Boston Celtics SURPRISES at halfway point: Neemias Queta, Joe Mazzulla, & Anfernee Simons
Boston Celtics surge past expectations at the NBA’s halfway point, riding standout campaigns from Jaylen Brown and surprise contributions from Neemias Queta and Luka Garza. Can Joe Mazzulla’s revamped system fuel a legit Eastern Conference title run? The front court’s impressive rise, plus Anfernee Simons’ defensive transformation, have fans buzzing about championship potential—but will the team’s good health continue as rivals like the Cavaliers, Knicks, and Sixers regroup?
John Karalis hosts Bobby Krivitzky, Jack Simone, and Noa Dalzell as they spotlight the Celtics’ relentless effort, locker room buy-in, and tactical flexibility. The team’s top net rating, surprise development of Jordan Walsh, and candid takes on Derrick White and Payton Pritchard’s seasons set the stage for a high-stakes playoff push. Insightful analysis on potential trades, playoff seeding battles, and coach-of-the-year buzz for Joe Mazzulla make this a must-listen for Celtics fans.
0:00 Midseason Surprises & Expectations
3:00 Celtics’ Unexpected Success
7:20 Assessing Team Ceiling & Realism
13:34 Eastern Conference Landscape
22:30 Rapid Fire: Surprises & Disappointments
36:10 Joe Mazzulla’s Coaching Impact
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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.
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15 Comments
I SAW THIS coming BUT I thought the Celtics would be the 1st seed, I also believed that it was going to rain Dunkin Doughnuts Boston Creams on MLK Day.
Oh niiice! 4 of my fave C's reporters! Maybe next time you can invite Nik, too, from the youngster squad
Hey everybody! Happily a bit ahead of where I thought they’d be, and they’re getting better.
Wow what a great group!
Really happy to be able to read your stuff with no paywalls JK
SO DUMB LMAO
Thanks for the Awesome content Sir 💪🏿🔥🔥🔥💯 I definitely appreciate you guys Bostons biggest fan ❤💯
I hear you john on the health luck but i'd also say we are due from some regression to the mean for pp/white/sam's shooting as well due for internal growth/deveopment. in the preseason, i called that the celtics would hit 50+ wins so i expected this performance from them. now, with JTs return, i'd expect 55+ wins to be within the realm of possibility. getting to the ECF and being a top 2 seed are reasonable goals for this team. especially if we get another bargain bin big or a consolidation of talent trade for an upgrade involving the depth bench pieces. lets go celtics!
P.S. Joe should win COTY.
Congrats to Jack for BSJ. I'm an old news reporter (back in the 80s) and I felt that when Joe chewed him out.
Jaylen is titanium. (Cue the David Guetta / Sia song). His underwater workout is 🔥
Hugo hello he’s a surprise
Please invite Nik 🙏🙏🙏🙏
My biggest suprise outside of the ones that you have already listed is the rise of hauser on defense. I don’t think people realize how much an improvement Hauser has made on that end. From being a guy that if he isn’t hitting shots he’s a negative, and going to a guy that even on an off night communicates well and gives you solid defense is a major step. I know people have had displeasure with his contract. But this dude is getting like 10ish million a year to be better than a Duncan Robinson who is being paid more!
Great inputs folks, very informative and right to the point. Nicely done!! Let’s go Celtics
Celtics.! 🍀☘️greatest team of all times
☘️☘️👊