Game Preview - Maine at Greensboro - Nov. 22, 2023

Game details: 

Matchup: Maine Celtics (2-2) at Greensboro Swarm (2-3) 

Location: Novant Health Fieldhouse; Greensboro, N.C. 

Tip-off: 7:00 PM EST 

Streaming: ESPN+  

With a rousing opening weekend at the Portland Expo behind them, the Maine Celtics move onto a five-game road trip, beginning with a two-game set with the Greensboro Swarm.  

The Celtics roll into the Hoop State fresh off a pair of victories over the Long Island Nets, which had just beaten the Swarm twice prior to facing Maine. Since then, Greensboro ended an 0-3 start to the season with back-to-back home wins over Raptors 905, both by at least 24 points.  

There’s a lot of momentum being carried into this matchup from both sides, but the Celtics are getting a last-minute boost; Two-Way center Neemias Queta is slated to make his Maine debut tonight. The third-year big man recovered from an early-season foot injury in time to make his Celtics debut against the Charlotte Hornets on Nov. 20, and makes the hour-and-a-half trip north to Greensboro to make his first appearance for Maine tonight. 

Breaking down the Swarm: 

Through five games, the Swarm have only had its Two-Way players available twice – in those games, guard Amari Bailey leads the team in scoring at 22.5 points per game and wing Leaky Black is the team’s leading rebounder with 10 per contest. With Two-Way player Théo Maledon frequently relied upon for backup point guard minutes with the team’s NBA affiliate, the Charlotte Hornets, Bailey and Black lead the charge for the Swarm. 

Boasting the league’s second-best defense and fifth-slowest pace, the Swarm play a bully ball-adjacent style of basketball. The Swarm take the sixth-most shots from the 8ft-16ft range in the G League, and the efficiency on those shots isn’t great; only 30.2%, the sixth lowest in the league. Greensboro takes a lot of tough, low-value shots in the mid-range – exactly the type of shots most defenses are looking to force opponents into. 

The league’s third-highest assist percentage is Greensboro’s best statistical area so far. With Bailey in the fold alongside second-year G Leaguer Terrell Brown Jr., the Swarm have a pair of willing distributors that can also get downhill and create for themselves running point. Brown averages 7.2 assists and Bailey’s at 4.5, and between the two, only 4.7 turnovers are committed per game. Black and Jaylen Sims offer a secondary layer of playmaking and creation on the wings to alleviate the pressure on the Swarm’s lead guards. 

Speaking of Sims, Greensboro’s affiliate player scores 16.8 points and hauls in 5.2 rebounds per game, an impressive number for a perimeter player. Black averages 10 rebounds in his two appearances, and the Swarm average 50 rebounds per game as a team, the seventh-most in the league. However, Maine is only one spot behind them – both teams have the size, strength and determination to battle on the boards. 

Former Boston Celtic and Maine Red Claw R.J. Hunter will face off with his old squad once again tonight. Since last appearing in an NBA game with Boston in the 2018-19 season finale, the veteran guard has played for Galatasaray Turkey, in the G League for the College Park Skyhawks, and in the NBL in Australia. Hunter suffered a knee injury late in 2021 playing for the Sydney Kings that sidelined him from basketball for over a year. Now, he begins his journey back to the league after signing a training camp deal and spending the preseason with the Hornets before joining the Swarm. Hunter is currently averaging 14.4 points, 4 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks in 28 minutes per game. 

Three keys to the game: 

Threes and layups: The Celtics have attempted an astoundingly low number of mid-range shots so far, just 21 through four games. Threes, layups, and free throws account for vast majority of Maine’s point production – an analytically-inclined fan’s (and coach’s) dream shot chart. 

Pack the paint: The Swarm average only 25.6 field goal attempts within five feet of the basket per game, and only two players shoot above a league-average mark from range; Brown and Angelo Allegri. The odds are not in Greensboro’s favor if the Celtics can keep them away from the rim and prevent the shooters from heating up. 

Start the trip off on the right foot: Lengthy road trips can feature some grueling travel schedules in the G League. The Celtics play two games in Greensboro, head back home, then go back out on the road for three more games before returning to the Expo on Dec. 6. Starting off with a well-played game can set the tone for the rest of the trip.