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Celtics notebook: Thoughts on Boston’s talent drain, Damian Lillard rumors

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Celtics notebook: Thoughts on Boston’s talent drain, Damian Lillard rumors


Buon giorno, Herald readers. I’m back from my two-week Italian honeymoon and have some thoughts on the moves the Celtics made (and didn’t make) while I was away:

— Brad Stevens said in his recent news conference at the Auerbach Center that the word “rebuild” is “not going to be part of the lexicon in (that) building” this season. Fair enough.

But however you want to phrase it, there’s no denying that Boston’s current roster is the weakest the franchise has fielded in years.

Consider this: If you include Jayson Tatum, who’s out indefinitely as he recovers from his ruptured Achilles, the Celtics have lost four starting-caliber players from their 2024-25 squad (Tatum, Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford, plus an ideal backup in Luke Kornet) and added just one: guard Anfernee Simons, whom they acquired from Portland in the Holiday trade (and still could offload in a subsequent deal for further luxury tax savings).

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Outside of Simons, Boston has added a decent journeyman rotation player (Georges Niang), plucked two guys from the very end of Minnesota’s bench (Luka Garza and Josh Minott), used its first-round draft pick an intriguing but raw prospect who probably won’t be ready for a substantial role as a 19-year-old rookie (Hugo Gonzalez) and signed two second-round picks to two-way contracts (Amari Williams and Max Shulga).

The Celtics boasted the best roster in basketball during their run to the 2024 NBA championship, and that same group won 61 games this past season despite having its full starting lineup available just 24 times. Thanks to the dynasty-killing buzzsaw that is the NBA’s second apron, that enviable depth now is gone.

— No Celtics position has been hit harder this summer than center.

Boston traded Porzingis — an understandable and expected move given his hefty salary and durability concerns — and then failed in their stated goal to re-sign his top two understudies. Stevens said on draft night that the team hoped to retain Horford and Kornet, but it whiffed on both. Kornet landed a long-awaited payday in free agency (four years, $41 million from San Antonio), and though Horford remained unsigned as of Sunday, Stevens later admitted the 39-year-old locker room leader was “unlikely” to return.

What’s left? Three veterans who were not everyday rotation players this season (Neemias Queta, Xavier Tillman and newcomer Garza) and second-round rookie Williams. That might be the weakest collection of big men in the NBA.

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Queta, who projects as the top option at this early stage, made 62 appearances and six starts in his first season as a full-time NBA player, but the 26-year-old was a distant fourth on the depth chart behind Porzingis, Horford and Kornet by the end of 2024. Garza, also 26, played sparingly in a crowded Timberwolves frontcourt during his three seasons in Minnesota, averaging just 6.3 minutes per game over 92 outings. The two combined to play just 32 minutes this postseason, all in garbage time.

Tillman does have a fair bit of NBA starting experience (60 in his five-year career), but he was nowhere near head coach Joe Mazzulla’s rotation this season, exiled to the end of the bench due largely to his woeful 3-point shooting (15.6%). Also, unlike the 7-foot Queta and 6-foot-10 Garza, the 6-7 Tillman is more of a four than a traditional center.

Williams has some enticing traits, namely his length and passing ability. But as the 46th overall pick, odds are he’ll spend more time in Maine than in Boston this season.

“We’ll have to do that by committee,” Stevens told reporters on June 8. “That will not be the group that people will single out, based on paper, on what they’ve done with their careers thus far, as our strongest position, but it’s up to them to prove it otherwise.”

The reaction to Boston’s first Summer League game on Friday underscored the lack of proven talent in this group. After former Spurs reserve Charles Bassey, added to the C’s summer squad days earlier, had 14 points and 11 rebounds and was a plus-20 in 18 minutes against Memphis, speculation quickly began over whether there could be a spot for him on the big club.

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Little November warmup ahead on Friday after Boston reaches a late first freeze – The Boston Globe

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Little November warmup ahead on Friday after Boston reaches a late first freeze – The Boston Globe


Sometime in the early-morning hours on Thursday, Logan Airport finally reached 32 degrees for the first time this season. This marks the 17th latest first freeze on record and is a trend of later frost starts that continues to occur. For the Boston area, the average date is Nov. 5, according to National Weather Service records.

Overall, the weather over the next several days is looking sunny and dry. But the good news is the brief warmup New England will get on Friday.

When you get up Friday morning, temperatures will be in the 30s east of I-495 and in the mid- to upper 20s west and over the higher elevations, not quite as cold as the past couple of mornings due to some high cloudiness and a southerly flow of air. The day will warm up, getting near or even a little above 50 degrees, especially along the coastal plain. This little boost in mild weather will also feature a blend of clouds and sunshine.

Highs on Friday may reach the low 50s for Boston and areas south.Boston Globe

Friday night: Possible light showers

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A weak weather system crosses the area Friday night Friday night into early Saturday, with the chance of some shower activity, but this is minimal at best. The clouds will tend to thicken, and there is the chance of a couple of hours of showers. The data that I used to determine rainfall doesn’t show much in the way of precipitation, and some models even have it completely dry.

A front will bring light, scattered showers into New England on Friday night.Boston Globe
Friday will see increasing clouds with showers arriving during the night.Boston Globe

Saturday-Sunday: Back to sunshine

When you get up Saturday morning, if there is an early shower, it’s quickly out of the picture and we go back to sunshine. Temperatures will start above freezing everywhere Saturday morning, so if you have any field games, the ground will not be frozen. In the afternoon, readings will be between 43 and 48 across most of the region.

Clear skies Saturday night allow temperatures to once again fall back to typical levels in the 20s and 30s, and then it’s a gorgeous Sunday with temperatures in the mid-40s in the afternoon and light wind.

Highs on Saturday will reach the upper 40s across Southern New England.Boston Globe
Highs on Sunday will likely remain in the mid to upper 40s.Boston Globe

The lack of wind this weekend will make it great for leaf-raking and other fall cleanup since the leaves won’t be blowing around. Remember, if you can leave the leaves in your garden beds, it does act as a protection for many perennials, but I do recommend removing the leaves from the lawn.

With the nice weather across all of New England this weekend, it’s actually an opportunity to take advantage of the early snow that has fallen across Vermont, New Hampshire, and portions of Maine. Northern Vermont, in particular, as well as the mountains of New Hampshire, have done particularly well in terms of November snowfall. This means you can expect almost mid-winter conditions on a few trails for those areas that received the bulk of the snowfall.

Some portions of Northern New England have 4 to 16 inches of snowpack heading into the weekend. Above is the snow depth as of Thursday, Nov. 20.NOAA

Thanksgiving week look-ahead forecast

Next week looks dry until we get to around Wednesday. A weather system may bring a few showers sometime on Wednesday, but it doesn’t look significant. This means great travel weather starts the work week. I don’t see any major storms nationwide to create travel delays. Thanksgiving also looks dry as of now.

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Here’s the 7-day outlook for the Boston area.Boston Globe

Greater Boston: Look for a blend of clouds and sunshine on Friday with temperatures starting in the low to mid-30s and reaching near 50 in the afternoon. An early shower gives way to sunshine on Saturday with highs in the 40s.

Central/Western Mass.: Look for temperatures starting in the 20s on Friday, reaching the upper 40s in the afternoon, along with a blend of clouds and sun. Clearing takes place Saturday morning with highs in the 40s along with sunshine.

Southeastern Mass.: Plenty of sunshine mixed with clouds on Friday with temperatures near 50. An early shower Saturday leads to clearing in the afternoon. Highs will be in the 40s with lows back in the 20s. Sunday features sunshine with temperatures back into the mid-40s.

Cape and Islands: Look for a blend of sunshine and a few clouds on Friday with temperatures in the mid-40s. The weekend starts on a cloudy note with clearing developing in the afternoon on Saturday and highs near 50. It’s cold Saturday night with temperatures near 30 and in the 40s with sunshine on Sunday.

Rhode Island: Sunshine is abundant on Friday with temperatures near 50. Look for clearing from north to south on Saturday morning after an early sprinkle across the south coast. Temperatures will be near 50 in the afternoon sunshine, with temperatures in the 40s for Sunday.

New Hampshire: You can expect sunshine on Friday with temperatures near 40. Look for a dry weekend ahead with temperatures within a few degrees of 40 on Saturday and just under 40 on Sunday. Both days will feature sunshine; it’s a bit breezy on Saturday.

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‘Game-changer’ as Michelin Guide recommends Boston-area restaurants

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‘Game-changer’ as Michelin Guide recommends Boston-area restaurants


Boston finally has its first Michelin star.

311 Omakase in the South End received one star at Michelin’s Northeast Cities ceremony in Philadelphia Tuesday night. The 10-seat restaurant is tucked away in a basement, and the price starts at $250 per person. It was the only restaurant to receive a star in Boston’s inaugural year with the Michelin Guide.

“It’s a starting point. It’s going to build momentum for us,” said David O’Donnell, vice president of communications for Meet Boston.

Meet Boston was influential in bringing the Michelin Guide to Boston, but would not disclose how much the organization paid for it.

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“Any recognition you get from Michelin is a game-changer, not only for those restaurants and chefs, but for the destination,” O’Donnell said.

The legendary recognition goes to 311 Omakase on Tremont Street in the city’s South End.

Six restaurants received Bib Gourmand awards recognizing high-quality food at a reasonable price, including Bar Volpe and Fox & the Knife in South Boston, both owned by Karen Akunowicz.

“I want to cry. I mean, I was shocked, and I still am,” said Akunowicz. “For me, that was like getting three stars. Our teams work tirelessly to bring excellent food and amazing hospitality experiences to the folks in Boston and beyond.”

In Cambridge, three restaurants — Jahunger, Pagu, and Sumiao Hunan Kitchen — also earned Bib Gourmands, along with Mahaniyom in Brookline.

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On top of that, 20 eateries were named Recommended Restaurants, including Select Oyster Bar in Boston’s Back Bay.

“We try and serve the best seafood we can get our hands on, and if it’s not top-shelf, A+ grade, we don’t let it in the door,” said Benjamin Sandrof, a bartender at Select Oyster Bar.

Toro in the South End also earned the honor of Recommended Restaurant after two decades in the neighborhood.

“This long in, we’re like, ‘Who would ever even recognize us for what we’re doing?’ Because there’s so many new, great chefs in Boston, and we’re not the new kid on the block anymore, and it’s just so nice that people still notice the effort,” said Ken Oringer, the chef and owner.

See the full list of Boston-area restaurants recognized in the Michelin Guide.

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Nearly 200 people become American citizens during emotional Boston ceremony

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Nearly 200 people become American citizens during emotional Boston ceremony


By Aaron Parseghian, WBZ-TV

Nearly 200 people from more than 50 countries became America’s newest citizens Tuesday, raising their right hands and reciting the oath of allegiance during an emotional naturalization ceremony at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston.

“By your hard work, patience, and commitment to this long process, you have all earned the right to be citizens of the United States of America,” said U.S. District Court Judge Allison Burroughs, who presided over the naturalization ceremony. “I think that John F. Kennedy, if he could see us now, would love knowing that his library is one of the places where people become citizens.”

Boston naturalization ceremony

For some, the day marked the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. Gaison Brumaire, who came to the U.S. from Haiti in 2016, said the ceremony opened the door to new possibilities.

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“I’m just excited. I mean, there’s a lot of opportunity. Like, you know, we can vote now,” Brumaire said.

“I’ve long been hearing about America. America has been a great country, so it’s everybody’s dream. And I’m happy to be a part of it,” added Beatrice Gray, a new U.S. citizen from Liberia. “I’ve long been wanting this forever, and I decided to just abide by the rules and laws of this country and being in America, being so great. I mean, I’m so happy.”

Others described a mix of joy and relief. João Oliveira moved from Brazil to Milford as a teenager and spent nearly a decade waiting for this moment.

“Having all the responsibilities and rights that only you can get when you are a citizen, it’s awesome. It’s a thing that I always wanted to have,” Oliveira said.

“I feel so proud to be an American citizen”  

Despite living in the country legally, he said recent national debates and crackdowns on immigration left him feeling uneasy.

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“You know we see a lot of political talk about immigration and everything and laws changing every time. You never feel safe,” Olivera said. “Someone could sign a law that makes you not part of this country anymore. So you always feel anxious about it. And being a citizen says, like, nobody can take this right away from me anymore.”

For Tibet native Yeshi Nyizing, becoming an American was the culmination of hard work and sacrifice.

“I work day and night and I pay a lot of taxes and then I made it,” she said. “I feel so proud to be an American citizen. I love America.”



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