The Celtics are one of many deepest groups within the NBA, perhaps most so with their huge males rotation. They’re going to wish each little bit of that depth early-on this season. Over the summer season, the Celtics have seen three of their huge males get surgical procedure – Xavier Tillman with a knee scope, Luke Kornet with a wrist operation, and, most notably, Kristaps Porzingis having surgical procedure to restore his torn retinaculum and dislocated posterior tibialis tendon.
Porzingis is the one one who is anticipated to overlook time, along with his return scheduled for a while in December. Brad Stevens gave optimistic updates on the three of them, noting that Kornet and Tilman might be able to go for coaching camp, and that Porzingis has been progressing nicely in his rehab.
With Al Horford anticipated to take the beginning spot in Porzingis’s absence, the bench rotation opens up fairly a bit. Assuming Luke and Xavier are good to go, they’ll be anticipated to take the vast majority of these minutes, although neither has solidified themselves as being the clear-cut “finest” possibility, and it’s nonetheless potential that they want time to ramp up because the season will get underway. That leaves the door open for Neemias Queta to earn significant minutes.
Throughout his Media Day interview with NBC Sports activities Boston, Kayla Burton requested Neemi how he takes benefit of the chance. “Clearly, it begins with the preparation you do in the summertime. Realizing how a lot better you will get and simply working exhausting through the summer season understanding that you simply get an even bigger alternative this yr,” he advised her. He continued by saying, “the mindset is to go in there and simply assist the workforce win in any sort of approach. Whether or not it’s enjoying 2 minutes, whether or not it’s enjoying 40 minutes, it could actually all go up and down so I’m simply ready for any sort of play that’s thrown my approach.”
Queta is simply 25 years previous, and after becoming a member of the Celtics on a two-way contract this previous yr, Brad Stevens signed him to a multi-year deal shortly earlier than the playoffs. The workforce is clearly investing in him – now could be his time to point out us that they’re making the best alternative.
Joe Mazzulla on Neemias Queta: “He is a kind of youngsters that does not know the way good he could be. He hasn’t been within the league a very long time. He’s solely performed like 300 minutes within the NBA, and he is beginning to see when he performs with a sure presence, we’re a special basketball workforce.” pic.twitter.com/H7VdfaFAS9
— Taylor Snow (@taylorcsnow) January 18, 2024
With Neemias splitting time between Maine and Boston, his NBA minutes principally got here in blowouts. He performed slightly below 12 minutes per sport throughout 28 video games, averaging 5.5 factors, 4.4 boards, and 0.8 blocks. He did that whereas solely making an attempt 3.7 FG per sport on 64.4% taking pictures. He’s been a wonderful rebounder, an athletic finisher, and generally is a nice rim protector.
The potential is clearly there, however Neemy nonetheless has plenty of work to place in earlier than he could be seen as a dependable possibility. The 2 biggest weaknesses in his sport proper now are his offensive capabilities when he’s not on the rim, his capability to modify on protection, and his general basketball IQ and sport really feel.
In keeping with monitoring knowledge, Queta solely tried 2 of his 104 photographs from exterior of the paint final season. Each had been catch-and-shoot mid-range photographs, and each had been straight money, surprisingly. He has nice general effectivity, thanks partly to him being such a lob risk, in addition to his capability to seize offensive boards and return up shortly with them, although he struggles at creating his personal photographs on the rim. Neemy may gain advantage from including on a little bit of muscle, however perhaps extra importantly, by growing a bit extra poise across the rim, he may discover himself taking greater high quality photographs.
Along with his effectivity, growing an outdoor sport isn’t a necessity, although it may undoubtedly serve him and the workforce nicely. A semi-reliable mid-range shot would open up the courtroom and permit the workforce to extend their spacing. The best way Bam Adebayo has grown his sport is an ideal instance of what Neemias ought to attempt to emulate.
Celtics two-way participant Neemias Queta working towards his three-point shot.
Queta isn’t historically a shooter, however he’s clearly been engaged on it. pic.twitter.com/LN1ws7PWTy
— Jack Simone (@JackSimoneNBA) November 26, 2023
As for the defensive finish of the courtroom, I wouldn’t count on any middle to be as versatile as Adebayo, however him and Anthony Davis set the gold normal for learn how to be an elite defender on the 5 place whereas dealing with all of the switches of the trendy NBA. Neemy is a wonderful shot blocker, however he can wrestle to maintain up with switches and perimeter protection. He can study quite a bit from Bam and AD by learning their physique positioning, their capability to learn offenses, and slowing down the sport for himself.
Neemy was capable of establish the deficiencies in his sport, and seemed to deal with them over the offseason. In his interview with NBCS Boston, Eddie Home requested Queta what he added to his bag this summer season. He answered, “I really feel like with the ability to change defensively, change into extra versatile offensively, lengthen your sport – your vary, too. So, I really feel like with the ability to change into extra versatile in my sport, that may aid you keep on the courtroom for longer.”
By watching his personal movie from earlier video games, he says he can break down the technicalities on each ends of the courtroom, and may get a greater understanding on learn how to reduce down on turnovers and fouls, learn to change higher, and start to ingrain the muscle reminiscence on learn how to enhance in these departments when he will get on the courtroom.
Having yet one more offseason below his belt seemingly isn’t going to make a drastic influence on Neemias’ general sport. That being stated, the little issues add up. Having extra sport movie from earlier years, as nicely now having a chance to get significant minutes early on generally is a actual distinction maker in his growth. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown had been each excessive picks with excessive expectations, however they each undoubtedly benefited from being pressured into greater roles early of their careers whereas the Celtics had been coping with accidents. This can be the golden alternative for Queta to play with the core guys and stage up his sport to satisfy the workforce’s wants.
EDIT:
We’re now on day 4 of Celtics coaching camp, and with that we get a brand new have a look at Neemias Queta increasing his sport by increasing his vary.
Queta has clearly been placing work into his shot, and it looks as if changing into a stretch-five is an actual level of emphasis for him and the workforce. I wouldn’t count on him to be taking a number of threes a sport every evening out, however with the ability to belief him to knock down the occasional nook shot when he’s open is a good weapon to have within the arsenal.
We heard Xavier Tilman telling Eddie Home how Jaylen Brown inspired him to belief in his shot and “let it fly” after seeing the work that Tilman was placing in. With the best way Queta seemed in apply, I’m positive he’s going to be listening to an identical message quickly sufficient if he’s not already.
Neemias additionally spent a while speaking to the media after apply, and was requested about what he’s seeking to do to fill in for Porzingis, and who has been serving to him to get there.
Neemias Queta on his position in Kristaps Porzingis’s absence:
“I really feel like the principle factor with me is consistency… enjoying with out fouling, giving good minutes after I’m on the market.”
Says he’s labored quite a bit with Tony Dobbins. pic.twitter.com/z6I38suwGd
— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) September 27, 2024
He appears to be taking issues with a really level-headed strategy, understanding his position and what it takes to remain on the courtroom. It additionally looks as if he’s seeking to tackle longer stretches of play, which might be an important signal for Neemi followers.
Aspect word, that apply clip is a good depiction of simply how excessive NBA stage basketball is. Queta isn’t thought to be a shooter within the NBA by any means (but), however a 7-footer with a shot that easy and dependable is a scary factor to witness for a common-man like me.