Neemias Queta may not be the flashiest name in Boston’s frontcourt, but he keeps making the same point every time he steps on the floor: the Celtics are a different defensive team with him anchoring the paint.
He didn’t take long to win back his starting job, and Boston has kept rolling with him out there. The biggest reason is what he’s doing on defense. Queta has been a force around the rim, and the eye test matches the numbers.
Justin Pinnix of Hoopology tracked rim deterrence and offensive rim difference in field goal percentage for big men, measuring how much a player cuts down opponent rim attempts when he’s on the court. By that standard, Queta sits near the top of the league. He grades as above average in deterrence and elite in protection, right alongside Rudy Gobert and Donovan Clingan as the three best in the NBA right now, just ahead of Victor Wembanyama and Walker Kessler.
That kind of impact isn’t new. It’s what Queta showed during last season’s breakout, and the picture is getting clearer by the game: this is who he is. Boston had a top-5 defense last year, and the Celtics are on pace to do it again, with Queta playing a major role on the back line.
The concern was obvious when Boston lost Al Horford, Kristaps Porzingis, and Luke Kornet in one swoop two summers ago. Porzingis was a shot-blocking machine, Horford brought elite switching and all-around defense, and Kornet provided size and rim presence. Even with those losses, the Celtics have hardly missed a beat.
Queta has become the answer in the middle. He doesn’t defend like Horford or erase shots the way Porzingis did, but he brings a little of everything and does it at a high level. With his motor, athleticism, and feel for the game, he’s developing into one of the best defensive centers in the league.
In Other News...
Celtics Injury Scare Faded Fast But One Bigger Concern Still Looms
Payton Pritchards latest scare turned out to be brief, which was a relief for a Celtics team that cant afford many more health detours. After leaving a recent game because a right eye abrasion was affecting his vision, he was back in uniform for the next one, and he also spoke about a right shoulder contusion while reflecting on how the team has been progressing this season.
The bigger picture, though, still runs through Jayson Tatum. He is continuing his gradual recovery from an Achilles injury and has been taking occasional rest nights as part of that process, a reminder that Bostons long-term plans are still being shaped by his return timeline. For all the smaller bumps and bruises, the Celtics are still navigating the more important question of how quickly their star can move from rehab mode back toward being himself. [Read more 🡒]
Celtics Frontcourt Suddenly Has A Bucks Game Concern
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His status is being treated as a game-time call, with the team likely waiting until closer to tipoff and pregame warmups to make a final determination. For a Celtics group that has leaned on depth up front, the uncertainty is worth watching, especially with Milwaukee bringing the kind of size and physicality that can expose any late lineup changes. [Read more 🡒]
Celtics Wing Battle Is Creating An Early Roster Debate
Early in the season, the Celtics have already been sorting through a familiar kind of problem on the wing: who fits, who finishes, and who can hold up on both ends. Jordan Walsh, Hugo Gonzalez, Baylor Scheierman and Sam Hauser have all gotten looks in the rotation, giving Boston a small but meaningful early sample of how the depth chart might shake out as the schedule settles in.
Scheierman has made the strongest case among the younger options with his offensive production, while Hauser remains the most secure piece thanks to his shooting and defensive reliability. Walsh and Gonzalez have shown flashes on defense, but their offensive inconsistency has kept the conversation open, and that leaves Boston with an early roster debate that could keep evolving well beyond the opening stretch. [Read more 🡒]