The Celtics’ frontcourt is still sorting itself out five games into the season, and the early returns on Mitchell Robinson and Neemias Queta show just how much is still being figured out.
Robinson, brought in during free agency this summer, has started all five games and is logging nearly the same minutes as Queta, last year’s starter. He flashed a bit more scoring in Friday night’s win over Chicago, finishing with a season-high 11 points in 19 minutes, but the box score still told a mixed story: minus-3 in a 14-point victory.
The bigger issue is that Robinson hasn’t yet looked like the offensive rebounding force Boston expected. He was one of the league’s best at that in New York, but so far that part of his game hasn’t really shown up.
Robinson said in the preseason that the Celtics are using him as a screener more often than he’s used to, and that adjustment is still ongoing. Terada also noted that Robinson has often looked visibly worn down when he leaves the floor, though the Celtics are hoping that changes as the season goes on.
Queta, meanwhile, is trying to settle into a reserve role after starting last season, and that transition hasn’t been seamless either. His rebounding hasn’t been where Boston needs it, and foul trouble has been a recurring problem.
“It’s just being solid and sound,” Queta said of the fouls. “Those things can’t happen.
At the end of the day, I think the team needs me out there on the court more than on the bench. So I think just being able to understand the impact I bring on the court and be smart in those moments.”
Payton Pritchard’s night on Friday looked a lot different. He poured in 30 points and also answered a challenge from Joe Mazzulla to clean up his defense and rebounding. Pritchard said he’s been working to fix those areas after some rough early-season outings.
“Obviously, I’ve been through some struggles early on in this season and had some poor games and honestly, just the defensive effort and rebounding has been poor, so I’m cleaning up that area,” Pritchard said. “It just leads to more success offensively and just being a complete player. I appreciate Joe testing me and challenging me to be better because the team needs me to be better and that’s what I want, so it’s a good thing.”
Jordan Walsh’s outside shot is still drawing the same defensive treatment, even after he bumped his three-point percentage to 38.4% last season. Opponents are still backing off him and daring him to fire from deep, which gives them room to load up elsewhere. Walsh sees both sides of it.
“Like, it’s a good and bad thing,” he said. “You know, it’s bad because they can load up and play help.
But it’s a good thing because now every shot I get is wide open. So, I take my time to shoot it.
There’s no rush.”
And Sam Hauser is embracing the NBA Cup, calling it a meaningful early-season measuring stick. He likes the way it creates a playoff-like atmosphere before the calendar really gets rolling.
“I think it’s great,” Hauser said. “You get sort of a playoff feel in the middle of the season, or I guess at the start of the season.
So you saw last year that the Knicks and the Spurs played in the NBA Cup championship, and those two met in the Finals. So, obviously it means something, and we’ve got to be better with getting into the bracket rounds and then advancing after that.”
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 🡒]