving. McGlothan comes to Boston after time with the Indiana Pacers organization and the Noblesville Boom in the G League, and the path ahead looks familiar for a player in this part of the roster-building process.
He now joins a crowded competition that already includes Devin Carter, Milos Uzan, Tucker DeVries, Caleb Grill, Hank Morgan and Hayden Gray on similar deals. For Boston, the real significance is less about the immediate roster math than the depth of the camp and the extra options it gives Maine, where McGlothan is expected to compete for a spot. [Read more 🡒]
Celtics Projected Starting Five Says A Lot About Bostons New Identity
The Celtics projected 2026-27 starting five is already telling a story about where this roster is headed, and it starts with the ripple effect of adding Paul George while waiting for Jayson Tatums return. In a league where lineups can shift quickly from year to year, Bostons expected group suggests a different kind of balance, with established shot creation, defensive versatility, and enough shooting to keep the floor spaced around the stars.
Derrick White and Sam Hauser still loom as important pieces in that picture, while Neemias Quetas presence hints at how the frontcourt could be pieced together behind the headline names. The bigger question is less about who fits and more about how the Celtics want to look when the roster is fully assembled, because the projected roles point to a team trying to blend continuity with a new identity that is still taking shape. [Read more 🡒]
Celtics Fans Have A New Neemias Queta Disrespect Debate
HoopsHypes latest ranking of the NBAs top centers has given Celtics fans a fresh gripe to chew on, and it revolves around Neemias Queta being left out entirely. The omission stands out because the piece makes the case that Quetas work last season, including stretches as a starter for Boston, should have put him in the conversation thanks to his defensive impact and efficient scoring around the rim.
The frustration only grows when the list is weighed against who did make the cut, with Celtics center Mitchell Robinson included while Queta was not. For Boston, it is the kind of snub that feels bigger than a single ranking, because it touches on how Quetas role and value are being viewed around the league after a season in which he earned real minutes and made them count. [Read more 🡒]