Remember the Maine? Not exactly

Mad Antics

The D-League will hold its annual national tryouts June 15 in New York. The one-day event will see 200 hopefuls in full-court games in front of team executives, coaches and scouts.Thursday

Howard, Smith work at Development League camp

Mad Ants guard Ron Howard and center Tommy Smith accepted invitations to the NBA Development League Elite Mini Camp, which started Monday and runs through Tuesday in Chicago.May 13, 2013

Record year for D-League

It wasn't only the Mad Ants that made 2012-13 their best season; the rest of the NBA Development League had a record-setting year, as well.May 1, 2013

That's 0-for-3 against Maine for the week and 0-for-4 against the Red Claws this season, as the Mad Ants lost to Maine 113-111 at Memorial Coliseum on Thursday.

It was the third time within a week that the Ants (10-19) have lost to the Red Claws, who beat them earlier this season.

The positive news is that Ron Howard returned from a fractured thumb and scored 27 points.

But point production is secondary next to the way the team is playing defense - which it isn't. Yes, Maine hit some big three-pointers down the stretch in securing the win, but a lot of them weren't contested well. And these are, after all, professionals.

So the Ants take the show on the road to Canton, Ohio for a game Friday, and are back next Sunday against Springfield.