The Celtics just blew out the Hornets in another preseason win, but honestly, the score wasn’t even the most interesting part. What everyone should be buzzing about is the serious glimpse we got into Boston’s completely revamped center rotation. Mitchell Robinson, Neemias Queta, and even Luka Garza all showed out, giving us a look at what the future holds for the big men.
Mitchell Robinson Is Loving His Dirty Work, And It’s Paying Off
Mitchell Robinson isn’t just in Boston to rebound anymore, folks. The man is clearly enjoying his new gig, and you can see why. He started the night setting a physical tone on the boards and finished with 12 points and 7 rebounds, shooting a perfect 5-for-5 from the field and 2-for-2 on free throws. What’s wild is how much more involved he is on offense now. Gone are the days of just setting a screen and rolling. Now, Robinson is setting flare screens, pin-downs, and ball screens, and he’s absolutely loving it. He even said it feels amazing and that the team appreciates him for “all the dirty work.” He figures the more dirty work he does, the more offensive opportunities he’ll get, and it’s a hand-in-hand deal.
This dude, who just landed a three-year contract this summer, has gotten the starting nod in the last two games alongside Derrick White, Jordan Walsh, Jayson Tatum, and Paul George. We even saw clear progress with his timing on lobs with Tatum, which was a little off against Philly. This new offensive freedom for Robinson? It’s a game-changer for how Boston attacks.
Queta’s Unexpected New Shot And The Double-Big Threat
While Robinson was doing his thing, Neemias Queta was out there dropping 16 points on 7-for-11 shooting, and get this: he was attempting 3-pointers! Yeah, you read that right. He went 0-for-3 from deep against the Hornets, following an 0-for-1 against the Sixers. He did make a long-range jumper, but his foot was on the line. Still, the fact that he’s even attempting them is something we absolutely need to keep an eye on. Queta says he’s been practicing them for years, getting reps in, and making them in the offseason, and the coaches trust him to shoot. Now he just has to make them consistently.
Queta, who was actually last year’s starter, is coming off the bench now, but don’t sleep on him. He’s projected to get nightly minutes, and coach Joe Mazzulla even experimented with some double-big lineups featuring both Robinson and Queta. Mazzulla didn’t even give them a heads-up, but these guys just took it in stride and were productive against the Hornets. Robinson even praised Queta, calling him “talented” and “very smart” for how he puts the ball on the floor. Luka Garza joined the party too, adding 14 points on 5-for-8 shooting, just showing off that depth.
Boston opens their season on Tuesday against Detroit, with their moneyline set at -104 on Polymarket. You better believe all eyes will be on this new center rotation. We’ll be watching to see if Queta can truly develop that 3-point shot and how Robinson continues to dominate with his new offensive role. This is gonna be fun.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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