Boston, MA
The 2022 Boston Celtics Are On The Brink, Maybe For The Final Time
To borrow a malapropism from a late sports activities legend, it seems like déjà vu another time for the Boston Celtics. After Sport 3 of the 2022 NBA Finals, the Celtics staked a 2-1 lead over the Golden State Warriors however, regardless of holding leads in each Sport 4 and 5, they’re now at a 3-2 drawback. After dropping two video games in a row for the primary time this postseason, the Celtics discover themselves getting ready to elimination for the third time in as many collection.
It isn’t that arduous to determine precisely what went mistaken for the Celtics on Monday. The group dedicated an unacceptable 18 turnovers, missed double-digit free throws and continually argued with officers quite than specializing in the sport at hand. As a result of they fell into these dangerous outdated habits, the Celtics couldn’t make the most of a uncommon day the place Steph Curry couldn’t handle to hit a three-pointer, one thing which they’ll’t hope will occur once more in tonight’s Sport 6.
To their credit score, the Celtics know precisely what they’re doing mistaken, they’ve addressed it on the finish of seemingly each loss this postseason. The dangerous information is that acknowledging errors is rarely sufficient to warrant true enchancment: the trick is actively avoiding repeating them. That’s the a part of the equation that the Celtics have but to determine.
A few of it is because they’re nonetheless a younger group with their finest participant—Jayson Tatum—being merely 24 years outdated, even when he’s been within the postseason so typically that it seems like he’s a lot older. Ime Udoka deservedly ranked fourth on this 12 months’s Coach of the 12 months standings, however he’s nonetheless in his first 12 months on the job after years of toiling as an assistant. On condition that they’re taking part in towards a Warriors group that’s in search of its fourth championship within the final decade, it’s comprehensible that their opponents are making the most of the expertise hole.
Theoretically, this NBA Finals look—the primary because the New Large Three period of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen—must be the beginning of a run of dominance within the East. Boston took the chance of signing Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Marcus Sensible and Robert Williams III to extensions to make sure they might have their younger core obtainable for the foreseeable future with the hope that they might be within the mixt for a title, year-in and year-out.
Nonetheless, it’s not a assure that the Celtics—regardless of how gifted their roster—will even discover themselves in a greater place to win a title of their present state. All of us bear in mind the saga of the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, who appeared poised to rule the Western Convention however by no means returned to the Finals. Even the New Large Three Celtics did not win one other title after scoring a championship of their very first 12 months collectively; alternatives solely come so typically within the extremely aggressive NBA.
Nonetheless, it doesn’t matter what occurs tonight, the Celtics have ensured that this has been a extremely profitable season. After their offseason organizational shakeup and their subsequent struggles within the first half of the season, it was tough for even essentially the most optimistic of green-bleeders to think about these Celtics making a deep playoff run, not to mention reaching Sport 6 of the NBA Finals. A loss on Thursday can be the farthest factor from a disappointment, notably towards a much-favored Golden State group.
Nevertheless, regrets are essentially the most brutal inevitabilities of life. If the Celtics don’t come out and play at their finest tonight, they received’t bear in mind how lucky they have been to be there: they’ll solely bear in mind the fumbled-away alternatives. The Celtics have efficiently battled again from adversity all season lengthy, it’s now time to see if they’ve another counter-punch in them.
Boston, MA
Amid reported federal investigation, Boston city councilor releases statement
A Boston city councilor reportedly subject to a federal investigation declined to comment on the matter in a statement Wednesday, but thanked her supporters and committed to staying in office.
“My job is show up and to fight for you. And I will continue to do just that; the people’s work,” District 7 Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson wrote in a post on Instagram.
The statement, addressing what Fernandes Anderson called “the news yesterday,” followed a Boston Globe report that federal authorities were investigating the councilor and had sent subpoenas to City Hall.
- Read more: Boston City Councilor Fernandes Anderson investigated by feds, reports say
Citing anonymous sources, the Globe reported that the nature of the investigation was unclear. No criminal charges had been filed.
Fernandes Anderson, who represents Roxbury, Dorchester and the South End, said she had received “a tremendous amount of prayers, support, and well wishes” since the story was published.
“Unfortunately, I am not able to comment on this matter at this time,” she said Wednesday. “As soon as I can I will be sure to share with you.”
It is not Fernandes Anderson‘s first brush with scrutiny.
In July 2023, the Massachusetts Ethics Commission cited Fernandes Anderson for hiring her sister and son to full-time staff positions after she took office in 2022.
Fernandes Anderson appointed her sister as director of constituent services with an initial salary of $65,000, later increasing her salary to $70,000 with a $7,000 bonus in June 2022.
Her son was appointed office manager around the same time, with an initial salary of $52,000. Eleven days later, Fernandes Anderson increased his pay to $70,000.
The commission required her to pay a $5,000 civil penalty.
More recently, other state authorities levied fines against Fernandes Anderson last month for multiple campaign finance violations.
The state Office of Campaign and Political Finance said the city councilor had not promptly disclosed $32,900 of the $34,500 that was deposited into her campaign account from Nov. 2023 to Sept. 2024.
The office ordered her to pay a $1,750 fine. She was also forced to return $100 in excess contributions from another candidate’s committee.
Fernandes Anderson is in her second term and is the first Muslim, first formerly undocumented immigrant and first African immigrant to serve on the council.
She won reelection in 2023 with more than 70% of the vote in her district.
Boston, MA
Boston College Locks in 2025 Athlete Kaelan Chudzinski
Bill O’Brien and the Boston College Eagles continue to roll through the early signing period for football, locking in yet another talented prospect as a member of the 2025 recruiting class.
3-Star wide receiver/tight end Kaelan Chudzinski officially signed with the Eagles on Wednesday. He committed to Boston College in early November and has been locked in with the Eagles ever since.
Chudzinski, who hails from Needham, Mass., is a big bodied target, standing at 6-foot-4, 210 lbs. with the ability to also play tight end. This season he’s helped guide a St. Sebastian’s Arrows team to a 4-3 record. He uses his big frame to haul in contested catches, and also is a very effective blocker in the run game.
While he lacks the outright speed of some other prospect in this year’s recruiting class and of some of the players already on the roster, Chudzinski plays with a high motor and is a very efficient route runner.
247Sports ranks the talented prospect as the No. 128 tight end in the nation and the No. 12 player in the state of Massachusetts.
As of now, the Eagles hold the No. 50 ranked recruiting class in the nation, according to 247Sports’ composite ranking, but could still be in play to land more talented prospects.
Stay locked into Boston College on SI for all your Eagles news, and check out our Boston College football recruiting tracker to stay up to date on the 2025 class and more.
See Also…
Boston College Men’s Basketball Drops ACC/SEC Challenge to South Carolina
Seven Boston College Football Players Earn All-ACC Honors
Boston, MA
Bruins Notes: Boston Noticing 'Passion' Revival Under Joe Sacco
The Boston Bruins opened up a new chapter under interim head coach Joe Sacco and while the results are showing, the locker room is feeling a change of direction too.
Boston defeated the Detroit Red Wings, 3-2 in overtime, on Tuesday night for the second time since Sacco took over for Jim Montgomery. Much like their recent trip to Detroit in November, the Bruins were put to the test in terms of their patience, defensive poise and ability to score in a timely fashion.
The Black and Gold passed, needless to say, and credit Sacco’s step up to the helm at the team’s recent click, putting them now at 13-11-3 on the year.
“I think we’re playing with a passion,” Nikita Zadorov told reporters, per team-provided audio. “I think we’re playing with pride. I think we’re playing for each other. I thought we were disconnected before. That’s what wasn’t working. I don’t think we fixed much X’s and O’s. I think it’s the same system, the same game plans. We’re just doing it this time.”
Zadorov added: “If one guy makes mistakes, other guys are gonna clean up for them. So I think that’s the main change from the start of the year.”
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The Bruins were cornered once Detroit’s Lucas Raymond scored his second goal of the night in the third period to give the Red Wings a 2-1 lead. It might’ve uplifted Detroit’s bench, however, it wasn’t strong enough for a knockout blow to put Boston away for good. Justin Brazeau had a response of his own for the Red Wings, giving the Bruins new life heading into overtime.
Pavel Zacha, at 2:15 into overtime, took care of the night from there with the game-decider.
“Anytime that we can go out there, especially at that point in the game when you’re down a goal, and that power play unit goes out there and puts one in, it lifts the team is what it does,” Sacco said, per team-provided audio. “It helps the spirit on the bench. It lifts people up as opposed to bringing us down so that was a good sign. That was a positive sign.”
It’s only been seven games, but the Bruins are yet to lose on back-to-back occasions under Sacco, racking up a handful of their season’s most impressive wins in the process.
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Here are more notes from Tuesday night’s Bruins-Red Wings game:
— Boston improved to 5-2 under Sacco’s leadership.
— Bruins goalie Joonas Korpisalo, who held the Red Wings scoreless in the second period, recorded 27 saves on the night. The 30-year-old has notched 20-plus saves in each of last six starts for Boston.
“He deserves a lot of credit for the way he’s come in and played under tough situations sometimes,” Sacco said, per team-provided audio”Tonight he got the beginning of a back-to-back but sometimes he doesn’t. He may get the end of the back-to-backs and he’s just been really solid for us. Really all you can ask from your goaltender is to give your team a chance to win and he’s done that on most nights.”
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— Zadorov’s first-period goal clocked in at 90.46 miles per hour, according to Bruins Correspondent Shawn Hutcheon, marking the fastest goal from a Boston player this season.
“He was engaged in the game tonight,” Sacco said, per team-provided audio. “He was physical, and he was just defending hard tonight. When he was on the ice, the opposition knew that he was playing.”
— The Red Wings, now 10-11-4, have lost three straight games.
— The Bruins will next hit the road and head to the Windy City for a meeting with the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night. Puck drop from United Center is set for 7:30 p.m. ET, and that matchup will be aired on TNT.
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