Will there be opportunity for Neemias Queta in crowded Celtics frontcourt?

BOSTON — The Celtics got a big boost in their frontcourt in Monday’s win over the Clippers and it didn’t just come from the return of Kristaps Porzingis. Backup center Neemias Queta also got a chance after receiving a DNP-CD on Sunday in the wake of some defensive struggles in recent games. With Al Horford and Luke Kornet sidelined, Queta got the call from Joe Mazzulla and put together one of his best efforts of the season.

Queta nearly had a double-double with 12 points and 9 rebounds while also added four blocks and two steals in the blowout win over 25 minutes. Queta was also very unselfish looking for shooters on the perimeter, tallying three assists while setting strong screens. That type of performance was exactly why Queta played his way into Boston’s rotation in the first place earlier this month.

The question now is just exactly how much opportunity Queta will still receive once Boston’s frontcourt gets back to full strength. Horford is expected to be back in the lineup Friday against the Bulls while Luke Kornet’s status is uncertain after he missed two games due to hamstring tightness.

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Porzingis will remain the starting center upon his return but just how Joe Mazzulla intends to deploy Horford is an open question mark. The duo could split the minutes at center or each slide to power forward at points, paving the way for chances for Queta or other Celtics reserves. Queta is optimistic that Mazzulla will want to see those bigger looks with how playing alongside Porzingis or Horford.

“I’m pretty sure last year we had a lot of things together that we could hopefully -- we got so many different ways,” Queta said. “We can play double bigs as well sometimes. There’s always room for just everybody getting in. So we come in every day ready to go.”

Queta also highlighted how the presence of Porzingis could help his defensive impact when Boston elects to play double bigs.

“It can change a little bit. I might not have to help as much at the rim,” Queta said. “But another rim threat you can throw lobs at, shoot 3s. He just boosts our team and gives us another completely different look.”

With paint defense looming as one of Boston’s few defensive weak spots through the first 18 games of the year, Mazzulla sounds eager to have more chances to play big up front.

“We have to get better at protecting the rim, which we saw a little bit of that (Monday),” Mazzulla said. “I think when we’re fully healthy it allows us to play different lineups like more double big situations where protecting the rim is easier because of the type of versatility we have out there. So I don’t know if they’re issues as much as like when you play a certain way these are the things you have to fight not to give up vs what you’re willing to give up. But I like our competitive spirit, I like what we’re doing tactically, I like the reads we’re making. We’ve just got to continue to get better there.”

With Horford already sitting at nearly 28 minutes per game (one minute higher than last year) and the team likely to be cautious with Porzingis’ minutes, Boston’s depth bigs will be needed despite the roster rounding into full health. Queta will need to improve his consistency to earn those leftover minutes over the likes of Kornet and Xavier Tillman but Monday’s win was a promising start on that front.