The Boston Celtics are effectively previous the times of in search of ethical victories. They only gained a championship after which ripped off seven wins in eight video games to start out the season, earlier than falling to the Golden State Warriors 118-112 on Wednesday.
Make no mistake, dropping a detailed sport to a group that they’ve gone to battle with for years definitely stings. But, there was a silver lining for the Cs.
Neemias Queta impressed in his second begin of the season. He tallied 14 factors, eight rebounds, and a pair of blocks in 28 minutes for Boston whereas netting the group’s highest +/- at +13.
5 of these boards got here on the offensive glass, which performed a giant position within the Celtics’ sturdy push within the fourth quarter.
“Yeah, I imply, Neemy did an important job simply getting us offensive rebounds, getting further possessions,” head coach Joe Mazzulla identified.
Since becoming a member of the Cs in the summertime of 2023, Queta has at all times confirmed to be an vitality man. His athletic enjoying type is ideal for giving the group a lift with explosive dunks and loud blocks, each of which all of us noticed within the last body.
What was most spectacular from the Portuguese massive man was the sudden — his means to (at occasions) persist with Warriors star Stephen Curry off of defensive switches. Curry is thought for being one of many shiftiest on-and-off ball guards within the sport.
“I imply, he’s one of many biggest gamers the sport has ever seen,” stated Celtics All-Defensive guard Derrick White. “And I imply, it takes a complete group to protect him, not only one man.”
It’s powerful for guys White’s measurement to maintain up, by no means thoughts a seven-footer like Queta.
“He’s doing a superb job simply understanding tendencies,” Mazzulla stated of Queta’s means to change onto the perimeter. “He’s doing a superb job executing the coverages that we’ve got. He pressured him inside a 3 a few occasions to his proper hand. So, he’s simply getting higher and higher at understanding what the scheme is and form of what the tendencies are after which simply the situational basketball of creating reads on the defensive finish. So he’s positively rising.”
This wasn’t only a one-time factor both. Golden State repeatedly focused Queta in switches all through the night time.
Have a look.
Even on this loopy make from Curry, the protection couldn’t have been a lot better.
“I assumed Neem did a superb job on him,” White added. “He makes powerful pictures. He doesn’t cease shifting. And so, I give lots of credit score to Neemi. You compete at a high-level in the present day, and it takes a complete group. And I feel Neemi is certainly one of her higher ones. Actually.”
For the final week, Queta has been seemingly enjoying with extra confidence. It began when he helped the group storm again from 24 down in opposition to the Indiana Pacers to pressure additional time. Within the 4 video games since, he has scored over 10 factors 3 times and appears to be carving out a extra constant position in Mazzulla’s rotation.
In fact, this wasn’t an ideal outing (that doesn’t actually exist, now does it?) and there’s nonetheless room for enchancment. With that being stated, the Cs have an extended season forward and there are going to be loads of possibilities for Queta to proceed to show himself.
