We're still just two weeks into the season, but it's already clear that the Boston Celtics should continue starting Neemias Queta at center over Mitchell Robinson.
Robinson has mostly been a big disappointment to start the season, and while it's too soon to give up on him (especially because it's not unusual for him to start the season slowly and ramp it up as it progresses), Boston still needs more immediate contributions.
The 28-year-old started five of his first six games as a Celtics. And on the year, he's averaging 6.2 points, 4.5 rebounds (yikes), and less than a block a game (also yikes) in 19.3 minutes per game (he is shooting 84.2% from the field on 3.2 attempts, to be fair). He looks slower than usual, and it doesn't look like the effort has completely been there.
Queta, meanwhile, has been one of the Celtics' most consistent players to start the season, and he is proving why he belongs in their starting lineup (it's fair to say he probably should've been the starter right out of the gate, too).
Neemias Queta is continuing to improve with the Celtics
Through seven games (two starts), the Portuguese native is averaging 9.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 1.4 blocks while shooting 60% from the field (and 2-for-3 from deep) in just 21.7 minutes.
He already has chemistry with the rest of the team, and it shows. His positioning and off-ball decision-making have gotten so much better since the start of last season. It's like he knows exactly where he's supposed to be at all times, and that makes it easier for him to crash the glass and get fed in the paint or under the basket.
Queta has an underrated two-man game going with Jayson Tatum right now, and it's encouraging to see. They bounce off each other surprisingly well, and the Celtics should utilize that as much as possible.
He is still an inconsistent finisher (I unironically feel more comfortable with Sam Hauser or Baylor Scheierman shooting a three-pointer than I do about Queta hitting a floater), but he is incredibly skilled and fits well wth the rest of the Celtics' lineup.
The 27-year-old is tenacious on the glass, is a strong screen-setter, is very athletic, and provides a ton of value in the paint on both sides of the ball. He's also an underrated passer, and he has a bit of a bag in the post game.
Boston clearly likes Queta, having taken multiple chances on him (signing him in 2023 and naming him its starting center last year despite having no consistent playing time before that) and signing him to a new contract in the offseason. At this point, the Celtics should continue prioritizing his development, and keeping him in the starting lineup (at least for now) is what they need to do to make that happen.
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