The Boston Celtics have a problem - and it’s not something a hot shooting night or a Tatum takeover can fix. Monday’s 112-105 loss to the Detroit Pistons didn’t just snap momentum; it exposed a structural issue that’s been bubbling beneath the surface for weeks. When Neemias Queta hit the bench, Boston’s interior defense and rebounding went with him.
Joe Mazzulla leaned into a small-ball rotation during Queta’s rest minutes, a strategy that’s helped fuel recent success. The Celtics had rattled off five straight wins with a switch-heavy, high-octane defensive style that thrives on versatility and speed. But against Detroit, that approach met its match - and it wasn’t pretty.
With Queta off the floor for just under 14 minutes, the Pistons outscored Boston by 12. That’s a glaring margin for such a short stretch.
The Celtics’ defensive rebounding fell apart, and the aggressive switching - while disruptive in theory - led to seven fouls in that span. That’s one every two minutes.
It’s the kind of stat that tells the story without needing much interpretation: Boston’s small-ball defense was getting pushed around.
And here’s the thing - Queta can’t play 48 minutes. No big man can.
But right now, he’s the only traditional center Mazzulla appears to trust. With Luka Garza out of the rotation and struggling to find his footing on the defensive end, the Celtics are effectively operating with one playable big.
That’s a problem in today’s NBA, where size is making a comeback and contenders are leaning into double-big lineups to control the paint and the glass.
The Celtics, meanwhile, are walking a tightrope. Their small-ball identity works when they’re flying around, forcing turnovers, and hitting shots.
But when the game slows down - when it becomes a battle of possessions and physicality - they look vulnerable. Monday night was a case study in that vulnerability.
In Queta’s 35 minutes on the court, Boston held Detroit to just 72 points. In the 13.6 minutes he sat?
The Pistons poured in 40. That’s not just a dip - it’s a collapse.
And it underscores the urgent need for reinforcements.
With the trade season in full swing, Brad Stevens has a clear target: another center who can hold the fort when Queta rests. Ideally, that’s a starting-caliber big who can anchor the defense and let Queta shift into a developmental role off the bench. But even a reliable backup - someone who can eat minutes without the defense falling apart - would be a major upgrade.
Garza, for all his offensive skill, hasn’t shown he can stay on the floor defensively. The upside he flashed in college hasn’t translated, and at this point, he’s more of a project than a plug-and-play solution.
Not every flyer pans out - and that’s okay. But the Celtics can’t afford to wait and hope.
This team is built to contend. The top-end talent is there.
The perimeter defense is elite. The offense, when clicking, is as dangerous as any in the league.
But without a second big man to stabilize the rotation, the Celtics are one injury - or one bad matchup - away from being exposed in the playoffs.
Boston doesn’t need to overhaul its identity. But it does need to reinforce it.
And that starts with finding a big who can give them 10-15 reliable minutes a night. Because if Monday was any indication, going small by necessity - not by choice - is a recipe for trouble.