Maine Celtics – 2024

[Parliament10]

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[bisme37]

Pretty cool that the 2 teams with the best records in the NBA also have the 2 best G League teams. I imagine that is a rare occurrence.

[Parliament10]

Pretty cool that the 2 teams with the best records in the NBA also have the 2 best G League teams. I imagine that is a rare occurrence.

It may happen more often, with all the NBA Teams having a G League affiliate.

[Smart2Nesmith43]

Pretty cool that the 2 teams with the best records in the NBA also have the 2 best G League teams. I imagine that is a rare occurrence.

If you are a fringe NBA prospect, I would assume that getting to the affiliate of a bad NBA team would be preferable. There's more opportunities for call ups and making the main team roster that way. So the Celtics and the Thunder building the top G-League teams despite not having access to the best UDFAs is not easy and shows that they are well run organizations that identify talent better than the rest of the league. Of course that's hardly breaking news considering Presti's and Stevens' track record.

[Parliament10]

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[Celts17Pride]

Where is Carsen Edwards and RJ Hunter when they need them?

Let's Go GLeague Celtics!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Parliament10]

Game Preview - NBA G League Finals Game 3 - April 15, 2024
Chase Whitney /April 15, 2024


https://maine.gleague.nba.com/news/game-preview-041524

This one’s for all the marbles.

With each team claiming a homecourt victory in the first two games of the NBA G League Finals, the series returns to the Portland Expo for a winner-take-all Game 3 in front of a sold-out crowd. These are the moments that competitors live for.

It’s safe to assume both sides will be coming in confident as well, with numerous players receiving minutes with their respective NBA clubs over the weekend. Maine sent JD Davison and Drew Peterson down to Boston while Jordan Walsh and Neemias Queta were both recalled in unison, and there were times during Boston’s last two regular season games that Joe Mazzulla’s lineup was 80% comprised of Maine Celtics alumnus. Much like fans at the Expo, fans at TD Garden provide a confidence boost like no other fanbase can. Davison, Peterson, Queta and Walsh will look to carry that confidence with them into Monday night’s decisive Game 3.


Breaking down the matchup:

Points in the paint has been an indicator of success for a big, physical Maine team all season. The Celtics took Game 1 while outscoring the Oklahoma City Blue 58-40 in the paint but lost the battle 42-32 in the Game 2 loss. When Queta and Kylor Kelley get going with Davison, Peterson and DJ Steward hitting them on the roll, it’s difficult to keep the Celtics out of the paint. Creating those same opportunities – and finishing them efficiently – could help Maine get back on track quickly.

The Blue having Lindy Waters III on assignment provided a huge boost to their offense; Waters should be with the team again for Game 3, though he’ll be on his second game of a back-to-back after playing for the Thunder in OKC on Sunday afternoon. In Game 2, Waters shot 10-13 from the field and 5-7 from deep, the only Blue to eclipse 13 points and five made field goals. Reducing the space he creates after setting screens and popping out beyond the arc, fighting through off-ball screens set for him, and just making him work harder for his buckets in general to limit his volume and/or efficiency is paramount for the Celtics.

As the case has been all year long, defense is going to be what wins the game, and ultimately the championship for Maine. The Celtics held the Blue to three 25-point quarters (25 points or less in each quarter is a statistical point of emphasis for Maine), including a mere 14 points in the first quarter of Game 1. Maine’s defense earned two 25-point quarters in Game 2, but also gave up 30 in second quarter. If the Celtics can string together 48 minutes of consistent, high-energy, attentive defense, a duplicate performance from Game 1 might be in order. Defense wins championships, after all.

It's all come down to one game. The Celtics have worked tirelessly since October to reach this point – now, they’re here, only 48 minutes away from the first championship in Maine franchise history. For those in attendance at Game 3; make sure we let our Celtics know just how much support they’ve got as they vie for a G League title.

[Parliament10]

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[Dogen]

Anybody got a link for this one? I can't watch ESPNu in Mexico.

[Celts17Pride]

So so start

[Celts17Pride]

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[Kalela]

JD is incapable of staying in front of anyone. That may prevent him from ever becoming an NBA player.

[KamikazeK]

not a great start

[Celts17Pride]

Snell killing the Celtics

[Celts17Pride]

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[Parliament10]

Maine Celtics need to stop playing this like a regular season G League Game.

[Celts17Pride]

Maine Celtics need to stop playing this like a regular season G League Game.

Maine needs to stop the dribble on defense

[KamikazeK]

Rebounding is really bad tonight

[Parliament10]

Queta has 2 Fouls, 1st Qtr.