Boston Celtics Media Day is lastly upon us – the time of 12 months the place we get to fulfill new faces, find out about what the gamers and workers labored on within the offseason, and perceive the expectations they’ve laid out for themselves within the 12 months forward.
There’s been some important churn with the roster this time round, which offered a couple of narratives of its personal. Boston misplaced 5 of their six oldest gamers on the roster: Al Horford, Jrue Vacation, Kristaps Porzingis, Luke Kornet, and Torrey Craig – these guys starting from 30 to 39 years younger. The oldest returning participant on the roster is Derrick White at simply 31 years, although the most recent addition, Chris Boucher, is formally the oldest participant on the roster at 32.
Most of the gamers who spoke at Media Day talked about the lack of the vets, noting the brand new roles opening up on the court docket, in addition to what was handed all the way down to the opposite gamers by way of mentorship. Neemias Queta particularly talked about how the departure of the vets created a void in management, however he noticed it as extra of a chance.
“It’s a special staff… it’s part of our progress. Our youthful guys, we gotta discover our voice,” he stated.
A lot of the main focus this 12 months for the Celtics is seeing who can breakout into an even bigger position and change into a big contributor, making Queta’s feedback particularly encouraging. To me, they present an eagerness to take the staff as a complete to a brand new degree, not only a private purpose to play higher on the court docket. It’s an emphasis on what Joe Mazzulla has been preaching because the starting – placing their mindset above all else.
Queta had a variety of alternative within the first third of final 12 months’s season with Kristaps Porzingis rehabbing from harm, however that chance dwindled because the season went on. Regardless of that, he stored his head up and performed with full effort at any time when his identify was known as. After the conclusion of the NBA season, he additionally put collectively a wonderful efficiency in EuroBasket this previous summer season.
Neemi, a local of Portugal, led his dwelling nation’s staff previous the group part to bracket play the place they misplaced to Germany within the first spherical, Germany in the end occurring to win the entire event. Queta led his staff in factors, rebounds, blocks, and effectivity, averaging 15.5 factors, 8 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks. He seemed dominant at occasions, and was a bodily menace.
Clearly, EuroBasket and the NBA are very totally different, however the management which Neemi displayed over the summer season can show to be very helpful if he’s in a position to carry it over this season. Joe Mazzulla liked what he noticed from Queta, saying “the eagerness with which you signify your nation is just like taking part in for the Celtics… Now we’ve got the boldness that he can do it each night time.”
Neemi ought to have loads of alternative on the court docket this 12 months, probably being the beginning heart from day one. His minutes will likely be determined by Joe, however the management alternative off the court docket is sort of solely up for him to grab.
Even with Jayson Tatum sidelined for what’s going to in all probability be a big chunk of the season, he’ll probably have a big voice within the locker room, as will Jaylen Brown. Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, and possibly even Anfernee Simons must make their voices heard too, however Queta appears able to deliver an depth that may spherical out the management group, and breathe life into the underdog mentality that Boston will in all probability be going into the season with.
