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Mavericks assistant coach Jared Dudley says ‘it’s all love’ for Boston even with Celtics up

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5 months ago

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Mavericks assistant coach Jared Dudley says ‘it’s all love’ for Boston even with Celtics up


Mavericks assistant coach Jared Dudley still finds pride in calling Boston his “second home” even as the Celtics have pushed Dallas to the brink of elimination.

After all, Boston is where Dudley developed into a “young man,” turning in a legendary career at Boston College in the 2000s before being taken by Charlotte in the 2007 draft.

Nearly 17 years after leaving Chestnut Hill, Dudley, 38, finds himself up against the toughest challenge he’s faced in the NBA, as a player or coach, one he is embracing.

“Everyone knows Boston fans are one of the best fans in the NBA,” Dudley told the Herald in an exclusive, after the Mavericks’ shoot-around Monday at TD Garden. “I’ve always felt ingrained (here). It’s an honor to play the Celtics.”

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“If you want to win a championship you want to go against an organization like this to cement your legacy,” he added. “It’s been fun but it’s been difficult because they’re so good.”

Dallas blew Boston out in Game 4 on Friday, handing the Celtics their worst loss of the season and the third most lopsided defeat in Finals history, but still trail 3-1 in the series. No team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit.

Dudley said he felt “optimistic” about his team’s prospects in Monday night’s Game 5, while understanding the likelihood that Boston would come out flat, once more, was slim. The Celtics scored just 35 points in Friday’s first half, their lowest point total in any half this season.

“It’s a good nervous,” Dudley said of his team’s overall attitude after a relaxed but playful shoot-around. “You have to be on your heels to play the best, you have to be desperate which we are. We know their crowd is going to feed off them. We have to do the little stuff.”

It didn’t take long for Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown to make an impression on Dudley, who praised the duo in 2017 during an interview with the Herald when he was in his second stint with the Phoenix Suns.

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“This team is setting itself up for the next 10 years,” Dudley said then.

He was right.

The Celtics are excelling, Dudley said, as Tatum and Brown have become “more willing passers.” The duo combined for 32 assists in Games 2 and 3, as Boston took the commanding 3-0 lead.

The additions of Derrick White and Jrue Holiday have solidified the team’s identity, Dudley said.

“The key with them is you can’t give Tatum any easy dunks off of turnovers, and you can’t give any open threes,” Dudley said. “I’d rather have White have the open three than Tatum, to get him going, because these guys are young guys, they want to play well, it’s the NBA Finals.”

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“Their job is to score, our job is to make it difficult,” he added. “Even if you make it difficult, they can still make shots.”

After entering free agency in 2019, Dudley was rumored to have been interested in coming back to Boston in what would have been sort of a homecoming for the former BC Eagle. He wanted to provide his veteran presence to a championship-contending team, but the Celtics never made an offer, he said.

Instead, the San Diego native returned to southern California, joining the Lakers prior to the 2019-20 season. Dudley and the likes of LeBron James and Anthony Davis went on to win the 2020 Finals in the bubble.

Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd served as an assistant coach on that Lakers squad before he became head coach of Dallas in the 2021-22 season, Dudley’s first year as an assistant.

“Eventually I want to become a head coach,” Dudley told the Herald, “so (I’m) getting the experience with how J-Kidd goes and his game plans, his adjustments, me running the defense, helping with substitutions, getting on Luka (Doncic).”

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If the Mavericks want to extend the series against Boston, Dudley said it will come down to guard Kyrie Irving finding himself. The Boston crowd relentlessly slung “Kyrie sucks” chants against the former Celtic in Games 1 and 2, when Irving combined for just 28 points.

Irving woke up when the series shifted to Dallas, scoring 56 points combined in Games 3 and 4.

“The fans are getting on him in a different way than booing. It’s personal,” Dudley said. “When it’s personal you want to be able to respond, sometimes you’re not in the right mind-frame or space, and even he’d tell you he struggled. It’s his job to find ways to overcome it.”

Dudley, on the other hand, acknowledged he has a “great personal connection” with Celtics fans and the city as a whole which he attributed to his four years at BC.

The 15-year NBA veteran ranks sixth all-time in scoring in school history, and Dudley was voted the ACC Player of the Year in 2007 and was a second team All-American.

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“They know the accolades I’ve had in Boston, of showing them love,” he said. “I’ve done camps here, I’ve given back here, I’ve given to BC financially. It’s all love when it comes to Boston.”



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Boston, MA

Celtics vs. Raptors preview: Boston readies for NBA’s worst – The Boston Globe

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7 hours ago

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November 16, 2024

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Celtics vs. Raptors preview: Boston readies for NBA’s worst – The Boston Globe


Only three teams have gotten in the Celtics’ way so far, and there aren’t many challenges on the horizon. Saturday night will likely be no exception.

Boston, ranked second in the Eastern Conference standings, will host the Toronto Raptors. The Celtics hope to revive a win streak that hasn’t exceeded two games since early November.

At 2-11, the Raptors have the worst record in the NBA. Center Jakob Poeltl ranks seventh in the league with a team-leading 11.1 rebounds per game. Shooting guard RJ Barrett has the ninth-most turnovers in the league (3.6).

With small forward Jayson Tatum at the helm, the reigning champions have thrived this season. Tatum averages 30.2 points and 4.2 3-pointers, ranking third and fourth in the league, respectively.

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But, his career performance against Toronto is significantly lower. In 23 games, he’s averaged 18.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.8 assists.

Let’s get into it.

When: Saturday, 8 p.m.

Where: TD Garden, Boston

TV, radio: NBCSB, WBZ-FM 98.5

Line: Boston -16.5. O/U: 228.5.

RAPTORS

Season record: 2-10. vs. spread: 8-4. Over/under: 7-5

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Last 10 games: 1-9. vs. spread: 7-3. Over/under: 5-5

CELTICS

Season record: 10-3. vs. spread: 7-6. Over/under: 6-6, 1 push

Last 10 games: 7-3. vs. spread: 5-5. Over/under: 4-5, 1 push

TEAM STATISTICS

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Points per game: Toronto 112.8, Boston 121.3

Points allowed per game: Toronto 120.8, Boston 110.5

Field goal percentage: Toronto .458, Boston .461

Opponent field goal percentage: Toronto .478, Boston .466

3-point percentage: Toronto .332, Boston .373

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Opponent 3-point percentage: Toronto .346, Boston .344

Stat of the day: The Celtics averaged 109 points across 15 wins and five losses since Sept. 2020 against the Raptors.

Notes: The Raptors will attempt to collect their first road victory Saturday night when they visit the Celtics for the first of four meetings between the teams this season. … The Raptors are 0-7 in road games. The Celtics are only 3-2 at home but 10-3 overall. … It will be the second game in as many nights for Toronto, which is coming off Friday night’s 99-95 loss against Detroit in the second NBA Cup game for each team. The loss extended Toronto’s overall losing streak to six games. … Boston hasn’t played since it beat Brooklyn 139-114 Wednesday night. … The 139 points were the most the Celtics have scored in a game this season. Boston scored 74 points in the second half. … Tatum, at an average of 30.2 points a game, and Brown (25.4) are Boston’s leading scorers this season. Tatum also leads the team in rebounds (7.6) and steals (1.5). Brown is second on the team in rebounds (7.2) and is tied with Pritchard for second in steals (1.2).

Alexa Podalsky can be reached at alexa.podalsky@globe.com.

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Boston, MA

Boston officials propose vacancy fee to address empty storefronts, boost economy

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15 hours ago

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November 16, 2024

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Boston officials propose vacancy fee to address empty storefronts, boost economy


Boston officials are considering whether a fee on vacant storefronts in the city’s neighborhoods could boost the local economy by pushing commercial landlords to bring in tenants.

According to Chief of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion Segun Idowu, long-term vacant storefronts can lead to decreased property values, crime and disinvestment in the area, as well as a “negative vibe” of blight. These issues particularly affect communities of color in neighborhoods such as Roxbury and Mattapan, he said.

“The hustle and bustle of our main streets is important not just for supporting small businesses, but attracting others to the neighborhood, making folks want to live in that area because of what’s right down the street from them,” Idowu said during a Friday morning hearing of the Committee on Small Business and Professional Licensure. “When there are too many vacancies in our main streets, other businesses are negatively impacted.”



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How to Watch SMU vs. Boston College: Time, TV Channel, Live Stream – November 16, 2024

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22 hours ago

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November 16, 2024

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How to Watch SMU vs. Boston College: Time, TV Channel, Live Stream – November 16, 2024


Data Skrive

One of the best runners in college football will be on display when Brashard Smith and the SMU Mustangs (8-1) take on the Boston College Eagles (5-4) on Saturday, November 16, 2024.

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You should check out ESPN in order to watch this game.

Keep up with college football all season on FOX Sports.

Catch Up with Highlights

College Football – Houston at Arizona

Learn more about the SMU Mustangs and the Boston College Eagles.

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How to Watch SMU vs. Boston College

  • When: Saturday, November 16, 2024 at 3:30 p.m. ET
  • Location: Gerald J. Ford Stadium in University Park, Texas
  • Live Box Score: FOX Sports

Read More About This Game

  • SMU vs. Boston College Predictions

SMU’s 2024 Schedule

Date Opponent Score
8/24/2024 at Nevada W 29-24
8/31/2024 vs. Houston Christian W 59-7
9/6/2024 vs. BYU L 18-15
9/21/2024 vs. TCU W 66-42
9/28/2024 vs. Florida State W 42-16
10/5/2024 at Louisville W 34-27
10/19/2024 at Stanford W 40-10
10/26/2024 at Duke W 28-27
11/2/2024 vs. Pittsburgh W 48-25
11/16/2024 vs. Boston College –
11/23/2024 at Virginia –
11/30/2024 vs. California –

SMU 2024 Stats & Insights

  • SMU has the 46th-ranked defense this season (341 yards allowed per game), and has been more effective on the other side of the ball, ranking 21st-best with a tally of 446.1 yards per game.
  • With 251 passing yards allowed per game on defense, which ranks 22nd-worst in the FBS, SMU has had to rely on their 43rd-ranked passing offense (249.6 passing yards per contest) to keep them in games.
  • Offensively, the Mustangs have been a top-25 unit, ranking sixth-best in the FBS by totaling 40.1 points per game. They rank 38th on defense (21.8 points allowed per game).
  • The Mustangs rank 29th in rushing yards this season (196.6 rushing yards per game), but they’ve been playing really well on the other side of the ball, ranking fourth-best in the FBS with 90 rushing yards allowed per game.
  • SMU has been making things happen on both sides of the ball on third down this year, owning the 19th-best mark in third-down conversion rate (46.6%) and 23rd-best in third-down defense (33.1% third-down percentage allowed).
  • The Mustangs have forced 19 total turnovers (11th in the FBS) this season and have turned it over 16 times (102nd in the FBS) for a turnover margin of +3, 46th-ranked in college football.

SMU 2024 Key Players

Name Position Stats
Brashard Smith RB 903 YDS / 11 TD / 100.3 YPG / 6.5 YPC
22 REC / 190 REC YDS / 2 REC TD / 21.1 REC YPG
Kevin Jennings QB 1,900 YDS (64.8%) / 12 TD / 5 INT
317 RUSH YDS / 3 RUSH TD / 35.2 RUSH YPG
Roderick Daniels Jr. WR 15 REC / 323 YDS / 1 TD / 35.9 YPG
RJ Maryland TE 24 REC / 359 YDS / 4 TD / 39.9 YPG
Kobe Wilson LB 45 TKL / 2 TFL / 2 INT / 2 PD
Isaiah Nwokobia DB 43 TKL / 1 TFL / 0.5 SACK / 2 INT
Ahmad Walker LB 36 TKL / 3 TFL / 1 INT / 1 PD
Jahfari Harvey DL 14 TKL / 5 TFL / 4 SACK

Boston College’s 2024 Schedule

Date Opponent Score
9/2/2024 at Florida State W 28-13
9/7/2024 vs. Duquesne W 56-0
9/14/2024 at Missouri L 27-21
9/21/2024 vs. Michigan State W 23-19
9/28/2024 vs. Western Kentucky W 21-20
10/5/2024 at Virginia L 24-14
10/17/2024 at Virginia Tech L 42-21
10/25/2024 vs. Louisville L 31-27
11/9/2024 vs. Syracuse W 37-31
11/16/2024 at SMU –
11/23/2024 vs. North Carolina –
11/30/2024 vs. Pittsburgh –

Boston College 2024 Stats & Insights

  • Boston College ranks 97th with 354.2 total yards per contest on offense, and it ranks 73rd with 372.7 total yards allowed per contest on the defensive side of the ball.
  • Boston College ranks 20th-worst in passing yards per game (178.7), but it has been more productive on the defensive side of the ball, ranking 103rd in the FBS with 243.3 passing yards ceded per contest.
  • The Eagles rank 72nd in the FBS with 27.6 points per game on offense, and they rank 55th with 23 points given up per game on the defensive side of the ball.
  • The Eagles are compiling 175.6 rushing yards per contest on offense this season (49th-ranked). Meanwhile, they are allowing 129.3 rushing yards per contest (44th-ranked) on defense.
  • Boston College is generating a 43.9% third-down conversion rate on offense this season (35th-ranked). Meanwhile, it is giving up a 36.8% third-down rate (52nd-ranked) on defense.
  • At +4, the Eagles own the 33rd-ranked turnover margin in the FBS, with 17 forced turnovers (21st in the FBS) and 13 turnovers committed (62nd in the FBS).

Boston College 2024 Key Players

Name Position Stats
Thomas Castellanos QB 1,366 YDS (61.5%) / 18 TD / 5 INT
194 RUSH YDS / 1 RUSH TD / 21.6 RUSH YPG
Treshaun Ward RB 369 YDS / 2 TD / 46.1 YPG / 5.3 YPC
13 REC / 251 REC YDS / 4 REC TD / 35.9 REC YPG
Kye Robichaux RB 471 YDS / 6 TD / 52.3 YPG / 4.7 YPC
3 REC / 10 REC YDS / 1 REC TD / 1.4 REC YPG
Lewis Bond WR 44 REC / 438 YDS / 3 TD / 48.7 YPG
Donovan Ezeiruaku DL 52 TKL / 11 TFL / 10 SACK
KP Price DB 44 TKL / 1 TFL / 1 INT / 1 PD
Quintavious Hutchins DL 19 TKL / 3 TFL / 3 SACK / 1 INT
Carter Davis DB 32 TKL / 0 TFL / 1 INT / 1 PD

FOX Sports created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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