Neemias Cueta wins against the Celtics … but leaves points on the line
With departures from Kristaps Porzingis, Luke Cornett etc Al Horfordthe pivot position was a real question mark for Boston. But at 25, Nehemiah Kueta seized the opportunity. The Portuguese thus bring density to the team that surprised at the beginning of the year: 15 wins with 10 losses and 3rd place in the East.
The paradox is that the interior is penalized at the free throw line. Neemias Cueta is making just 61.2% of his 2.1 free throws per game. That number is down compared to his 71.3% career mark. The sample is certainly limited (only 49 attempts), but the person in question is not looking for excuses.
“I can do better. It’s been a tough year for me at the line. I’m usually confident. I don’t know what’s going on. Maybe a repeat, maybe finding my feet again. But I have to improve, because this is unacceptable. I’m too good a shooter to shoot that bad.”, confides.
A simple bad patch?
Without him, Joe Macula switches to “small ball”, not hesitating to pitch Josh Minott in the false pivot. Luka Garza etc Xavier Tillman are there but haven’t really pushed in recent weeks. The result: Neemias Cueta has become an essential part of the rotation and weighs in on both sides of the court.
Boston has found its inner anchor. It remains to convert these “free” possessions to avoid close matches slipping away.
“My free throw percentage is pretty good”concludes Nehemiah Ket. “I’m generally confident and I get them right most of the time. I don’t know what’s going on this year. I’ve got to pull myself together. I’m watching videos. I’m practicing over and over again. I think it’s just a matter of time before it comes back. Maybe it’s just a bad patch. That’s how I like to see things. I’m going to get better.”
| Nehemiah Kueta | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saison | The team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | That | Pd | Ft | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2021-22 | SAC | 15 | 8:00 a.m | 44.7 | 64.7 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 2.1 | 0.4 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 3.0 | |
| 2022-23 | SAC | 5 | 5:48 | 66.7 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 2.2 | 0.2 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 2.4 | |
| 2023-24 | BOS | 28 | 11:54 | 64.4 | 71.4 | 1.9 | 2.5 | 4.4 | 0.7 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 5.5 | |
| 2024-25 | BOS | 62 | 13:55 | 65.0 | 0.0 | 75.4 | 1.4 | 2.4 | 3.8 | 0.7 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 5.0 |
| 2025-26 | BOS | 23 | 24:16 | 65.2 | 0.0 | 61.2 | 3.3 | 5.0 | 8.3 | 1.6 | 3.1 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 10.1 |
How to read statistics? MJ = matches played; Min = Minute; Shots = Shots Successful / Shots Attempted; 3 points = 3 points / attempt 3 points; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive jump; Tot = Total number of jumps; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal mistakes; Int = intercepts; Bp = lost balls; Ct: Against; Points = Points.
2025-12-14 15:23:00
