Neemias Queta is slated to be the Boston Celtics’ starting center next season, and he’s more than ready for the opportunity. For the last two years, Queta has been learning and developing on the Boston bench, but now, it looks as though he’s finally going to get his chance to shine.
"After this offseason – having that time off with the surgery and just being out there without playing basketball – I think I rested enough and I’ve been working on my game ever since,” Queta said in an interview with Eurohoops. “Keeping on improving the little aspects I needed to put myself in the best position for next year to be a breakout year for me. I think I got all the tools to go out there and compete with the best. And after that, it’s just having the little details tuned up. Being ready for 82 games – it’s a lot of games. Just knowing I’ll be playing most nights is going to be big for me."
Queta is gunning for a breakout season, but what would that mean for him?
What is a breakout season for Neemias Queta?
Whenever Joe Mazzulla has given Queta consistent playing time, whether it be for a week straight or just a few games, he’s shown serious flashes of potential.
Queta’s frame is perfect for NBA basketball. He’s an impressive glass cleaner and adept at wiping away shots at the rim on the defensive end of the court. His rebounding and shot-blocking gifts have never been question marks.
However, the reasons Queta hasn’t been able to play big minutes for the past two seasons have been his personal inconsistencies.
Despite his shot-blocking capabilities, Queta has the tendency to get into foul trouble. And if that issue continues into this season, Boston’s center depth would take a massive hit, as they lost Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford, and Luke Kornet this summer.
Queta’s positioning on both ends of the floor has wavered at times, too. Whether that be helping over too early or late on defense or mistiming his roll to the rim on offense, it’s been a work in progress.
Progression has presented itself, though. Queta has struggled with passing out of the paint at times, but last season, he took a solid leap in that area, keeping his head on a swivel to find open three-point shooters.
Next season will come with mistakes. But the difference next year that hasn’t been available in years past is opportunity. Queta is the Celtics’ center, and Mazzulla will almost be forced to let him play through his struggles.
And from that point on, they will either weigh him down, or he’ll shake them off and become a better player because of it. Queta clearly believes in the second option.