We’ve now gone through an entire 82-game regular season, and the first two games of a round one playoff series, and the big question around the Celtics is the same one we were asking in the offseason. What’s going on with the center position?
Neemias Queta answered a lot of those questions, emerging as a rock-solid starter on both ends, and entering his name into the Most Improved Player discussion. The Cs also got solid backup play from Luka Garza and even added Nikola Vucevic at the trade deadline to shore up the depth.
It seemed to be working quite well. But the playoffs are a different animal, and the results through two games have left a lot to be desired, especially after the team’s ugly Game 2 loss to the 76ers at home, 111-97, which leaves the series tied, 1-1, with things heading to Philadelphia.
Celtics' big men get worked in Game 2
Despite what should be a great matchup against a Philly team that doesn’t have Joel Embiid and has been relying on Andre Drummond and Adem Bona, the Boston centers haven’t made much of an impact. In Game 1, they weren’t really needed, but they each dealt with foul trouble and never found a rhythm.
In Game 2, there were some glimpses. Queta had some easy finishes off the pick and roll, Vooch made a couple of bunnies, but overall, it was uninspiring. And on the defensive end, it looked downright problematic.
The Celtics’ drop coverage was getting smoked all night with Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe stepping into practice shots over and over again, with the Boston centers hanging back in the paint. The Philly shooters got hot, and before you knew it, they were running the Celtics out of the gym, shooting 19-39 from three.
Joe Mazzulla made some adjustments, but nothing worked. When they tried to meet ballhandlers at the level, they got blown by or surrendered offensive rebounds, and when they tried to blitz, they gave up easy threes.
Queta and Vooch have to be a lot better as playoffs go on
I still think Garza is a better option than Vooch, but I’m not sure he’d make a difference. The lack of scheme versatility on the defensive end is a problem, and when you’re not making a difference on offense either, it really hurts. I thought we might see more of Jayson Tatum at the five, allowing the team to switch everything, but perhaps Mazzulla is saving that move.
It’s especially concerning in a series like this, where the Celtics should have the advantage at the position against a weak Sixers front line. If the Cs are already showing signs of weakness this round, that doesn’t bode well for matchups with the Knicks (KAT and Mitchell Robinson), Cavaliers (Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen), or Pistons (Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart).
There’s no reason to panic or anything like that. It was one bad game, and the centers certainly weren’t the only players who didn’t make the grade on Tuesday night. But this has been a situation to monitor all season long, and so far, they haven’t exactly passed the test of the playoffs. Hopefully, they can change that in a big way on Friday night in Philadelphia.
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