Queta “doesn’t know how good he can be” when he takes on a physical presence.

With a 32-9 record at the halfway mark of the regular season, Joe Mazzulla discusses the Celtics’ current situation and the need for the team to keep pushing itself in order to improve.

Neemias Queta, the big man for the Boston Celtics, has grown to be a TD Garden favorite. Despite being limited to playing in 50 games this season due to a two-way contract, Queta’s reliability is beginning to make a case for Boston to upgrade his contract to a conventional one.

Queta, who is playing in his 15th game of the season, put on another strong performance on Wednesday night as Boston defeated the San Antonio Spurs 117-98. Having a large lead early on, he saw an increase in minutes (12) and was a formidable presence on the boards with eight rebounds. In addition, the seven-foot-tall big man blocked two of the Spurs’ six shots, making it difficult for the team to score in the paint. Additionally, Queta earned six points on a practical fifty percent of his field goals.

In the first half, Queta “changed the game for us,” according to Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla.

Queta confronted Victor Wembanyama, the sensational rookie for the Spurs. In his first season, the French sensation has been a matchup nightmare. However, as his primary defender, Queta did a wonderful job of slowing down the 7-foot-4 big man with his physical presence, holding him to just three points on 0 for 2 shooting in 1:24.

Boston Celtics interim coach Joe Mazzulla faces reporters photo during the NBA basketball team’s Media Day, Monday, Sept. 26, 2022, in Canton, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Mazzulla continued, “I just like seeing Neemy [Queta] be physical.” Queta was the G-League MVP runner-up the previous season. “The presence that he’s playing with on the floor — he’s one of those kids, he doesn’t understand how good he can be.”

Queta has been reliable this season in a meager 13.6 minutes per game, averaging 4.9 points on 56% shooting from the field and 4.7 rebounds. Queta’s ability to play efficient drop-back defense, which gives the Celtics constant support in the paint, won’t appear on the stat sheet. Mazzulla has had to find methods to get Queta on the court because of his height and physicality, while Luke Kornet is the preferred backup big man. Queta was born in Portugal.

When it comes to the difference Queta makes, Mazzulla remarked, “he’s starting to see that when he plays with a certain presence.” “We’re a different team.”

Before Queta’s eligibility expires and he is compelled to finish his season with the G-League club Maine Celtics, Celtics president Brad Stevens must make a choice. There is still one available roster space for the C’s, and Queta is beginning to make it difficult for Boston to resist signing him to a regular contract.

Queta might never be a team’s first choice, but he has a legitimate chance to play significant rotation minutes with the Celtics, who are in the running.

The Celtics are currently riding a remarkable 20-game home victory streak—they are only the 13th team in NBA history to do so—and they will want to maintain this momentum into their game against Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets on Friday night.