Neemias Queta started at center for the Boston Celtics on Monday night, while Mitchell Robinson watched from the bench. The team signed Robinson to a three-year, $47 million deal on July 6. The former Knicks center is now the backup, and the numbers show why the change was necessary. Per Hardwood Houdini, the Celtics are a winning team when Robinson sits on the sideline, but they struggle badly when he plays.
The data from the game against the Houston Rockets tells a clear story. In only 26 minutes of action, Queta recorded 16 points along with six rebounds. He made a corner three-pointer and grabbed four offensive boards. Robinson played 15 minutes and scored only four points. The 109-93 loss snapped Boston’s five-game win streak, dropping them to 5-2 on the season.
Why the Bench Spot Hurts Robinson
The season-long stats for the Celtics look terrible when Robinson is on the court. According to Hardwood Houdini, the team has a net rating of -35.1 when he plays. When he sits out, that number jumps to a league-best +16. His offensive rating while on the floor is 97.1, which would be the worst mark in the entire NBA. Without him, the offense shoots up to 123.5. These are not small differences. They show a massive gap in how the team performs with different players.
Robinson also struggled to keep up with the pace of the game. He looked slow and out of shape against the physical Houston frontcourt. He was overmatched by Alperen Sengun and failed to create space with his screens. Queta, on the other hand, used his size to score Boston’s first seven points of the night. He even converted two offensive rebounds into tip-ins. The former Knicks star had no deflections or screen assists to his name, while Queta recorded four deflections and three screen assists.
Coach Mazzulla Embraces the Change
Joe Mazzulla made the starting lineup change to use the team’s depth and variety. “Just taking advantage of our depth, taking advantage of our variety,” Mazzulla said after the loss. He noted that he puts the same weight into every lineup he uses. The coach changed the lineup at halftime to put Queta back in the starting five. The visitors had already reduced their deficit to 68-62 when Robinson joined Queta in a twin-tower lineup to start the second half.
The Celtics rolled with multiple double-big looks against Houston to handle the physical play. They started with Queta and Luka Garza, then added Robinson later. This look will likely appear again as the season goes on. The team is 5-2 despite the issues with Robinson, but the front office must decide if his current form is sustainable. The three-year deal is guaranteed, yet the best version of the player has not shown up yet.
