BOSTON, MA – The Boston Celtics are rolling. They’ve won three straight, seven of their last ten, and look like the team that dominated the Eastern Conference en route to a championship in 2024. Jayson Tatum is back, Jaylen Brown is playing at an MVP level, and the supporting cast is clicking.
But there’s a new dynamic forming that could elevate this team even further.
It’s not about the stars. It’s about the big man.
Neemias Queta, the 7-foot center who has quietly developed into one of the most reliable role players on the roster, is building something special with Tatum. And on Wednesday night, in a 120-99 demolition of the Golden State Warriors, the basketball world got a glimpse of what that partnership can become.
Pick-and-roll connection of Jayson Tatum, Neemias Queta, powers Celtics win vs. Wiz
The Numbers Don’t Lie
Tatum’s first three assists of the night all went to Queta.
Let that sink in. Not to Brown. Not to Kristaps Porziņģis. Not to Derrick White. Three straight possessions, three straight feeds to the big man rolling to the rim.
It wasn’t an accident. It was a statement.
Queta finished the night with 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting, grabbing six rebounds in just 18 minutes. His impact went far beyond the box score—setting screens, reading defenses, and creating opportunities for himself and others.
But the most important part? Tatum trusted him.
Mazzulla’s Assessment
After the game, head coach Joe Mazzulla was asked about the budding partnership between Tatum and Queta. His answer revealed just how much the Celtics value what Queta brings.
“Yeah, I’d say Neemi’s ability is a connector,” Mazzulla said via CLNS Media. “His ability to set screens, his ability to get guys open, his ability to read the floor and transition and create those two-on-ones early in the shot clock is something that he’s gotten better at, and really, our bigs in general have gotten better at throughout the entire season.”
That word—”connector”—is perfect. Queta isn’t just a screener. He’s not just a rebounder. He’s the guy who makes everything work, who links the stars to the role players, who turns good possessions into great ones.
Mazzulla continued: “Obviously, with JT being back, that just takes it to another level. So, continuing to get better at making those reads, but it’s something that he takes seriously of helping us create in our offense with those early action, you know, beginning of the shot clock.”
The Pick-and-Roll Chemistry
What makes the Tatum-Queta pairing so dangerous is the simplicity of it.
Tatum is one of the best pick-and-roll playmakers in the league. Defenses have to respect his ability to score off the dribble, to pull up from deep, to get to the rim. When he comes off a screen, defenders are in a bind—go under, and he’ll shoot; go over, and he’ll drive; switch, and he’ll exploit the mismatch.
Queta, meanwhile, has developed into a perfect roll man. He sets hard screens, reads the defense, and knows exactly when to dive to the rim and when to pop. His 7-foot frame makes him a constant lob threat, and his soft hands allow him to catch everything Tatum throws his way.
Together, they create a two-man game that defenses can’t easily solve.
The Postseason Implications
This matters because playoff basketball is different. Half-court offenses get squeezed. Stars get double-teamed. Role players have to step up.
Having a reliable pick-and-roll partnership gives the Celtics another weapon in their arsenal. When the offense stalls, when the shot clock is winding down, when the defense is locked in, Tatum and Queta can create something out of nothing.
It’s the kind of dynamic that wins close games. The kind that extends series. The kind that leads to championships.
Queta’s Growth
Queta’s journey to this point hasn’t been linear. He was drafted by the Sacramento Kings in 2021, spent time in the G League, and bounced around before landing in Boston. But the Celtics saw something in him—a willingness to learn, a commitment to his role, a physical presence that could complement their stars.
This season, he’s averaging 8.2 points and 6.1 rebounds in just 18 minutes per game. Those numbers don’t jump off the page, but his impact does. He’s a plus-minus darling, a player who consistently makes his team better when he’s on the floor.
And now, with Tatum back, he’s becoming something more: a weapon.
The Bigger Picture
The Celtics are 46-23, second in the East, and playing their best basketball of the season. Tatum is rounding into form. Brown is unstoppable. The defense is elite.
But the X-factor might be Queta. If he can continue to develop this chemistry with Tatum, if he can be that “connector” Mazzulla described, the Celtics become even more dangerous.
In a league where everyone is looking for the next superstar, sometimes the biggest difference-makers are the guys who do the little things right.
Neemias Queta is one of those guys.
And with Jayson Tatum running the show, he’s becoming a problem for the rest of the league.