Push For The Playoffs

Playoff basketball is nearly upon us, and the Maine Celtics are right in the mix. 

With just 10 games remaining in the regular season, the Celtics sit in third place in the Eastern Conference, only a half-game behind second-place Delaware. In the G League, the top-six teams in each conference make the playoffs, which consists of three single-elimination conference rounds before the season concludes with the three-game G League Finals series. The conference quarterfinal round begins on April 4, with subsequent rounds being played in the following days, and the G League Finals will begin on April 11. 

The top-two seeds in each conference receive first-round byes and an automatic semifinal berth, giving teams a whole lot of incentive to gun for the second spot in the East down the stretch. Delaware owns the tiebreaker over Maine after sweeping a two-game set in January – the Celtics will have to finish ahead of the Blue Coats outright to earn the East’s second seed. The bottom-three seeds in the East are all currently within two games of Maine, too. Cleveland, Fort Wayne and Capital City also have a chance at earning a top seed, but to make matters simpler, the Celtics own the tiebreaker over all three of those squads after earning key victories earlier in the regular season. If Maine takes care of business to close out the season, fans very well might get to pack the Portland Expo for some playoff hoops. 

A three-game buffer currently between Maine and seventh-place Windy City gives the Celtics some wiggle room as they look to clinch a playoff spot. In late March, the Bulls and Celtics will face off in Chicago for a two-game set that could be the deciding factor in whether each team is able to lock themselves into the postseason before Maine’s final game of the regular season, a home contest with Westchester on March 23. With some tough matchups ahead against the likes of South Bay, Ontario and Long Island, the Celtics don’t yet have to worry about individual losses tanking their playoff hopes thanks to a strong 7-0 start to the regular season and a recent six-game win-streak. 

Boasting the league’s best offense (118.5 offensive rating) and a top-five net rating, the Celtics have the advantage on paper over a few of their opponents to round out the schedule. Sticking to the team’s principles that have brought them success all year long – sharing the ball, crashing the glass and playing with pace – should position them for a run into this season’s G League playoffs.