Celtics just got the Neemias Queta lift they desperately needed

Neemias Queta's impact in the Boston Celtics' win in their rivalry clash with the Los Angeles Lakers went far beyond what the box score captured.

As far as counting stats go, the seven-foot center registered 10 points, 12 rebounds, and three blocks. The fifth-year veteran's four offensive rebounds and the trio of shots he thwarted, including sprinting to swat LeBron James's layup attempts twice, highlight the job he did at the rim on both sides of the ball.

However, as Joe Mazzulla explained after Queta's ninth double-double this season, what made the 26-year-old from Lisbon, Portugal, a star in his role on Sunday was a different challenge he took on.

"The hardest position playing against the Lakers and teams like this is the center, right?" said Mazzulla post-game. "Because they're the ones that have to be at the point of attack, where they've got to stop [LeBron] James pick-and-rolls, [Luka] Doncic pick-and-rolls, [and] [Austin] Reaves pick-and-rolls.

"And so those three guys and the screening of [Deandre] Ayton, and then, they test your defensive, you know, your line of attack, your defensive positioning, your discipline to not help up and give up lobs. And I thought both Vuc [Nikola Vucevic] and Neemi's defensive discipline in our pick-and-roll defense was big time, and it's a testament to their discipline and work ethic. But those three ball handlers are constantly testing your discipline, your positioning, your angles, and those guys had really good positions on that tonight."

Neemias Queta shines in his role in win vs. Lakers

It should come as no surprise that Queta's point production often stemmed from his impact as a screener. For instance, on the possession when he scored his first basket of the game, he screens Austin Reaves twice, flipping the angle of the pick. That dislodges Reaves from Derrick White, which pulls Deandre Ayton from the middle of the Lakers' zone defense. That opens up a pocket pass from White to Queta, who glides through the lane for a one-handed slam without having to worry about a rim protector deterring him.

He also made an excellent read that netted him another dunk with just under 4:30 left in the first half. With Los Angeles still in a zone defense, Queta screened Rui Hachimura up top, ensuring Payton Pritchard's swing pass could safely reach Jaylen Brown. The Celtics' starting center then went to re-screen Hachimura. That brought Ayton into the action. As the latter stepped up, Queta slipped to the basket, earning himself an easy two points.

He also generated multiple second-chance opportunities through sheer effort. The seven-foot center was able to save a missed fadeaway jumper by Brown before it went out of bounds. When Brown missed from the corner late in the second frame, he swooped in front of Ayton and Luke Kennard to keep the possession alive.

It captured the effort that led to plays like when he caught up to LeBron James and spiked his transition layup attempt off the backboard.

Between his impact at the rim on both ends of the floor, his effectiveness as a screener, and Queta's ability to do his job in containing Doncic, James, and Reaves, a lethal trio of pick-and-roll ball handlers who the Celtics kept in check, against their archrivals from Hollywood, Boston's starting center put himself in the conversation for best supporting actor in the visitors' victory vs. the Lakers.