Bold opening: Neemias Queta has been a revelation for the Celtics, but his most telling stat jump is a flaw he’s openly determined to fix.
Boston entered the season uncertain about the center position, but Queta’s breakout has steadied the ship. He’s been a defensive anchor and a reliable inside presence, yet one glaring weakness stands out: his free-throw shooting.
Queta is converting only 61.2% on 2.1 free throw attempts per game, a noticeable dip from his 71.3% career average. While the sample size isn’t enormous—just 49 free throws this season—the trend is clear enough to warrant action. The big man didn’t shy away from acknowledging the issue.
“I can get better,” Queta said. “It’s been a tough year for me at the line. I usually feel pretty confident when I’m out there. I don’t know what’s going on. Maybe it’s repetition or maybe it’s just getting my legs under it. But something I need to get better at, most definitely, because that’s unacceptable. … I’m too good of a shooter to shoot that bad.”
His improved play has landed him the starting role, especially after Boston moved on from Kristaps Porzingis, Luke Kornet, and Al Horford. Queta has seized the chance and delivered a career-best season so far, becoming a unique and indispensable anchor in a Celtics lineup that has leaned smaller when he rests, with players like Josh Minott stepping in at center.
Boston has also utilized other depth options—Luka Garza and Xavier Tillman among them—but they haven’t produced the consistency Queta provides, which makes his presence at the top of the rotation especially valuable.
The Celtics sit at 15-10, an encouraging figure that places them third in the Eastern Conference. Queta’s contributions have been a significant driver of that success, even as he commits to raising his free-throw percentage.
“I feel like I’m pretty good with my free-throw percentages,” Queta noted. “I usually go out there confident, and I typically make them. I don’t know what’s happening this year. I need to fix it, watch more film, and get more repetitions. I’ve been putting in work, and I think it’s just a shooting slump. That’s how I choose to see it. I’ll get going.”
For readers curious about the bigger picture, Queta’s vow to improve at the line comes as part of a broader arc: a young center who has embraced a bigger role, while teammates and coaches watch to see if his stride from the field translates to the stripe. As Boston continues to navigate its rotation with an emphasis on defense and efficiency, his ability to fix the free-throw wobbles could be a pivotal factor in whether the Celtics sustain this level of play from here.
Question to readers: Do you think Queta’s free-throw improvement will unlock even more offensive upside for Boston, or could the line remain the team’s weak link as the pressure tightens in the stretch run? Share your take in the comments.
