2023-2024 Maine Celtics Thread

[bobheckler]

Firing up this one now.

This year we have two-way players JD ("too fast for my own good") Davison (turning 21 this coming Tuesday), SL eye-opener Jay Scrubb (23 years old, 239 NBA minutes) and former Sacto King Neemias Queta (pronounced nuh-MEE-ush KAY-tah. 24 years old, 7', 245#, 7'4" wingspan (the longest at the 2021 NBA Combine)).  Queta's problem seems to be he has the length but not the spring.  His maximum vertical leap as measured at the Combine was 27".  Sam Hauser was at the same Combine and his was 34".  When Sam Hauser can outjump you...

https://us.yahoo.com/sports/celtics-g-league-affiliate-hires-161003439.html



Maine Celtics hire ex-Bucks assistant as new head coach


NBC Sports Boston

Thu, September 28, 2023 at 9:15 AM PDT·2 min read



Charles Lee isn't the only former Milwaukee Bucks assistant joining the Boston Celtics' organization this offseason.

Boston's G-League affiliate, the Maine Celtics, has hired former Bucks assistant coach Blaine Mueller as its new head coach, the team announced Thursday morning.


A a 2014 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Mueller had been with the Bucks since 2018, starting out as a Video & Player Development Assistant before working his way up to Head Video Coordinator and being promoted to assistant coach under head coach Mike Budenholzer for the 2022-23 season. Mueller also worked alongside Lee, who joined the Celtics' coaching staff in June.

"Blaine is a great addition to our staff and is ready to lead the Maine Celtics,” Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla said in a statement Thursday. “He brings great enthusiasm and knowledge off the court, and on the court is deliberate, energetic, and will build strong relationships with the players."

Mueller replaces former Maine Celtics head coach Alex Barlow, who left his post after one season to be an assistant coach at Butler, his alma mater (as well as the alma mater of Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens).

Mueller should get to work with some talented young players in Maine; guard JD Davison and wing Jay Scrubb are both on two-way deals with the Celtics, while the team also recently acquired G-League MVP runner-up Neemias Queta on a two-way contract.

Maine's 2023-24 season opener is set for Nov. 10, while the Celtics open their regular season on Oct. 25 against the New York Knicks.


Bob
MY NOTE:  I like that our 3 two-way players all play different positions.  That gives them a clear career upgrade path.  There isn't another player at their position competing to make the Boston club that has a more inside track than them.

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[gyso]

How does one watch the Maine Celtics games? I ended up getting the $169.99 no-ads League Pass. Do G-League games show up there?

Asking for a friend.

[bobheckler]

Sean Grande @SeanGrandePBP
about 7 minutes ago
Bummer of a way to start the pre-season. Jay Scrubb was signed to a two-way deal after a strong Summer League. pic.twitter.com/RvCuMnRuF5




Bob


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[RosalieTCeltics]

So this morning I read that the Celtics could decide to cut him, (waive) Wow cold business. They have not said so much so I will be interested to see what happens. This is a shame, I was looking forward to seeing if he could become a piece in the puzzle

[gyso]

So this morning I read that the Celtics could decide to cut him, (waive)  Wow  cold business. They have not said so much so I will be interested to see what happens.  This is a shame, I was looking forward to seeing if he could become a piece in the puzzle

Rosalie,

If they waive him, he will get paid. It is probably based on a standard 2-way contract. He will have played zero games with the big team, so he loses out on that extra money that comes when 2-way players play in the NBA.

After his surgery, he may be allowed to work out in our facility, with our trainers. I don't see why not.

IMO, it is not-so-much a cold business, as you say. It is, however, an extremely unfortunate situation for the young player.

[RosalieTCeltics]

The bleeding heart in me comes out!!!!

[bobheckler]

https://www.masslive.com/celtics/2023/10/maine-celtics-camp-roster-has-nba-veteran-2-way-signees-more.html



Maine Celtics camp roster has NBA veteran, 2-way signees, more


Published: Oct. 30, 2023, 11:59 a.m.


By Souichi Terada | sterada@masslive.com



While the Celtics have embarked on their regular season in hopes of a title, their G-League counterparts are just getting their season started. The Maine Celtics announced their 16-man training camp roster in preparation of the season. They’ll be coached by former Bucks assistant Blaine Mueller.

There are at least a few notable names on that roster. The headliners are naturally going to be the three two-way signees in guard JD Davison, forward Nathan Knight and big man Neemias Queta. Those three will shuttle between Maine and Boston throughout the season to get minutes, practice reps and more.


NBA veteran Tony Snell is back for his second season in Maine. He signed with the G-League squad midway through last season, averaging 11.1 points and 6.1 rebounds in 18 games. The former first-round pick has played in a career 601 NBA games.

DJ Steward is also with the Maine Celtics after spending training camp with the NBA squad. He appeared in three games for the Celtics during the preseason. The former five-star recruit and Duke product averaged 14.7 points and 4.4 assists per game for the Stockton Kings last season.

The Maine Celtics advanced to the G-League playoffs last season and will look to do so again.


Bob
MY NOTE:  Tony Snell is almost 32 years old.  He has played 13,092 NBA minutes over 9 seasons, a career 21.8mpg, started in 310 of his 601 games.  This is his 10th year in the league.  And now he's in the G-League, not even a two-way.  Wow.  He must really love the game because his career earnings are north of $53M.  6'6", 215#.  A career 39.4% 3pt fg%.  He must be smelling blood now that Jay Scrubb is out with his ACL.


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[RosalieTCeltics]

He played well in some of the games that I watched last year, everyone kept thinking that he might be here in Boston towards the end of the year, but that never happened. Some guys just cannot walk away

[bobheckler]

35 minutes for Walsh.  He was 7-14, 4-9 from 3, 3-5 from 2.  5 assists, 2 turnovers.  Very nice for a non-ball handler.  2 steals, 2 blocks. 35 minutes is the most important stat for Jordan, he needs the reps more than anything. I thought Lamar was going to get his minutes but Joe isn't playing him either, so the chance of Jordan getting into games is virtually nil.

Overall a nice pro debut, except for the L to the Capital City Go-Gos.  Really?  They couldn't come up with a better name than the "Go Gos"?  Do their cheerleaders dress up like an 80's chick band?

In this same game JD Davison scored 23 points on 9-20, but was 1-6 from 3.  9 assists and 5 turnovers.  So, a mixed bag for JD.  Point guards need to hit 3s in today's NBA (unless your name is Russell Westbrick, and his demand is based upon memories of who he was), and 9 and 5 isn't that great, especially against G leaguers.






Bob


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[RosalieTCeltics]

Glad he is getting the time, he will have his ups and downs. Go Go's huh???Makes me feel young again!!! wonder what genius came up with that one

[bobheckler]

Bobby Manning @RealBobManning
yesterday
Jordan Walsh tonight at Westchester: 13 PTS 4 REB 2 AST 2 STL 5 fouls 5 TOV 3/5 FG 0/2 3PT 3/3 FT





https://www.espn.com/nba-g-league/boxscore/_/gameId/401595334




Bob
MY NOTE:  Another loss.  Maine is now 0-2.  JD Davison with 29 points on 9-23, but 1-5 from 3.  Shooting from range is still his Achilles Heel, but he had 10 rebounds, 7 assists and only 2 turnovers.  He is a true point guard, he looks to play-make first, but he needs to spend all his days in the gym practicing 3s.  2 hours of morning shooting, break for lunch, then back in the gym for 3 hours for more shooting practice, break for dinner, back into the gym for shooting practice until it's time to sleep. Wake up, rinse and repeat. That should be your life now, JD.

Jordan with some inconsistency.  To be expected, this was only his 2nd pro game, but it is also why he's in Maine.


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[bobheckler]

Maine got their first win of the season on Friday in the first game of a home-and-away vs The Long Island Nets, winning on the road in Long Island 116-105.

Nathan Knight with 20 and 11 (4 offensive) to offset LI's first round pick Noah Clowney's 22 and 6.

Jordan Walsh with 16 on 6-16.  He was an abysmal 3-11 from 3.  Well, there's where you take them, Jordan, not in Boston.  He's averaging 31.8% from 3 on the season.  Walsh also had 3 steals.  His reaction as time ran out and their W was secured was great.  He's averaging 15.7ppg, 6.3rpg, 2.0stlspg in 30.3mpg.

JD Davison with a game high 27 points on 9-18, 5-9 from 3.  12 assists and only 3 turnovers.  JD is only shooting 35% from 3 on the season despite this game and 43% from the floor overall.  I've said this before, he is a natural point guard, a natural passer, but he needs to keep the defense honest by hitting open shots.  G-League Season-to-Date for JD he's averaging 26.3ppg, 6.7rpg, 10.0apg and 3.3TOpg in 34.8mpg.

https://www.espn.com/nba-g-league/boxscore/_/gameId/401595359





In the 2nd game of the home-and-away, which just ended in Portland, the Maine Celtics won again vs LI 134-95.  A 39 point beat down.

4 Celtics with 20 or more points:  Jordan Walsh 24 on 5-10, 2-5 from 3, 6 rebs, 3 offensive; JD Davison 22 on 7-14, 1-3 from 3, 11 assists and 2 turnovers; Jordan Schakel 22 on 8-11, 6-8 from 3; DJ Steward with 20 on 8-10, 9 rebs, 8 assists and 3 turnovers.

Maine shot 55.8% from 3 as a team, 24-43.  A total of 79 fgas.  79 fgas, 43 from 3.  Yep, this coach is running Joe Mazzulla's playbook alright.  


The Nets' #21 pick, Noah Clowney, with 8 and 4 in 23 minutes.  This game was such a blow out so early that one Net played 27 minutes, 2 more played 23 and that's it.  Walsh and JD played 31 each but plenty of minutes spread around.  

https://www.espn.com/nba-g-league/boxscore/_/gameId/401595370





Bob


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