Wednesday’s loss to the Denver Nuggets obviously didn’t pan out the way the Boston Celtics had hoped. Denver, without three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, snapped the Celtics’ four-game winning streak with a 114-110 victory at TD Garden.
Lost in the rubble will be Neemias Queta’s career night on the glass. The big man became the first Celtics player to eclipse 20 rebounds since Jared Sullinger did it back in 2015. Queta’s big game on the boards had a unique flair to it, though.
He grabbed 10 defensive rebounds and 10 offensive rebounds, a rare feat. Queta actually became the first player ever to do so in fewer than 24 minutes. He was the first Celtic to secure double-digit rebounds on both ends of the floor since Robert Parish, who did it three times in the 1988-89 season.
It’s pretty wild that Parish managed three of these performances in a two-month span, and no one had been able to replicate it since, until Queta did on Wednesday.
Queta's strong outing is a reminder of how great he's been for the Celtics this season
The 20-rebound outing is a reminder of how impressive the Portuguese center has been for Boston this season. He was essentially thrust into the starting lineup after being the third or fourth big man in last season’s team’s rotation, depending on the night.
Having watched all 36 Celtics games to this point, it’d be difficult to tell that Queta’s new to this. He’s played largely consistent basketball all year. Many of the mistakes of old are exactly that. Queta doesn’t commit reckless fouls, miss rotations, or regularly find himself out of place on either end of the floor.
It’s clear he’s playing with an elevated attention to detail this season, and the Celtics are benefiting from it. Coming into training camp, many wondered if Boston would be able to win despite their diminished frontcourt.
Queta, as well as Luka Garza, has stepped up nicely to fill the voids left by the departed Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford, and Luke Kornet.
There’s no way Boston would be third in the East if No. 88 were lost out there every game. Instead, he’s produced some solid numbers while giving the Celtics reliable minutes on a nightly basis.
Through his first 33 appearances, Queta is averaging 10.0 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting 65.1% from the field. Every single one of those numbers is a career high.
Queta's consistent production should have Brad Stevens, Joe Mazzulla, and the Celtics feeling vindicated for trusting him to fill the starting role this season.