The Celtics entered the season with a lot of question marks at the center position. In fact, that was one of the main reasons many people picked the Celtics for the lottery. Fast forward to today and Neemias Queta has had himself a breakout season, Luka Garza has established himself as a rotation big, and now the team is adding Nikola Vucevic to the mix.
I think most would agree that Garza is well suited to be the 3rd center in the rotation. But this begs the question: Who should start once the trade has become official?
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The case for Vucevic:
For the Bulls, Vuc was averaging 16.9 points, 9 rebounds, and 3.8 assists in over 30 minutes a game. He stretches the floor, shooting 37% from 3. He even moves the ball well within the flow of the offense. He’s a 2 time All Star veteran who knows how to perform under the bright lights.
The case for Queta
Neemy has been here all year and has a chemistry and comfort level in Mazzula’s scheme. He doesn’t score as much as Vuc (10.1 pts per game in 25 min) but he does grab boards (8.1) and block shots (1.3). He also provides the Celtics with a dimension that they haven’t often had, with strong rim running and stronger pick setting. He’s also a plus defender at the rim. He’s also close to a decade younger.
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You make the call
So you can see that a case could be made either way. I could see Joe Mazzulla going with either one. The question is, who would you start? (and why) What key aspects did I forget in my brief analysis above?
Give us your take in the comments below.