Celtics’ Biggest Roster Need Is Clear

During the Boston Celtics’ 112-105 loss to the Detroit Pistons on Monday, Dec. 15, Joe Mazzulla opted to lean on a small-ball rotation during the minutes Neemias Queta spent on the bench. Over the past few weeks, Luka Garza has fallen out of the rotation, leaving Boston short on size and defensive rebounding.

When the Celtics went on a five-game winning streak, it was Mazzulla’s small-ball lineup that was keeping the team afloat. By going small, the Celtics are hyper-aggressive on defense, capable of switching at every position and removing driving opportunities. However, the Pistons exploited that lack of size and strength.

In the 13.6 minutes that Queta was off the floor on Monday, Detroit outscored Boston by 12 points. During that same span, the Celtics’ defensive rebounding fell off a cliff, and the need to be aggressive on switches led Boston to dish out seven fouls, one every two minutes.

Queta can’t play every minute of every game. But without another big man that Mazzulla trusts, the Celtics will be forced to continue going small. The NBA is trending toward sizeable lineups, with multiple contenders leaning on double-big lineups. Boston can’t afford to be cornered into playing small.

With the NBA trade season firmly open for business, Brad Stevens must begin scouring the market for an upgrade at center. Garza, despite his offensive talent, has looked borderline unplayable on defense and has seldom shown the upside he displayed in college. Not every reclamation project will go according to plan.

Ideally, Stevens will acquire a starting-level big, allowing Queta to slot into the second unit and continue his development. However, for the time being, any passable center who can earn minutes under Mazzulla would do.

The Celtics are a better team when they have a reliable anchor. In Queta’s nearly 35 minutes on the court against Detroit, Boston held its opponents to 72 points. In the almost 14 minutes he sat, the Celtics’ defense crumbled, allowing 40 points. Finding another center isn’t optional; it’s a necessity if Boston plans on being a genuine threat in the postseason.