The Celtics have stacked up four straight wins since dropping their opener, but the big-man rotation is starting to look like a problem they can’t ignore.
Boston handled the Bulls again Friday night at TD Garden, winning 125-111, yet the same issues kept surfacing. The Celtics got buried on the boards, struggled to protect the rim, and leaned on everything around their centers to cover up the damage.
Mitchell Robinson’s start to the season has been rough enough to raise eyebrows. He kept the starting job, but the production hasn’t matched it.
He’s not rebounding, he’s not blocking shots, and even the parts of his game that should travel - screening and finishing lobs - have been underwhelming. He did move better up and down the floor Friday, but he still looked a step behind the action.
Even in a comfortable win, Boston was -3 in his 18 minutes, and he remains the only rotation player not to be in the positives. On the season, he sits at a team-worst -26.
Neemias Queta has been better than Robinson overall, and Boston has generally fared better with him on the court, including Friday. Still, this wasn’t one of his cleaner nights. He looked off, kept getting beat to rebounds, and eventually seemed to lose Joe Mazzulla’s trust.
The numbers from the glass tell the story. Chicago grabbed 20 offensive rebounds to Boston’s 9, a lopsided edge that’s hard to square against a Bulls team that shouldn’t be dominating that part of the game. Jalen Smith, Chicago’s starting center, pulled down 12 boards, while Queta and Robinson combined for just 10.
That’s the part that should have Boston concerned. This was supposed to be a strength, not a nightly headache.
Instead, the Celtics are getting pushed around inside and giving up easy looks at the rim. If that doesn’t change, it’s going to keep hanging over everything else they’re doing well.
Robinson’s fit is especially confusing. Whether he’s out of shape, dealing with the ankle, or still adjusting to a new team, he hasn’t looked like the same player who spent years doing those exact jobs for the Knicks. Queta isn’t nearly as alarming, but he’s had his own shaky stretches.
And then there’s Luka Garza, who may be the one center in the group actually meeting or beating expectations. That could end up earning him a longer leash.
At some point, Joe Mazzulla may have to decide this setup isn’t working and go back to the roles that were more familiar last season. Queta was an excellent starting center for Boston, while Robinson was the kind of bench spark New York could count on. Right now, those responsibilities are flipped, and it’s fair to wonder how long the Celtics will keep it that way if the issues in the middle keep piling up.
In Other News...
Payton Pritchard Is Giving The Celtics More Than Just Scoring
Early in the season, Joe Mazzulla pushed Payton Pritchard to bring more to the Celtics than shot-making, and the guard has clearly taken the message to heart. In Bostons recent NBA Cup game against the Chicago Bulls, Pritchard paired his usual scoring punch with a noticeably sharper edge on the defensive end, showing the kind of activity that can help him stay on the floor in bigger moments.
Pritchard has said he wants to add more on-ball pressure and rebound better, and Mazzulla was encouraged enough by the showing to point to even more room for growth. For a Celtics team that already leans on Pritchards offense, the appeal is obvious if he can keep turning those defensive habits into something steady rather than occasional. [Read more 🡒]
Paul George Is Driving A Celtics Change That Could Matter In May
Bostons defense has looked noticeably more disruptive early on, with the ball pressure and activity level showing up in ways that go beyond the usual opening-month noise. The Celtics are getting into passing lanes, swiping at dribbles and turning stops into chances to run, a shift that has given the group a different kind of edge while also cutting down on second-chance looks at the other end.
Paul George has been right at the center of that change, bringing the kind of defensive playmaking that can swing possessions before a set offense ever gets started. His rebounding has helped finish possessions, too, and if this level of aggressiveness holds, it could give Boston a useful wrinkle when the games tighten and the margins shrink later in the season. [Read more 🡒]
Bulls Hit Another Low After Celtics Loss As Frustration Boils Over
The opening night of the 2026 NBA Cup had no shortage of eye-catching moments around the league, from Stephen Curry leading the Warriors back from a big first-quarter hole against the Lakers to Kevin Durant throwing down a highlight dunk for the Rockets. But from the Celtics' perspective, one of the cleaner results came in Chicago, where Boston handled the Bulls and kept a team already searching for answers mired in the same defensive trouble that has followed them through the start of the season.
For Chicago, the loss only deepened the sense of unease around a team that has struggled to find any traction early. The Bulls have been giving up points in bunches, and the frustration around that slide is starting to show in public. Caleb Wilson did not hide how he feels after the game, underscoring just how raw the mood has become as the Bulls try to stop the bleeding. [Read more 🡒]