Locked On Celtics: “Celtics PROGRESS, Jaylen Brown's BEST SEASON, and definitely NOT tanking”

Host: John Karalis
Guest: Tom Westerholm
Date: December 2, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, John Karalis and regular guest Tom Westerholm take stock of the Boston Celtics at the quarter-mark of the 2025-26 NBA season. They analyze the team’s progression after 20 games, discuss Jaylen Brown’s ascension during his best individual campaign yet, evaluate the surprising impact of big man Neemias Queta, and emphatically reject the idea that the Celtics are tanking. The pod is rich with context, honest assessments, and a touch of humor as they weave through the Celtics’ identity, leadership, and future.

1. Celtics’ First Quarter Progress: Perspective & Playstyle

Timestamps: 01:41, 03:24–12:15

• Record Check and Standings

  • Celtics are 11–9 after a rough 0–3 start but have gone 11–6 since—good for eighth in the Eastern Conference, just two games out of fourth place.
  • John: “If somebody were just to swoop in and be like, okay, the Celtics are the 8th seed heading into this... 11 and 9 is not bad.” (04:49)
  • Reflection on how the team has responded to adversity compared to similarly-stricken teams, specifically the Indiana Pacers, and credit for staying relevant despite injuries.

• Organizational Culture & Depth

  • The Celtics’ success is a testament not only to Joe Mazzulla’s coaching but to the players, the development staff, and Brad Stevens’ roster-building.
  • Players like Josh Minott and Jordan Walsh are embracing their roles and trusting the system—“Guys who know how to basketball,” as Tom puts it humorously (08:35).

• Team Playstyle and Reality Check

  • Preseason promises of a faster, run-and-gun Celtics have not fully materialized. Boston sits at the bottom of the league in pace (96.5 possessions per 48 minutes) but is still selective and opportunistic in transition.
  • John: “We were promised a fast team. We’re not getting a fast team. This is a slow team overall, but within the slowness, there are pockets of fast.” (10:29)
  • Tom adds: “They are playing somewhat faster...especially when they play small...but this is a team where...their best player is one of the best isolation scorers in the NBA right now.” (15:24)

2. Jaylen Brown’s Leap: Leadership and Style Evolution

Timestamps: 16:55–27:23

• Jaylen’s Offensive Renaissance

  • Jaylen Brown is thriving as the team’s focal point, with elite isolation numbers (“eighth in points per possession in isolation, second in total points in the league in isolation, according to Synergy” – John, 17:46) and efficient self-creation, embodying a “DeRozaning” playing style (22:30).
  • Tom: "It’s fun to watch Jalen do that at a higher level...and just be as good as he is and be efficient with that kind of a game." (23:30)
  • John: "This is, like, absolutely the best Jalen Brown has been...he continues to find ways to level up." (25:57)

• Reality of Having The Spotlight

  • Jaylen has discovered the full weight of leadership and first-option responsibility—expressed through a reality-check on how playing at top speed, defending, and leading is grueling over long stretches without Tatum.
  • John: "Jalen didn’t understand the job description...He is 100% up for it, he is 100% succeeding in it, but also he, I think, understands: oh, man, this is a lot." (19:21)

• A Maturing Leader

  • Notable maturity: Jaylen recognizing in-game moments where teammates like Peyton Pritchard had the hot hand and ceding crunch-time control—"Letting Pritchard cook and close the game is not...I don’t think he would have done that any other season." (24:05)
  • John’s leadership principle: "The best leader doesn’t have to have all the answers. He just has to make the right decisions." (24:38)

• Statistical Leap & Personal Growth

  • Jaylen is hitting 55% on step-back jumpers—well above previous career levels (25:56).
  • John openly admits past “putting Jaylen in a box”—acknowledging continual surprise and respect for his improvement.

3. Neemias Queta & The Celtics Are NOT Tanking

Timestamps: 29:55–35:49

• Surprise Contributor: Neemias Queta

  • Queta (dubbed "Nene") has exceeded all expectations as a backup (and sometimes starting) center. His advanced stats are off the charts—“plus 22.5 on/off” per Cleaning the Glass (30:44).
  • Tom: “He’s helpful. He gets up and down the floor...all his offense is coming around the rim. That’s big...a slightly...lower middle class man’s Robert Williams.” (32:07)
  • John: “He’s a much better passer than I expected...he is absolutely—my criticisms of him are still the same...he’s just...the inflatable wavy arm guy...but regardless, he’s making the most of it.” (35:49)

• Team Depth / Player Progress

  • Special recognition for Jordan Walsh, who is giving off “Marcus Smart essence”—toughness, hustle, and defensive playmaking (37:23).
  • Walsh’s net impact is emerging above expectations, while other young players like Josh Minott and Anthony Simons are still developing roles.

• No Tanking Here

  • The pod directly affirms that despite injuries and a season that could’ve derailed, the Celtics’ current trajectory (44-win pace) puts them firmly in playoff position.
  • John: “They are definitely not tanking. They are on a pace to get a...playoff spot. No play-in, no nothing.” (40:50)
  • Tom: “In this Eastern Conference, that should be enough to get you into that top six.” (40:50)

4. Rapid Fire: The Wide-Open East & Closing Thoughts

Timestamps: 39:20–41:33

• Eastern Conference Parity

  • The East is wide open—teams like Cleveland, New York, Toronto, Miami, and Atlanta are all question marks.
  • John: “The East is completely wide open...maybe we overestimated how good Cleveland would be.” (39:21)

• Celtics Outlook

  • If current trends hold, Boston is projected for a top-six seed. There’s even a hint of hope if/when Jason Tatum returns at full strength.

5. Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Teamwide Buy-In:
  “Guys who know how to basketball on this team...guys who, who aren’t letting their own personal situations impede...the overall goal.” – John (08:35)
• On Pace Expectations vs. Reality:
  “We were promised a fast team. We’re not getting a fast team. This is a slow team overall, but within the slowness, there are pockets of fast.” – John (10:29)
• On Jaylen’s Leadership Leap:
  “That is maturity from Jaylen Brown. I always say: the best leader doesn’t have to have all the answers. He just has to make the right decisions.” – John (24:38)
• On Queta’s Development:
  “Keda is not the smoothest basketball player I’ve ever seen...However, Keda works, like, he tries really, really hard.” – Tom (32:13)
• On the Eastern Conference:
  “The East is completely wide open...we haven’t even factored in the wild ‘what if Jason Tatum comes back’ and actually plays well.” – John (41:24)

6. Key Segment Timestamps

• [03:24] – Introducing Tom Westerholm, context on Celtics’ start
• [04:38-07:13] – Celtics’ place in standings, comparison to Pacers
• [10:29] – Discussion of playstyle: pace, isolation, transition
• [16:55–23:36] – Jaylen’s isolation dominance, leadership, and reality check
• [24:38–27:23] – Jaylen’s best season, sabermetric improvements, John’s reflections
• [29:55–35:49] – Neemias Queta’s emergence, how Celtics are not tanking
• [37:23] – Jordan Walsh’s Marcus Smart moments
• [39:20-41:33] – State of the Eastern Conference, Celtics’ playoff path projection

Summary

This episode offers a clear-eyed, uplifting, and analytically robust look at the Celtics at the season’s quarter mark. John and Tom credit both the players and the organization for thriving through adversity, highlight Jaylen Brown’s remarkable development as a star and leader, heap praise on Neemias Queta’s unexpectedly pivotal contributions, and dispel any notion of tanking. The episode is full of memorable, insightful banter and provides both context and optimism for Celtics fans going forward.