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Bill Simmons raves about ‘jaw-dropping’ Boston Celtics star who has proved his credentials

Originally posted on NBA Analysis Network
By Bergas Agung | Last updated Nov 21, 2025 7:30 PM ET

The Boston Celtics appear to be treating this season as a gap year following Jayson Tatum’s injury.

The team is currently navigating the season without Tatum, in addition to losing former All-Star caliber contributors in Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday, and Al Horford.

Do you think the Detroit Pistons will be able to keep Cade Cunningham?

However, the situation is not as dire as it might seem. Through the first 15 games of the season, the Boston Celtics hold an 8-7 record and currently sit in a play-in spot.

If they stay the course, they could find themselves in the playoffs later this year, especially given how open the Eastern Conference is this season.

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Bill Simmons believes Boston Celtics star is capable of anchoring the starting unit with his performance

Several role players have performed above expectations, most notably their starting center, Neemias Queta.

NBA analyst Bill Simmons recently praised Queta, expressing his belief that the center is capable of anchoring the starting unit despite having been just a rotational player for the Celtics over the past couple of years.

“Queta, a real guy. His advanced metrics are jaw-dropping. He has some of the best advanced metrics in the league. It makes no sense,” Simmons said.

Queta is currently averaging career highs of 9.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game while playing 24.5 minutes per night.

A deeper dive into the statistics reveals his defensive impact: he currently ranks fifth in the NBA in blocks per 36 minutes with 2.16.

Defensive Rating Comparison: Eastern Conference Centers (2025-26)

Player	Team	Defensive Rating
Wendell Carter Jr.	ORL	102.5
Jalen Duren	DET	106.4
Neemias Queta	BOS	108.7
Jarrett Allen	CLE	110.5
Myles Turner	MIL	113.4
Nic Claxton	BKN	116.5

*Stats cover the 2025/2026 NBA season up to mid-November 2025.

Jaylen Brown is another Boston Celtics star who is flourishing this season

Another player Simmons highlighted as a standout for the Celtics is their star, Jaylen Brown.

Brown is carrying the offense this season, proving that he can indeed serve as the number one option for the franchise.

“Jaylen Brown has been a really good scorer as a number one option. We’ll see when they play some of the harder teams,” Simmons said. “I like how he’s playing. He was really patiently getting good shots,” he added.

Brown is currently averaging 27.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game, while shooting 34.9% from three and 50.3% from the field overall.

His scoring numbers and field goal percentage represent career highs, validating Simmons’ argument regarding his ascent.

This article first appeared on NBA Analysis Network and was syndicated with permission.

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