Game Preview - Maine at Raptors 905 - Dec. 1, 2023
By Maine Celtics Staff /November 30, 2023
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Game details:
Matchup: Maine Celtics (4-2) at Raptors 905 (0-8)
Location: Scotiabank Arena; Toronto, Ontario
Tip-off: 11:00 AM EST
Streaming: NBAGLeague.com
The Maine Celtics meet the Raptors 905 for the first time this season at Scotiabank Arena, the home of the Toronto Raptors, in a rare 11:00 AM tip-off.
Coming off a loss to the Westchester Knicks two days ago, the Celtics have a chance to right the ship against the 905 this morning. Motivation won’t be lacking for the 905 though, as they’ve gone winless in eight games to start the year and are surely desperate to get in the “W” column.
Breaking down the Raptors:
The Raptors are led by their Two-Way players; Ron Harper Jr., Markquis Nowell and Javon Freeman-Liberty. The 905 Two-Ways comprise of three of the team’s four leading scorers, and Nowell’s 8.5 assists per game rank second in the entire G League. Though they’ve only been available for about half of the games so far, Harper, Nowell and Freeman-Liberty are major producers for the 905.
As a team, the Raptors are 30th in the league in offense (96.4 ORTG) and defense (114.1 DRTG), fewest 3-pointers per game (8) and shooting the worst percentage from beyond the arc (24.3%) among the league’s 31 teams through eight games, the 905 offense has not been effective so far. The recently acquired Kobi Simmons adds scoring and playmaking punch to the second unit when Nowell is available and has plenty of experience as a starter in the G League. Mouhamadou Gueye, a Toronto Raptors Exhibit 10 signee, has been a consistent force on the interior; the second-year G Leaguer is averaging 17.5 points on 62.1% from the field to go with 9 rebounds and 3.3 blocks.
Gradey Dick, the 13th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft by the Toronto Raptors, has played in the 905’s two most recent games on assignment. The 20-year-old lottery pick struggled to find his shot in his G League debut but began trending in the right direction with a 22-point performance in his second game. The rookie has been starting and receiving a heavy minutes-load in his first G League assignment; expect the Raptors to continue funneling shot opportunities to its rookie today.
Former Maine Celtic Jaysean Paige has emerged as one of the 905’s primary reserve guards this season. In 25.5 minutes per game, he’s averaging 8 points, 3 rebounds and 2.1 assists to go with 1.1 steals. Paige became the 19th player in Maine franchise history to earn a GATORADE Call-Up when he signed a 10-day contract with the Detroit Pistons during the 2021-22 season, later making his NBA debut with the Pistons on Jan. 1, 2022, in a win over the San Antonio Spurs.
Despite a winless record, the 905 roster is still stocked with talent. Omari Moore, a 6-foot-6 guard out of San Jose State, signed an Exhibit 10 with Toronto after being waived off a Two-Way by the Milwaukee Bucks, giving the 905 a Two-Way caliber player without taking up a Two-Way slot. Moore was also on Milwaukee’s 2023 NBA Summer League team, where Maine Celtics head coach Blaine Mueller was a member of the coaching staff.
Three keys to the game:
Be like a goldfish: Maine’s four-game win streak came to an end against the Knicks last time out. Having a short-term memory in dealing with tough losses is key. The Celtics have shown how successful they can be when they execute at a high level – focus on that rather than a loss.
Shoot the lights out: Easier said than done, of course, but the Celtics have a distinct advantage from beyond the arc tonight. Maine is seventh in 3-pointers made per game (13.9) and 10th in 3-point percentage (34.8%) with spot-up threats throughout the roster. Getting hot from long-range could have an even greater impact on the outcome of this game than always does.
Stay locked in on the road: It’s difficult to carry the energy levels provided by fans in the home arena on the road when travel schedules and consecutive days in a hotel room can be tiring. The Celtics are 2-3 on the road so far this year, though they boast a spotless home record.