NBA Notebook: Celtics still trusting double big lineups and 2024 New Year's takes on each team

The 2023-24 Celtics continue to elude a singular identity. Joe Mazzulla doesn't want them defined by one thing, and neither Jayson Tatum's availability nor Kristaps Porziņģis' shot totals nor the team's three-point success have decided whether they'll win or lose. 

That's why Boston didn't abandon its double big identity, a staple of their run to the NBA Finals two years ago that Mazzulla maintained despite the team trading Williams III in September. The Celtics initially teased courting various starting lineups throughout the year before the single big look with Porziņģis at center quickly emerged as one of the best units in the league. That left Al Horford on the bench to begin games, but recently, that hasn't lasted long. 

"It's pretty cool, because the way that the league's going, they're kind of getting away from that," Horford told Boston Sports Journal on Thursday. "I work with these guys every day, with the bigs, and normally, we're not expected to be together and I think it's pretty cool. They all, obviously, bring something different and my role changes slightly any time any of those guys are in, on defense and offense, but I really enjoy it when I have some of those other guys out there. I know it's not on me defensively protecting the back line. Those guys, they do a really good job with that. It gives us more size. We have versatility, able to guard multiple positions is important at times. It's a strength of ours. If we need to go big so we can rebound against bigger teams and things like that, we have that ability. I think that's plus for us." 

Success playing relatively small and having only two starting-caliber centers to begin the year could've led Mazzulla to stagger Porziņģis and Horford while cutting off Luke Kornet and two-way addition Neemias Queta from regular minutes. Mazzulla even admitted that's how he might've handled it last year while trying to win every game. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum successfully slid to forward then and double-big minutes would mean one of Derrick White or Jrue Holiday had to sit. Whether experimental or indicative that the combinations help Boston in the playoffs, not only did Horford and Porziņģis play together often recently to close first quarters, Mazzulla also courted Horford next to Kornet and Queta, respectively, before Porziņģis and Queta united during Thursday's win over the Pistons. 

Then, with one second on the clock in Friday's win over the Raptors while Porziņģis and Horford rested, Mazzulla substituted Kornet and Queta into the game together to tip an intentional Pascal Siakam free throw miss away leading by two points. They did so successfully, securing a 16-0 record at home without overexerting the regular contributors. While the pairings haven't approached the team's starting lineup (+19.6 net rating), each double-big combination won its minutes to begin the season, whether Horford and Porziņģis (+7.5), Kornet and Horford (+3.4), or Horford and Queta (+17.4). It's become the team's go-to look with one starter down, like on Thursday when Jaylen Brown sat with back soreness. 

Boston is one of fewer than 10 teams that consistently deploy double-bigs as a significant part of their rotation, with the Lakers, Wolves, Jazz, Spurs, Bucks, Cavaliers and Pistons among the few teams that typically start multiple centers.

"Any time you go big-for-big, you're not playing against two guys who can shoot from range, you may have one," Monty Williams said, whose pair centers Isaiah Stewart and Jalen Duren. "Al and Porzingis can shoot from range, so that's a different dilemma, especially when both guys can set good screens and pop and shoot it quickly. So most teams don't have that capability, so your pick-and-roll coverages change, that's a different deal. Most teams play in a drop against other bigs ... with (Boston), you can't do that. Both of those guys can set the screen or slip out to three. They're pretty good at putting the ball down in a DHO and then popping for a three. So you have two bigs who are playing in multiple actions. Most teams don't have that capability. This is the one team that does." 

That's a major reason why the Celtics traded for Porziņģis despite the success Horford and Williams III accomplished together. Horford typically filled the center spot with Williams III sporadically available and Mazzulla preferring to start one big. Horford's rolling abilities diminished in recent years as his finishing inside declined while Williams III struggled to seal smaller players in the post and couldn't shoot. Porziņģis could do all those things, dominating post-ups at a historic rate to begin the season while hitting 34.2% of his threes. As a player who commands enormous gravity in actions, Porziņģis allowed Horford to play his more natural four position on defense and focus on spacing the floor offensively. Since going to that duo to close first quarters consistently in December, they've posted a +23.5 net rating and on Christmas saw Porziņģis thrive in the roaming defensive role Williams III once utilized.

Their success didn't surprise anyone. The bigger question entering the season became Kornet and Queta's ability to make up for Williams III and Grant Williams' losses as depth bigs. Kornet struggled early and Queta aggravated the stress fracture in his foot that he suffered over the summer, missing the opening weeks. Since returning, he made a case for playing time with his offensive rebounding then played in each of three games to open Boston's west coast trip last week with Horford and Porziņģis missing games, posting 10.0 points and 10.0 rebounds per game, production Mazzulla couldn't ignore. 

He's now played in six straight games, but no upgrade to a standard contract is imminent as they patiently assess his production and health over a longer stretch in the coming months. Kornet, who the team has developed and believed in since 2021, broke out for 20 points, eight rebounds and three blocks in a spot start on Friday -- his finest performance yet with the Celtics in his return from an adductor strain. Queta, who blocked two Pascal Siakam shots above the rim to draw goaltending calls, received praise for the first as Siakam heated up and an earful for the second that gave Siakam an and-one.   

"Luke's done a lot for us over the last two years, he's going to play," Mazzulla said. "Those two guys have both done good things ... they offer different stuff. Luke is really good in our defensive system, Neemias is getting better in it, and they both bring different strengths on the offensive end, Luke's ability to pass and off-ball situations, Neemias' ability to screen and get behind bigs, so it's just a matter of using both of them. You have Al and K.P., who both can shoot at the four, and so when you have a guy who can shoot, it allows you play double big, regardless of who the other guy is and so every time we go double big out there, we have a shooting big out there, which makes a difference for our matchups and our system -- and the Neemias and Luke continuing to get better." 

Here's where each NBA team standings entering the new year, including their 2023 calendar record, excluding the playoffs...

Atlanta (36-40): Couldn't build on their six-game push against the Celtics in the first round, continuing to thrive on offense and falter defensively in their first full season under Quin Snyder. They could take a step back by trading Dejounte Murray, searching again for a way to win with Trae Young, load up with a Pascal Siakam trade or blow it up entirely next summer by dealing Young. The latter seems unlikely and major movement by the deadline is equally improbable, but a group talking about playing three bigs together, Jalen Johnson, Onyeka Okongwu and Clint Capela, needs to change. 

Boston (55-21): Empowering Derrick White in ways they rarely did one year ago, while the Jrue Holiday trade replaced Marcus Smart's defensive leadership and flexibility, Kristaps Porziņģis made them unstoppable in crunch times that once became their liability. White, amazingly, played in only half of the Celtics' crunch time games in the regular season and took one shot late in close games in the playoffs -- the famous Game 6 put-back in Miami. They're the prohibitive eastern conference favorite entering 2024 and maintain a strong championship favorite case depending on your deference for defending champion Denver.

Brooklyn (36-41): Traded Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant, ending an era that never truly felt like it began, and they've struggled to initiate a new one despite bringing back excellent players like Mikal Bridges and Dorian Finney-Smith in the deals. They also acquired valuable future firsts in the deal, explaining their patience despite .500 results, but roster tinkering could be due to balance their lineups. The Ben Simmons experiment feels close to over as another back injury derails another season. He's owed one year on his contract after this one, which could be stretched and waived.

Charlotte (24-50): LaMelo Ball faced multiple ankle injuries between flashes of brilliance, they kept Miles Bridges on a one-year qualifying offer after he faced domestic violence charges and drafted Brandon Miller following his own controversy in college, a success so far. A Gordon Hayward buyout could happen before the deadline if their sinking continues and after Michael Jordan sold the franchise this year, they almost completely lack an identity. 

Chicago (38-41): The Zach LaVine era, which began when the Bulls traded Jimmy Butler, appears on the verge of ending with DeMar DeRozan and Coby White leading their best play in well over one year in his absence. A sliver of success before 2024 begins could further delay needed changes in what's become a three-year stagnant stretch coinciding with awaiting Lonzo Ball's return that may or may not happen. For now, LaVine's market is dead.

Cleveland (46-41): The cruelty of the NBA -- the Cavaliers went all-in on Donovan Mitchell last season and dominated defensively enough to finish with the league's best net rating. They lost in round one anyway and with the clock ticking on Mitchell's contract, which he can opt out from after next season, Cleveland stumbled to begin this year through injuries and just lost Darius Garland and Evan Mobley for over one month. Jarrett Allen struggled immensely last postseason and while the Cavs could pivot if they need to move Mitchell this summer, it would sting to never know what could've been. 

Dallas (35-42): Mark Cuban is no longer their majority and a released deal on his sale, which initially slated for him to remain in control of basketball, trusted final say in new governor Patrick Dumont. Kyrie Irving is hurt (foot), Jason Kidd faces immense pressure to win this postseason and while Luka Dončić only gets better, the situation around him only grows more uncertain by the year. Their tanking out of last postseason remains a baffling decision even if it did retain their pick to add starting center Dereck Lively II. Grant Williams, signed this summer from Boston, came off the bench Wednesday. 

Denver (53-27): Nikola Jokić emerged as the best player in the NBA and could win his third MVP, but finds himself deadlocked in a tight race with Joel Embiid, largely overlooked despite unmatched production all-time and a team around him that looks as formidable as it did one year ago. If Jamal Murray remains healthy into the postseason, it's hard to bet against this team winning it all again, but a young, athletic Thunder team could push them. 

Detroit (9-65): Lost their 28th straight game by blowing a 21-point lead in Boston, matching the longest streak in NBA history. Cade Cunningham is pouring everything he has to try to get the Pistons back in the win column, with his last chance to avoid unmatched infamy coming on Saturday against Toronto, a winnable game. Jayson Tatum called Detroit more talented than some of the other teams in the league at the bottom of the standings. 

Golden State (40-36): It's hard to imagine Klay Thompson and Draymond Green playing for the Warriors one year from now given their stagnancy since 2022 ended, highlighted by a humiliating defeat to the Lakers in round two and Green's indefinite suspension. Where does that leave Steph Curry, who's still at the top of his game, and Steve Kerr as the leader of the franchise following Bob Myers' departure? This is what Myers avoided. 

Houston (27-48): Closer to contending than the bottom of the league where they finished last season, a remarkable testament to Ime Udoka's impact and savvy moves many doubted like signing Dillon Brooks. Will they pivot completely away from Jalen Green with Alperen Şengün clearly their franchise player? Udoka returns to Boston for the first time since his suspension and firing from the Celtics on Jan. 13. 

Indiana (31-44): Tyrese Haliburton capped his breakout year with 20 assists and 0 turnovers in the Pacers' win over the Bulls. Haliburton will make his first All-NBA team as a First Team selection at this rate, ending the Pacers' three-year playoff drought and arguably emerging as the league's best point guard in one of the fastest ascensions we've seen from a player across one year. He was great last season and now he's nearly unstoppable. Will the franchise speed up its timeline to match his ascent? 

Clippers (41-33): James Harden and Russell Westbrook joined Kawhi Leonard and Paul George for a season where the Clippers found mostly full health, some momentum on their recent win streak and overall results that don't quite resemble that of a championship team. They've assembled enough star power to sell their new stadium when it opens in 2024, but they've closed the door on any pivots toward winning other than this group figuring it out. 

Lakers (45-33): Sat in agony one year ago unable to figure out the Westbrook situation and strung together a virtuoso trade deadline to build a west finals team on the fly. A full summer to build on that success led to some regression back to .500 results early despite becoming the first In-Season Tournament champions. Will they overhaul this group again or remain patient? LeBron James isn't getting any younger and Anthony Davis has dominated.

Memphis (39-38): The Ja Morant experience went from a dream to a nightmare fast, with their emergence as a No. 2 seed one year ago fading into a first-round exit following months of controversies surrounding the star. He received a 25-game suspension after he flashed a gun on a social media livestream for a second time while Steven Adams, Brandon Clarke, new addition Marcus Smart and others exited the lineup with major injuries. Memphis capsized into one of the worst teams in the league to begin this year and with Morant back, is finally resembling the team's former self entering 2024. 

Miami (44-32): Made the NBA Finals and failed to acquire Damian Lillard after a protracted pursuit of the star. To nobody's surprise, the Heat have won in spite of that and losing Max Strus and Gabe Vincent over the summer. Jimmy Butler proved himself as transformative as any other star in playoff environments while stunning the Bucks, Knicks and Celtics during their magical run last spring. They also nearly blew a 3-0 east finals lead and lost the Finals badly to Denver. There's clearly a gap they need to bridge to become champions and Butler isn't getting any younger. Who will be their next target?

Milwaukee (58-20): Slightly outpaced the Celtics atop the league for the calendar year and with Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo settling into their new roles, look on a collision course with Boston for another playoff battle after losing in the first round last spring. Still, defensive and depth concerns linger alongside the rookie coach experience they face with Adrian Griffin like the Celtics did with Joe Mazzulla last year. They convinced Antetokounmpo to re-sign long term and while his pressure on the franchise can continue, that's as big of a success as any win they achieved in 2023. 

Minnesota (49-26): Went from under .500 to the top team in the west in less than one year behind renewed chemistry between Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert, while Anthony Edwards built on the superstar flashes he displayed playing for Team USA in the World Cup last summer. They're a legitimate Finals contender as the team that challenged Denver more than any last postseason, but Towns' fouling and Gobert's defensive limitations against five-out offenses remain as valid concerns. 

New Orleans (37-41): Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram's injuries sunk their 2023 season that began with them emerging as the West's second seed into 2023. Now, Williamson's weight and diminished play define a team that should be trending upward being unable to do so -- fair or not. 

New York (45-30): They found a star in Jalen Brunson, won a playoff series and have played remarkably consistent, above-average basketball since then. Stalled pursuits of other stars and long-running expectations for the Knicks to end their championship drought shouldn't get in the way of that. Questions about how New York best builds on this are valid though, as they could keep drafting and developing, or trade all their assets for a star in 2024. They made that choice on Saturday afternoon -- trading RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley with a second-rounder for Raptors wing OG Anunoby. 

Oklahoma City (45-30): Among the west powers already without any playoff experience aside from Lu Dort. Chet Holmgren made his rookie of the year case early after missing his entire first season. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is an MVP candidate and they nailed the Jalen Williams pick. Now, in 2024, how do they pivot toward making moves to win now? Sam Presti sounded against that idea in the preseason, but they could win a grueling west with the right additions. Particularly adding size to the front court. Seeing Alperen Şengün thrive in Houston is tough after trading that 2021 Celtics pick to HOU.

Orlando (39-36): Paolo Banchero won rookie of the year and Franz Wagner emerged as a more than worthy No. 2 into the future. Rookie Anthony Black looks good early with Markelle Fultz hurt and Jalen Suggs' offensive role still uncertain. Jamahl Mosley transformed this group into a gritty, defensive unit. They need to find an offensive identity in 2024 to secure a playoff spot in the top-six. They've slid following a hot start to this season. 

Philadelphia (54-23): Give them a ton of credit -- they pivoted nearly seamlessly from the James Harden debacle to a mix of role players that allows them to stand among the top 3-5 championship contenders in the league. Joel Embiid enters 2024 as the favorite to win back-to-back MVPs. Daryl Morey added enough salaries and maintains future draft picks to shift this roster toward an all-in move that could legitimately push the Celtics. The Sixers losing to Boston in the playoffs feels like destiny given how the last six seasons finished. Tyrese Maxey will try to change that. Look for them to pull a starter from a rebuilding team and the Blazers have multiple to offer in former 76er Jerami Grant and old friend Malcolm Brogdon. 

Phoenix (40-35): Traded Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton for Bradley Beal and Jusuf Nurkic in hopes of better results and got worse to begin 2023-24. Beal has barely played, Devin Booker and Kevin Durant don't have enough support behind him and reports already indicate some Durant discomfort. Could Durant have just made it work in Brooklyn? Could Monty Williams, Paul and Ayton have just figured it out? Their 2021 Finals run feels so long ago.

Portland (23-54): Traded Damian Lillard after over one year of speculation that he'd ask out and they wouldn't be much better if they kept him. The Scoot Henderson era didn't get off to a great start, but he's so young and with Deandre Ayton, Jerami Grant and Malcolm Brogdon to deal this deadline and summer, they'll only add to their talented young core. Trading Lillard for Jrue Holiday, who became Brogdon, Robert Williams III and a 2024 Warriors pick, already looks like a stroke of genius rather than giving in to whatever offer Miami could muster. 

Sacramento (46-31): Finishing up their best calendar year since the early 2000s. Another playoff run will satisfy Kings fans after over a decade of losing, but they have to ask themselves if they can do more to harden their defense and support their dynamic De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis duo. It's also still difficult to not look back to February, 2022 and ask what could've been if they simply kept budding superstar Tyrese Haliburton. 

San Antonio (15-61): Had as bad of a year as anyone, including Detroit, aside from winning the lottery and landing Victor Wembanyama. He's as advertised and while nobody saw him making this team a championship contender overnight, a 5-25 start reflects how they've already struggled to support their new, young centerpiece. They didn't do enough last summer and in 2024 many will ask how long will Gregg Popovich oversee this rebuild? 

Toronto (37-39): It took an entire calendar year, but they're finally turning toward a needed rebuild after the OG Anunoby trade. A second-round pick and expensive young players in RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley became the return for waiting too long, and they won't get anything better than that back for Pascal Siakam if they decide to deal him too. Keeping him around wouldn't be the worst move -- he's 29 and an excellent player. But they're on the ground floor of their build for the future. Fortunately, they have a young cornerstone in Scottie Barnes. 

Utah (31-44): Will Hardy got them off to a 19-17 start at this time last year and after they regressed through the end of the season, he said he hoped to avoid a prolonged Jazz rebuild. Trading Mike Conley in February hurt and despite attempts by Danny Ainge and the front office to bolster the roster around Lauri Markkanen, patient growth into the future is what's in front of them after all. Seeing Minnesota thrive in year two with Rudy Gobert stings too, but the early struggles in Cleveland around Donovan Mitchell help. 

Washington (24-51): It's not good, but like with Portland, it wouldn't be much better if they kept Bradley Beal. Unfortunately for the Wizards, they didn't receive the haul the Blazers did for Damian Lillard. They received Chris Paul for Beal, who they flipped for Jordan Poole, who's been a disaster. Their new front office seemingly hit on Bilal Coulibaly though after a long run of bad first-round picks. Nothing will change quickly here.