PORTLAND, Maine — Fresh off a 21-13 regular season that earned them the three seed in the Eastern Conference, the Maine Celtics welcomed the Capital City Go-Go to the Portland Expo on Tuesday night for their first-round playoff matchup, a win-or-go-home affair. But from the very start of the game, they were dominant.
They completely shut down the Go-Go on the defensive end, but perhaps more impressive was their three-point attack. Everything was going down, and almost every player on the roster was red-hot from three. By the time the third quarter was getting started, Maine was looking at a 30-point lead, and they never looked back.
Maine wrapped up the evening with a 115-95 victory. Their next game will be on the road against the Westchester Knicks on Thursday, April 4, at 7:00 p.m. Eastern time.
Here are eight notes from Maine’s win over Capital City on Tuesday night.
1. Unconscious three-point attack
From the very first bucket of the game, a Miles Norris three, Maine was unconscious from behind the arc. Led by Norris and Drew Peterson, they went 9-of-11 from deep in the first quarter, and it carried over into the second.
Jordan Schakel started draining tough looks at the top of the key, and the Go-Go just couldn’t keep up. Three after three, Maine drowned Capital CIty in three-balls, to the point where their offense didn’t need much else to back it up.
It was a dominant display of shooting, aided by some impressive screening from James Banks III.
2. Please watch James Banks III
Speaking of Banks, his fingerprints were all over this game. As mentioned, his screening was an essential part of Maine’s three-point attack, but his true value was on the defensive side of the ball.
Maine did a great job of staying connected and rotating to cover open shooters, but when they got beat, Banks was right there to bail them out.
His rim protection was the most important part of what was an elite defensive performance for the Celtics, especially in the first half. Through the first two quarters, they held the Go-Go to just 35 points.
Time and time again, Banks’ presence in the restricted area completely altered Capital City’s ability to get off clean looks, all highlighted by a monster block early in the second quarter.
The box score won’t show it, but Banks was one of the most important players on the court on Tuesday night.
Considering the questions surrounding Luke Kornet's contract past this season, keep an eye on Banks. He should be a serious candidate to land a training-camp deal with Boston next preseason.
3. JD Davison’s court gravity
Enjoying an MVP-caliber regular-season campaign wasn’t enough for JD Davison, as he carried over his dominant style of play into Maine’s first game of the postseason.
Everywhere he went, the Go-Go sent multiple bodies. He’s one of the best players in the entire G League, and it was painfully clear that Capital City game-planned for him. But Davison was ready for it.
In the first quarter alone, he tallied six assists, and in the second quarter, the buckets started flowing, too. The gravity he carries on the floor is truly similar to the way teams react to Jayson Tatum when they play Boston, and it’s incredible to watch unfold.
By the time the third quarter was wrapping up, Davison was on a heater. From insane passes while falling out of bounds to circus shots and ankle-breakers, Davison was just too much for the Go-Go to handle.
Everything Davison touched turned to gold on Tuesday night.
4. Jordan Walsh assigned to Maine
Despite playing in just one G League game all year, Jordan Walsh made the trip up to Maine to play with the Celtics. Considering he asked to join Maine the last time he played with them, his mere presence is a testament to his desire to compete.
5. Brad Stevens and Mike Zarren made the trip
As Maine stomped the Go-Go, Brad Stevens and Mike Zarren, the two staples of the Celtics’ front office, were in attendance to watch everything unfold.
Sitting at half-court, they watched as a barrage of threes paired with some impressive defense to earn Maine a big-time win.
6. Elite defensive connectivity
As mentioned, the Celtics’ defense was on a string on Tuesday night. Highlighted by a monster first half, Maine’s defense continuously fought around screens, covered for each other in rotation, and closed out on shooters.
Capital City found a small rhythm in the third quarter, but by the fourth, Maine was back to dominating. They swarmed the ball every time the Go-Go touched it, and easy looks were almost impossible to come by for the away team.
7. Maine's bench mob
It didn’t matter if it was the first three, the last three, a huge block, or the easiest layup in the world, Maine’s bench was on fire on Tuesday night.
Even Jay Scrubb, who was inactive in this game due to an ankle injury, was on the very end of the Celtics’ bench. He was getting hyped up at every great play (and upset every time he thought the refs wronged Maine).
Kavion Pippen was a huge leader in this aspect, too, making sure to let the refs know when he thought they got things wrong.
8. Jordan Schakel on fire
Jordan Schakel doesn’t usually play a ton of minutes, but he was on fire in this game. As soon as he entered the game, it was clear that he was hot. He sunk his first three triples of the night, and the positive-impact plays kept coming throughout the evening.
Even as the three-point attack waned, he found other ways to help Maine. He was pressuring the ball, denying shooters open looks, and driving for loose balls.
It was an impressive showing from a guy didn't have the most consistent shooting season.
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