Entering the season, following the departures of Al Horford, Luke Kornet, and Kristaps Porzingis, the frontcourt stood as one of the biggest question marks surrounding the Boston Celtics.
Even the man who constructed the roster wasn’t sure how it would unfold.
“We’ll see how that looks,” Brad Stevens said on media day in late September. “I don’t know how the frontcourt is going to play itself out right now. I can’t predict it.”
Now nearly three-quarters of the way through the season, and with the addition of Nikola Vucevic last month, it’s one of their greatest strengths. Sunday night’s 114–98 win over the Philadelphia 76ers was a clear example.
The Celtics have two starting-caliber centers in Neemias Queta and Nikola Vucevic.
Start with Queta, who, without his development this season, Boston wouldn’t be having the year it’s having. He has grown into every bit of a starting center in the NBA, and it’s not hyperbolic to say he has been one of the most impactful at his position. Among centers with at least 45 games played, Queta’s 12.5 net rating ranks third, trailing only Chet Holmgren (13.9) and Victor Wembanyama (14.0). His 105.3 defensive rating is third, while his 117.8 offensive rating ranks eighth.
The Portuguese big man has taken enormous strides on both ends of the floor, leaps that should put him firmly in the Most Improved Player conversation. On Sunday, he delivered the best game of his NBA career: 27 points, 17 rebounds (10 offensive), two assists, three blocks, and a steal. He recorded a double-double by the 7:47 mark of the second quarter and received standing ovations from the TD Garden faithful throughout the night, even getting serenaded with “MVP” chants at the free-throw line in the fourth quarter.
“I wouldn’t say [I’m] surprised. I’m happy, though. I’m very pleased just to see his progression. He’s been working hard all year,” Jaylen Brown said of Queta’s development. “He’s done a good job this year. And I think he has another level that he can tap into, and I feel like he’s starting to tap into that next level. So that’s big. We just got to keep empowering that.”
Queta became the first Celtic with at least 25 points and 10 offensive rebounds since Robert Parish in 1989. He also became just the eighth Celtic in franchise history to record at least 25 points, 15 rebounds, and three blocks, joining Parish, Larry Bird, Mark Blount, Dave Cowens, Kevin McHale, Dino Rađa, and Jayson Tatum. Six are in the Hall of Fame. One (Tatum) is on his way.
Pretty good company.
“You have to give him credit,” Joe Mazzulla said. “Part of telling him in the summer that he was going to be the starting center was giving him the time to properly wrap his mind around it and physically, mentally, and emotionally prepare himself for what it means to be the starting center for the Celtics. And I think he’s taken on that ownership and responsibility well, and he’s got to keep it going. He has a responsibility now to continue to get better, regardless of the process.
Vucevic also had a strong showing as he continues to settle into Boston’s system. He got into early foul trouble but responded well. In his ninth game in a Celtics uniform, the 15-year veteran — who trails only LeBron James for double-doubles among active players — recorded his fourth with Boston, finishing with 11 points, 12 rebounds (three offensive), and a block. He had five points and six rebounds in six fourth-quarter minutes alone, helping fend off a second-half push by the 76ers.
“He had a great second half, on both ends of the floor,” Mazzulla said. “As he continues to just get better and better, it’s just another piece that we can unlock, and you kind of saw that in the second half on both ends. It’s not just the offense. He can take it to another level when he protects the rim for us, is physical, and can get deflections.”
Add up the production of Queta and Vucevic, and they combined for 38 points, 29 rebounds (13 offensive), and four blocks. Their 13 offensive rebounds were more than Philadelphia’s entire roster, while their four blocks matched Philadelphia’s total. That’s the luxury of having two starting-caliber centers in one lineup.
“Rebounding and making those plays in the seam are big for us. Last game, Vucevic made a lot of those plays in the seam. This game, it was Neemi,” said Jaylen Brown. “That’s big for our team going forward. Because now, the next few games, maybe teams decide not to be up so much. Now they’re back. Now our guards are coming off and getting wide-open looks. So it’s a puzzle piece. I’m very pleased with the last few games from our bigs.”
The intriguing thing about this duo is the contrast in their styles and the fact that both have been successful. Queta provides vertical spacing and rim pressure, while Vucevic functions as a more traditional stretch big, adding a post presence that had been missing for Boston.
That contrast gives the Celtics real options, turning one of their biggest questions into one of their most dependable advantages and giving the team a frontcourt capable of impacting games in multiple ways.
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