Record-breaking season outlines why Celtics need more from Neemias Queta in playoffs

One of the biggest and most unexpected bright spots for the Celtics this season has been the emergence of Neemias Queta as a viable starting center. Before this season, he was out of the rotation and had just been given a standard contract after landing in Boston on a two-way after being cast aside by the Kings.

The fact that he anchored an elite defense and became a legit rim-running back man on offense is extremely impressive and a huge part of the Celtics’ improbable regular-season success. So, while it may seem unfair to critique his start to the playoffs, he has proven that he’s capable of giving the team more, and they need it.

This season, Neemy set a new franchise record for field goal percentage in a season at 65.3% on the year, edging out the legend, Cedric Maxwell, who set the former mark at 60.9% in the 1979-80 season.

This stat obviously has a lot to do with Queta’s shot diet, but there’s no reason he can’t ramp it up in this playoff series. The 76ers are playing Adem Bona and Andre Drummond as their centers, and frankly, that’s a matchup that Neemy should be dominating.

Through two games, that has hardly been the case. He showed flashes in Game 1, but couldn’t stay on the floor due to foul trouble. Boston barely needed him, so it wasn’t a big deal, but he only played 15 minutes. In Game 2, he was able to stay on the floor but failed to make an impact, with just 8 points and 6 rebounds, with his most notable moments coming as the drop-defender with Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe stepping into pull-up threes.

Celtics should involve Queta more on offense against weak 76ers big men

When the Celtics have run actions for Queta, they’ve generally gone well. They have no answer for his hard rolls when he sets screens out beyond the three-point line, and when he rolls hard, and he gets fed, good things happen, as evidenced by his 8-9 shooting in two games.

The problem is that’s not nearly enough volume. Boston needs to use Queta as a weapon and force the 76ers' defenders to make tough decisions. They did a better job in Game 1, and there’s clearly plenty of meat left on this bone. They should attack the centers of the Sixers and either force them to switch and guard the Celtics’ ball-handlers (they can’t) or chase Neemy and keep him from finishing alley-oops over their heads (they can’t).

Picking at this scab should result in some much-needed easy offense for Boston, and if they keep it up, they can likely force Philly to go small, as they did in Game 1. This is an easy button for the Celtics and a luxury that they have thanks to Neemy’s development. 

He has been reliable and proven himself all season. Now is the time to trust that work and what we’ve seen, and allow him to make a major impact in this first-round playoff series.

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