The Boston Celtics grabbed their third straight preseason win last night, absolutely taking down the Charlotte Hornets 113,94. But forget the final score for a sec, because what really got me fired up was the wild new lineup we saw: Neemias Queta and Mitchell Robinson running as a double big unit for almost seven minutes.
Mazzulla’s Mad Science On The Hardwood
Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla wasn’t just messing around, either. He dropped some truth after the game, explaining they needed “game reps in it so we can have it on film to see what we want to work on if it’s something we have to do before the regular season.” This guy is clearly willing to try anything, especially with the depth Boston’s got. He even said they have a “deep bench [with] a lot of depth” and they “just want to give every look imaginable so that we’re able to have a general idea of how we want to attack it defensively and offensively when the season starts.” What a genius, right? Thinking ahead like that.
Here’s the kicker, though: the players had absolutely no idea this was coming! Mazzulla admitted, “The guys didn’t know we were going to do it; we hadn’t practiced it. The first time they knew was at the beginning of the quarter.” Can you believe that? Robinson himself confirmed it, even with a smile, saying Mazzulla “did not tell us… caught us off guard.” Talk about baptism by fire!
What The Double Bigs Actually Delivered
So, how’d it work out for this impromptu “twin tower” combo? The very first possession was a bit rough, with them giving up two offensive rebounds. But after that initial hiccup, man, did they ever turn it on! The Celtics went on a 12,3 run during that first stint, holding the Hornets to just 1-of-7 shooting. Across the whole nearly seven minutes they were on the floor together, Boston outscored Charlotte by a massive 19,8.
Robinson acknowledged that he and Queta “are both talented players,” even if there are “a lot of things we have to clean up.” Queta, for his part, loved the partnership, noting they brought “a lot of presence in the paint on both sides” and confidently added, “we can be really good together.” Mazzulla kept it real, admitting they “got caught up in some janky spacing that you ideally wouldn’t want,” but he also pointed out some encouraging flashes of playmaking from Queta. You can totally see the upside: both guys are super mobile for their size, and Robinson was navigating the court with serious versatility.
This surprise lineup was a wild ride, showing some real potential even with the kinks. What does it mean for the regular season? Well, Mazzulla’s looking to have a general idea of how to attack both ends of the court, and this new look definitely gives them something unique to throw at opponents. Get ready for some unexpected heat, folks, because the Celtics are clearly cooking up some fresh strategies!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Celtics Blog.
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