Welcome to Boston, Neemias Queta!!!

[Parliament10]

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[phincsfan]

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At least one team realizes why one team was so good last season.

[playa-hater]

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At least one team realizes why one team was so good last season.

Man I love this. I was going to post stuff on why is Queta being stuck out there with D Mitch, speedy D Garland and even Steph Curry. Most of our centers don't go out there but instead do a drop coverage. Al sometimes does get up and out there late in games but early on his drop coverage in in a different area code. Kornet = different Zip Code. It seems like Queta has been the sacrificial lamb. And people start the Narrative his defense is bad.. the best perimeter defenders in the league can't stop Curry or Mitchell. If you are going to put Queta on an Island on premiere players at least pinch the paint a little with help like what GS does against Tatum.

PS... I want to see an occasional lineup of KP and Queta at times. 2 shots blockers may be able to help each other out nicely.

[phincsfan]

Read on Twitter

At least one team realizes why one team was so good last season.

Man I love this. I was going to post stuff on why is Queta being stuck out there with D Mitch, speedy D Garland and even Steph Curry. Most of our centers don't go out there but instead do a drop coverage. Al sometimes does get up and out there late in games but early on his drop coverage in in a different area code. Kornet = different Zip Code. It seems like Queta has been the sacrificial lamb. And people start the Narrative his defense is bad.. the best perimeter defenders in the league can't stop Curry or Mitchell. If you are going to put Queta on an Island on premiere players at least pinch the paint a little with help like what GS does against Tatum.

PS... I want to see an occasional lineup of KP and Queta at times. 2 shots blockers may be able to help each other out nicely.

I think Joe will tinker with everything when KP comes back.

[Gant]

Keith Smith
Underrated Players for each NBA Team
As we zoom past the quarter-pole and toward the one-third mark of the season, we're looking at some overlooked players for each team.


Boston Celtics

Neemias Queta

Boston is the best team in the NBA. That makes it a little hard to find anyone underrated on the roster. But Neemias Queta fits the bill.

Queta has been a pretty consistent part of the Celtics rotation this season. He’s done a great job bringing energy to whenever he plays. He’s an improved finisher inside (by softening his touch on his shots and improving his catching ability), a terrific rebounder and he’s getting better on defense too.

https://basketballbulletin.substack.com/p/underrated-players-for-each-nba-team?r=ws59g&triedRedirect=true

[ConstableGeneva]

24 games in...

+14.2 in 668 possessions ON the floor.
+9.2 in 1625 possessions OFF the floor.
+12.7 in 409 possessions as sole big ON the floor.

SOURCE: CleaningtheGlass.com

[ConstableGeneva]

Why did no one call timeout when GP2 had the ball? Very unclutch by the Warriors. They were up 6 with a minute left.

Curry Magic here?

[brackdan70]

Why did no one call timeout when GP2 had the ball? Very unclutch by the Warriors. They were up 6 with a minute left.

Curry Magic here?

Worried about Queta coming into the game?

[Gant]

Here's a detailed article about Queta's winding journey from Portugal to Utah State to Sacramento, and finally to the Celtics.

https://www.celticsblog.com/2024/12/12/24317551/neemias-queta-thriving-through-rapid-development-with-celtics-boston-sacramento-kings-utah-state


Why did he choose Boston?

Queta understood the uphill battle for playing time in Sacramento, but he chose another crowded front court over multiple other opportunities in free agency. He liked the Celtics’ winning track record, Boston’s proximity to his native Portugal and a friend he used to play with on Benfica resided in the city.

His Sacramento teammate Davion Mitchell on Queta being cut by the Kings:

“Was I surprised? Not really,” Mitchell said. “I’m kinda glad they did because he wasn’t ever gonna get an opportunity there. Never. Even the backup big now (Alex) Len only plays like sometimes eight minutes per game ... it was up-and-down and Neemy didn’t need that. I feel like Neemy just needed a a chance to to learn from some vets like Al Horford. A really good vet room ... being around a championship team.”

The 2021 Summer league title game:

Mitchell and Queta led Sacramento’s Summer League team to the championship one month after the team drafted them, with Queta becoming the first player ever selected from Portugal. While he went 30 picks after Mitchell, the guard credited Queta with the win.

They defeated Payton Pritchard, Aaron Nesmith, Joe Mazzulla and Boston’s summer squad, 100-67, to secure the title. Two years later, the Kings waived Queta after only twenty NBA games across two seasons to sign JaVale McGee, despite Queta finishing top-3 in G-League MVP voting the previous year. Queta quickly joined Boston on a two-way deal.

Queta didn't play much. Starters for Boston: Nesmith, Begarin, Fernando, Edwards, and Pritchard. Hauser also played.

Box score: https://www.nba.com/game/sac-vs-bos-1522100075/box-score

[redslastlaugh]

I like Queta, I hope he can have a long career with us, I think he’s a winning player and still probably undervalued overall. Great signing by Brad.

At this point, I think Sam and Queta are the two best young guys we’ve acquired since Brad took over. Maybe Brad just doesn’t need the draft, lol, I’m being serious, lol

Here'a a detailed article about Queta's winding journey from Portugal to Utah State to Sacramento, and finally to the Celtics.

https://www.celticsblog.com/2024/12/12/24317551/neemias-queta-thriving-through-rapid-development-with-celtics-boston-sacramento-kings-utah-state


Why did he choose Boston?

Queta understood the uphill battle for playing time in Sacramento, but he chose another crowded front court over multiple other opportunities in free agency. He liked the Celtics’ winning track record, Boston’s proximity to his native Portugal and a friend he used to play with on Benfica resided in the city.

His Sacramento teammate Davion Mitchell on of Queta being cut by the Kings:

“Was I surprised? Not really,” Mitchell said. “I’m kinda glad they did because he wasn’t ever gonna get an opportunity there. Never. Even the backup big now (Alex) Len only play like sometimes eight minutes per game ... it was up-and-down and Neemy didn’t need that. I feel like Neemy just needed a a chance to to learn from some vets like Al Horford. A really good vet room ... being around a championship team.”

Mitchell and Queta led Sacramento’s Summer League team to the championship one month after the team drafted them, with Queta becoming the first player ever selected from Portugal. While he went 30 picks after Mitchell, the guard credited Queta with the win.

They defeated Payton Pritchard, Aaron Nesmith, Joe Mazzulla and Boston’s summer squad, 100-67, to secure the title. Two years later, the Kings waived Queta after only twenty NBA games across two seasons to sign JaVale McGee, despite Queta finishing top-3 in G-League MVP voting the previous year. Queta quickly joined Boston on a two-way deal.

Box score from the 2021 Summer league title game. Queta didn't play much. Starters for Boston: Nesmith, Begarin, Fernando, Edwards, and Pritchard. Hauser also played.

https://www.nba.com/game/sac-vs-bos-1522100075/box-score

[Gant]

Bobby Krivitsky

Joe Mazzulla when asked about Neemias Queta's growth cutting down on goaltending:

"To me, for Neemy, it's never been about that one particular thing. It's been about holding Neemy to the standard of where I think he can be, not where he is, and credit to him, he's done a great job of that." 1/x

"The other night, I think he played what? 12-14, minutes? I put him in when it was like an 18-point game. And he has the willingness to want to be coached whether it's a close game or whether it's not a close game." 2/x

"...Put him in, (up) 18, and he gives up a corner three cause he over-helped...In the first, second quarter of a game, that might be the right play, but when you're not looking to give up threes...especially when it's a double-digit lead, you can't have that play." 3/x

"...He's very open-minded to being coached regardless of the circumstance. And he had another play where (he) got the switch, we threw him the ball, and I think Champagnie took it from him. And I was really hard on him on those two plays because those two plays translate to the meat of the game" 4/x

"...He's great because he's got thick skin. He wants to be coached. He wants to hold himself to a higher standard. So, it's not about that one thing; it's about holding him to a high standard, regardless of if he's playing in the meat of the game or if he's playing at the end of games." Fin.

https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:dnxkqc6rsqossh7uhyobkeua/post/3ldjgslvklk25

[Gant]

One thing that does not show up in box scores is how effective Neemias Queta is setting screens. He's all league in that skill.

Queta leads the team in screens that result in baskets per game. He also leads the team in points per game resulting from screens. This is PER GAME, so he's doing this despite playing very limited minutes.

Per 36 minutes, Queta is fifth league-wide in screen assist points:

translated from the article linked below :

The Portuguese closes the top-5 of the league with an average of 14.2 points generated by its blockages. Only Steven Adams (17.0), Kevon Looney (16.5), Jusuf Nurkić (15.5) and Jock Londale (14.4) appear in front of him

He is fourth in the league at screen assists per 36 minutes, behind only Looney, Sabonis, and DeAndre Jordan.

Article in Portugese: https://www.borrachalaranja.com/p/neemias-queta-entre-a-elite-da-nba

other stat from here: https://www.nba.com/stats/players/hustle-leaders

[ConstableGeneva]

Watch on YouTube

[redslastlaugh]

Queta was great this year, I thought.
Luke’s career year somewhat overshadowed or even negated Queta’s career year in the eyes of some Celtics fans. But imo Neemi was great. Most minutes, total points of any season so far. He way reduced foul rate. Was a nice +/- and effective oncourt with Tatum. And of all our bigs, he’s the best operator in the 3-10 ft area, and just gives a different look.
Great work Neemi!

[brackdan70]

Queta is ranked 18th in DLEBRON for guys under 26.
Not too shabby.

[redslastlaugh]

ESPN's net points metric like Queta too.
Set it to net points per 100 possessions. Set minutes to >500 and Neemias Queta is 49th best in the NBA
49. Neemias Queta
50. Damian Lillard
51. Anthony Edwards
52. Pascal Siakam
https://espnanalytics.com/nba-net-pts100

so... there's that ... lol

Queta is ranked 18th in DLEBRON for guys under 26.
Not too shabby.

[flintsky21]

Let's discuss Neemy. He just might well be our starting center on opening night. Are we looking at a disaster in waiting or a potential breakout?

[Shak_Celts]

Let's discuss Neemy. He just might well be our starting center on opening night. Are we looking at a disaster in waiting or a potential breakout?

FINALLY a real shot! I hope.

[cloverleaf]

I think Amari can do things that Neemi can't, but I'd be more than happy if Neemi were Amari's backup for a decade--though yes, Neemi is more likely to start on opening night.

[165bows]

Let's discuss Neemy. He just might well be our starting center on opening night. Are we looking at a disaster in waiting or a potential breakout?

They’ll prob start Garza lol