Haters

[phoolishly_insane]

All I can say is we get no respect from other teams and forum posters.

Just because we're good doesn't mean they have to disrespect us.

[Big Baby]

at least they're not laughing at us anymore.

[canman1971]

Who cares? Not me. The Celtics are having one of the best years in Celtic regular season history. We should just enjoy it and stop worrying about other "cyber fans" or national media. Also, it is not just because the Cs are good, it is more because they got good so fast. Most everyone thought they would be much better, but this year would be an "adjustment" year, but the Cs have exceeded all regular season expectations. (Remember, this team won 24 games last year) The only thing left to prove to anyone is how they do in the playoffs, and that will come soon enough. Until then, sit back, crack a beer and enjoy the show.

[Cyclical]

^ True.

Add to that, my theory about why some in the media are underplaying the Celtics success -- With all the lavish praise they gave the Mavericks and Dirk all throughout last season - a season the Mavs breezed through in similar dominating fashion as this year's Celtics - they got royaly embarassed with the Mavs quick first round loss. All championship predictions all of a sudden seemed foolish. Forget the fact the the Celtics actually play defense and are much tougher mentally - media members are just playing it safe after last year's joke. I think many of them just don't want to be burned again. This may add to the anti-KG for MVP camp as well. "The best player on the best team" philosophy felt pretty weak when the Mavs got disposed of so easily by an 8th seed. Food for thought.

[canman1971]

^ True.

Add to that, my theory about why some in the media are underplaying the Celtics success -- With all the lavish praise they gave the Mavericks and Dirk all throughout last season - a season the Mavs breezed through in similar dominating fashion as this year's Celtics - they got royaly embarassed with the Mavs quick first round loss. All championship predictions all of a sudden seemed foolish. Forget the fact the the Celtics actually play defense and are much tougher mentally - media members are just playing it safe after last year's joke. I think many of them just don't want to be burned again. This may add to the anti-KG for MVP camp as well. "The best player on the best team" philosophy felt pretty weak when the Mavs got disposed of so easily by an 8th seed. Food for thought.

I agree with this 100%, which is why I am very guarded when it comes to "championship talk." However, you make a great point about this team and its defense. It appears, when they lose a game, such the Philly game, their defensive intensity is not there and it carries over into the offensive end. Once the playoffs start and the Garden is rock'n, I don't see this happening.

[phoolishly_insane]

I already know that we're good enough to win the championship.

It's just that the media is still disrespecting us.

[JJHondo17]

I prefer it this way, once everybody starts jumping on the band wagon, that's when the wheels start falling off. Although I am quite sick of hearing national pundits say, "Well they're the best team right now, but let's see what they do in the playoffs." WTF!! Ithink that applies to every team!!

[Bad-Thoma]

You've got to be good to be hated, when you suck you're just laughed at. Myself, I love the haters, because when they start piling up that means we're the ones laughing.

[TheSheriff]

Was it not just 1 week ago that there was a thread in the main forum where most people were anointing the celtics the best team in the NBA?

[DelMonte West]

I've basically stopped paying attention to what others think of the team; it used to bug me too but then I figured it just wasn't worth getting worked up over. I will, however, point out the hypocrisy of the "if they were a Western team, they wouldn't be this good" argument and say that when Detroit was considered (and still is) an upper-echelon team, nobody plays the West vs. East card.

The thing is (in a nutshell), everyone was getting their jollies blasting Ainge because it was the cool thing to do over the years. Now they're left looking like talentless mainstream-loving hacks that only pay attention to the LeBrons, Suns, Lakers, etc. So, to save face, they bring out the laundry list of excuses for why Boston's doing so well, which become more and more contrived every week (hello, Mr. Barkley).

[GreenGrizz]

Hate = Fear

[TheCelticTruth]

i care superficially because boston fans get a bad rap en masse and its just not true at all.

but its just an occasional annoyance

[BigHands]

Hate = Fear

Yep

When Jack Kent Cooke owned the Los Angeles Lakers, he categorically refused to talk about any trades with Red. "I know you'll fleece me, Red," Cooke told him. "I'm smart enough to know I'm not as smart as you."

[AWalkerREMIX]

It just proves how dumb most of the sports fans outside of Boston are. I've said it all along: Boston has always had the most knowledgeable sports fans no matter how good or bad their teams are. Reading some of the other forums and other boards only confirms that for me.

[luciano-davidwesley]

I think that most fans really respect your team, you guys are paranoid.

Seriously though you don't lead the league in wins without being elite.

[GuyClinch]

Oh come on..fans outside Boston are not dumb - LMAO. It's just the nature of sports to try to knock down the top teams. Heck the pats didn't get 'respect" when they were winning every single game - and of course now since they lost the SB they get zero respect.

Don't worry about the respect just enjoy the victories.

Pete