Celtics’ Neemias Queta POISED for MASSIVE Leap | Will He SHOCK the NBA?
Boston Celtics shake up strategy as roster changes loom. Will Jaylen Brown’s future with the team hang in the balance?
In a new “Mailbag Monday” episode, John Karalis of boston Sports Journal breaks down the Celtics’ evolving game plan, highlighting potential “leaps” from young talents like Sam Hauser and Neemias Queta. The discussion covers Joe Mazzulla’s new offensive approach, emphasizing pace and forced turnovers. Karalis also analyzes Brown’s impact on Boston and speculates on his long-term commitment to the franchise.
Can the Celtics adapt to their roster shifts and maintain their competitive edge? Tune in for insider insights on the team’s path forward and key players to watch this season.
1:15 Intro: Opening the mailbag for Celtics questions
5:07 Neemias Queta could make biggest leap this year
10:12 Not a Queta hater, just honest evaluations
16:52 Jaylen Brown’s future with the Celtics
24:04 Kostas Antetokounmpo unlikely as Celtics center prospect
26:36 New team identity: The “Painted Wolves”
30:47 Fan crowdfunding to attract free agents
34:22 Rooting for Clippers chaos this season
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!
5-Hour ENERGY
Enough with boring, flavorless caffeine, it’s time to give your caffeine a flavor upgrade with 5-hour ENERGY®️ shots. Get the favorites you love or be bold and try something new in-store and online at https://www.5hourENERGY.com or Amazon today.
OpenPhone
Streamline and scale your customer communications with OpenPhone. Get 20% off your first 6 months at https://www.openphone.com/lockedonnba
Monarch Money
Take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNBA at https://monarchmoney.com/lockedonnba for 50% off your first year
FanDuel
Right now, new customers can bet just FIVE dollars and if your bet wins—you’ll get THREE HUNDRED dollars in bonus bets to use across the app. Download the FanDuel app now by visiting https://FanDuel.com to get started
FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)
Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms…
🎧 https://link.chtbl.com/LOCeltics?sid=YouTube
Locked On NBA League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Draft, WNBA & More
🎧 https://linktr.ee/LockedOnNBA
Locked On Celtics is a daily Boston Celtics podcast by Boston Sports Journal beat writer John Karalis. It’s an inside look at the C’s from a former professional basketball player who is at practices & games.
#BostonCeltics #Celtics #NBA #JaysonTatum #JaylenBrown
25 Comments
If he brings one thing back from EuroBall this offseason I hope it’s outstanding confidence.
I met a guy in Portugal who said he knew Queta and that Queta was mean af on the court. That left me kore interested because the Celtics could use an enforcer, a la Aaron Baynes.
It'll be a success if he can be a playable passable center that can just become a solid #2 at the 5. we fanboy out and cheer on fun to watch bench players all the time. Let us have that. Watching him get some lob dunks and blocks is fun. He doesn't have to be or do we expect him to turn into a superstar.
Prior to KP coming back last season I thought he did a better job than anyone expected. that's what has people excited. Then his minutes disappeared and when he got in the game he looked more out of sorts. More minutes this year will hopefully do wonders.
Queta is good enough to be a backup or a third string center. Yes, he has flaws but let's not act like Tatum doesn't either.
Who could be the 3rd man? lol Although Schroeder won MVP being captain of the winning German team, the other 4 guys on the all star 5 were Luka, Giannis, Wagner, and Sengun. I think their skills translate quite nicely in the NBA.
I don’t see him “shocking the NBA”. I mean, if I’m wrong then great-but don’t see it. 🤷🏻♂️
Stay gold Ponyboy. ☘️🔒
I'm from Italy and it's always interesting to see how European players are seen by american fans. Neemias has always been capable of balling, he surely got more confidence from this year's Eurobasket but it's not like he'll improve that much from last season; he was a baller earlier and still remains a baller. Point is, you can't compare and expect similarities between the games one plays for his nation (especially when it's over such a small stretch of time) to those one plays in a foreign league that demands 82 strenuating matches per season (plus playoffs). Neemias will still be a good player for the Celtics, but don't expect to see a 15p/10r machine on the court because both the motivation and season fatigue won't squeeze those numbers out of him.
When Queta started playing well in Eurobasket, i mentioned here that he reminded me slightly of a young Kendrick Perkins. (Because i was alive when Perk was drafted, and I actually watched both of these players. They are similar)
I took flak for that take, which is fine, but the overall message from these young fans (who never saw Perk play) was that Queta was WAY better than Perk! And how could I possibly think that Perk could hang with Queta?!?!
The fact is, Perk (when he was 23 or whatever) was far BETTER than Queta is right now!
Perk was a legitimate starting Center for a serious contender for 5 years. One of the best defensive Centers in the league for years.
If Queta is half as successful as Perk was he will be lucky!
What you’re saying is not true. He does not struggle to dunk.. some of the lobs he was catching in euro basket were in one handed grabs I mean, who are we comparing his ass to the only other seven footer I know that’s athletic like that is Derek lively.. to say queta has a jumping issue is insane. Sure he could get more burst if he didn’t touch his knees, but he gets plenty. I mean come on. He’s the only center on our roster that could probably catch and throw down a. Lob right now and you can throw that thing anywhere and he will get it…. Sure he’s A little bit out of control, but he looked more in control of his body in most recent eurobasket appearances than he has in the NBA up to this point.
Can I just say as a baseball fan it is the most boring sport to watch ever made. I love to play it hate to watch it. In saying that the only thing more boring than watching baseball would be watching a podcast about baseball 😂😂😂 love your work John keep it up!!
I think mazulla will platoon at center
Let’s be honest you’re evaluation of any player that hasn’t broken through yet is that they’re not going to ever break through. And I get it you’re leaning on statistics because if you do this, you will usually be correct according to statistics. I think you’re closed minded when it comes to a players ability to actually grow. Maybe you as a player did not improve drastically as time went on, but there are players who do. All we really need is for him to become a reliable second option.
You’re not a hater, but when it comes to these younger guys, I think you just take the easy answer the answer that will statistically prove you right. But one of these guys is gonna break through.
☘️☘️👊
I agree about Queta and the Euro League. It's not the same as the NBA. Queta plays hard, but I don't think that he has the coordination to be successful first string C playing at NBA speed.
Hope that we are both wrong, but I don't think so.
Rooting for ChAoS
The wild dog analogy is decent. I reckon though, if it's fourty-eight minutes of relentlessness, I'll stick to animals that live within the water which means it has to be a Piranha, surely.
They're a pack animal, each individual swipes in and takes their chunk before swiftly darting back out and letting the next in line do the same and… If they smell blood? Not unlike sharks.
John I love the fact that you are so funny 😅☘️😎
I’m going with spider monkeys. It placates to joes love for movies and I do think “I’m gonna come at you like a spider monkey!” Is very fitting – they are going to be relentless all over you won’t know what to expect or half the time who will be on the court. The advantage will be surprise and that’s the spider monkey M.O.
I think "Hyenas" is just a touch more appropriate. Everyone has heard of them. It's a singe word. They have a reputation for meanness. Only thing is, they are scavengers. I once saw a pack dismantle an antelope in about thirty seconds.
Mr Karalis! Did you just suggest to a Celtic fan base that is mourning the loss of our championship roster full of quality guys root for the Clippers this year?? I thought you were a journalist with integrity that would want the league to come down hard on Ballmer, Leonard and the team for laughing at the salary cap. Cmon man!
The CBA prevents salary cap circumvention, which is any agreement that sidesteps the official team contract to pay a player.
Explicitly illegal: In 2020, former player Spencer Dinwiddie proposed a fan-funded deal to let fans pick his next team. The proposal was immediately shut down by the NBA, which confirmed it would violate multiple CBA clauses.
Harsh penalties: The CBA imposes severe penalties for teams that use alternative means to compensate a player, which can include fines and the loss of draft picks.
Circumvention: The NBA has taken action against even indirect or "wink wink" forms of compensation. For example, a retired player serving in a front-office role with a team's company would be a red flag for the league.
If they play like the way you describe, I think we could call them "the colony" like a colony of ants that are hyper focus on their individual tasks/skills, working toward the bigger picture.
I want you to know I’m still a huge fan of the show Even though we disagree. Just because our opinions differ sometimes doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate your input and your dedication.thanks for the consistency. And thanks for giving your true opinion.
I can’t believe Tatum was allowed to take as many three-pointers as he was allowed to take seeing as Joe is such such a math guy. Tatum shot 34% and hasn’t shot near 40% since his sophomore season from three. You would think that guy would be taking the least threes. Not to mention the difficulty of the threes he was taking sometimes.