Alex Barlow’s Maine Celtics make history, heading into postseason

Behind a monster showing by two-way star Mfiondu Kabengele against Westchester, the Maine Celtics locked up not only a postseason berth, but a home playoff game.

As Joe Mazzulla’s men ride into the postseason, the Maine Celtics have their eyes on the prize just like their counterparts. Alex Barlow’s team heads into the playoffs having won four out of their last six games, currently sitting in third in the Eastern Conference with a 19-13 record. It is the first time since the 2016/17 campaign that Maine has fought its way into the postseason picture.

In total, the Maine Celtics of the north are just 2-9 all-time in the G-League playoffs, but this season has a completely different feel around it. Equipped with the duo of JD Davison, and Kabengele to go along with center Luka Samanic, Barlow’s crew has a chance to make a deep run beginning on March 28.

Winning is not the No. 1 priority for teams amongst this league, but since Barlow was appointed the head man up north, the Maine side have continuously found itself near the top of the standings. In the G-League winter showcase cup tournament, the Celtics upset the No. 1 seed, the South Bay Lakers before falling to Brandon Boston Jr. and the eventual champion Ontario Clippers.

Compared to the NBA playoffs, the G-League postseason is much more fast-paced. 12 teams participate. The top-six teams from each respective conference will be guaranteed at least one postseason game. While the top-two seeds from each conference earn automatic byes, the remaining ball clubs battle in a single elimination quarterfinal round in order to advance.

Right before Boston begins its quest for its 18th banner, why not tune in to support the developmental team up north? Brad Stevens spoke highly of Barlow to before his first season in charge, and so far, he was right about it all. A former player of Stevens at Butler, Barlow is someone he trusts who could potentially have a future with the organization down the line.

The Long Island Nets, and the Delaware Blue Coats will occupy the top-two spots in the East, leaving the Maine Celtics among the remaining four clubs seeking to stay alive in a single elimination round. From then on, both the conference semifinals, and conference finals are single elimination with the G-League Finals being a best out of three. Maine is 1-4 against the top-two teams in the East this season, losing to the Blue Coats in back to back closely contested contests. Former Michigan State guard Denzel Valentine was inactive for both of those game while JD Davison was missing in the second meeting between the two sides.

Since coming into the Celtics organization, Davison has been quite an impressive play maker. He finished the G-League regular season as one of four players averaging over 8.5 assists per game. While his shooting percentage, especially from behind the arc is not at the level it should be in order to be a consistent NBA role player, his vision has been a massive positive in his first step in development as a professional.

Rebounding and unselfish offensive basketball have been catalysts to Maine Celtics ending playoff drought

As one of the most consistent rebounding teams in the G-League, the Cs seek to use their physicality and size to overwhelm their opposition throughout the postseason. On top of its tenacity on the glass, Maine sits in the top-six in the league in net rating while collecting the third most assists per game of any team throughout the regular season.

The arrival of former 2013 first round draft pick Tony Snell has brought both a veteran presence to the squad to go along with a much more consistent shooter on the wing. Snell went 6/7 from long range for Maine to help his team snap Long Island’s 16-game win streak back on March 12. The former Iowa State man Marial Shayok is the ball club’s top 3-point shooter, shooting a prolific 50% from three in 21 games. With the postseason coming up, the hope is Mazzulla will let his two-way players contribute a large role to Maine’s playoff run.

Kabengele is key to this team’s sustained success. After speculation that he may have not deserved a two-way deal with Boston, the former Florida State man has made his presence known up north. His energy his contagious. Kabengele has totaled 17 double doubles this season for Maine in the regular season including ending the campaign with seven straight. The team is 11-6 when Kabengele accumulates a double-double, losing just three times when that double-double featured a 20-point performance. Kabengele has teamed up with Maine’s leading scorer Samanic to create a dominant frontcourt.

The Maine Celtics began the campaign nearly unbeatable, winning their first seven games. Since then, Barlow’s crew has experienced an up and down regular season, but will be heading into the playoffs with confidence.

Not many Boston Celtics fans pay attention to G-League basketball. Why not start now? It is the first time in quite a while Maine will be playing postseason basketball. Barlow, a coach that is hungry to prove himself is prepared to captain his ball club into what is unfamiliar territory for the Celtics of the north.