League irked by Boston's excessive talking

[MyInsatiableOne]

^^^^
which is awesome, because it creates an Us VS them situation that prevents stagnation and will keep this team's fire alive.

Hell yeah. It worked for the Patriots and it'll work for the C's...

[Celtic Esquire]

I find it interesting that the Blazers actually acknowledged that the trash talking affected them. If that's the case, then we need to do it more.

I want every possible advantage in a game and pro basketball players making millions a year can't take it, then they can always quit the profession and go sell Avon products.

[MyInsatiableOne]

If it is affecting the other teams, that says a lot more about them than it does about us...

[CeltsfanSinceBirth]

It's definitely affecting other teams' fans. You probably know who I'm talking about.

What's even funnier is how this particular team, or any other team/athlete that talks trash, is viewed as making a mockery of the game, and how classless it is, how it's bad for sports.

In my opinion - athletes are paid to do two things - win and entertain. Whether it's the basketball court, football field, baseball diamond, ice, swimming pool, race track, where ever - these athletes are competing to win. And if you can gain a psychological advantage by talking trash and taunting, actions which would lead to a greater probability of winning, then that's what you ought to do.

As for the entertainment aspect - yeah, sure, I love trash talk. I loved it when Bird would do it. I love watching old clips of Muhammad Ali do it. And I love it when this whole squad does it. That's entertaining to me.

On the flip side, I hated trash talk from guys like the Pistons, Deion Sanders, Ron Artest, Gilbert Arenas and Chuck Person to name a few. However, I loved cheering against these guys, because their trash talk turned them into villians. And there's nothing more entertaining than watching a villian lose. The only reason as to why everyone is whining about this is because these villainous Celtics refuse to lose to anyone.

[campybatman]

My prediction: The negative criticisms by the national media and fans alike toward Boston will get worst during the playoffs. But, you know, I'm glad that there doesn't exist a media darling on the Celtics. It prompts people to view Boston as a team and not one made up of one individual player. So, when a media pundit wants to call out the Celtics for talking excessively at opposing teams. I say, judge the Celtics on what they've done and continue to do this season on the court. They play as a team, defensively, offensively and win as a team. In a sport that relies on the understanding of teammates and teamwork. It's easy to lose sight of this when you're only paying attention to what they say rather than the things they're doing and accomplishing as a team. The Boston Celtics from last season to this season and, hopefully for some more years to come, are good for the NBA. The NBA doesn't promote enough about the concept of what it means to be a team. Too much glorification of the individual star players in the league. Hey, stars sell... But, great teams that possess chemistry with their best player--among other things--usually win championships. And it doesn't hurt to have a capable head coach to manage everyone.

Very well said, Bonsaiflipflops. I actually I think the 'team' concept is why the Cs are being slowly vilified this season. It's easier to sell individuals, and so when you see the Sportscenter opening montage the night the Cs beat Portland and extend their streak to 11 (at that point), and it starts with 20 seconds of Kobe highlights, then another 10 seconds of Lebron highlights and then finally TWO clips of the Cs against Portland, followed by an ominous reference to the Baby incident, you realize the media is more concerned about hyping individuals and tearing down real teams. You can bet if the Lakers pulled off an 11 game win streak and that 11th game was on ESPN, they'd lead Sportscenter with a ton of Laker highlights, mostly of Kobe.

The Cs were a good one-year story, but the allure of togetherness, of team, of ubuntu, doesn't have any real long term marketability. The first time they love you and the newness of it all makes a great story, the second time they vilify you and try to knock you off the mountain because it's a better story that way. It's obviously more visible in the media, but I also think it extends to the NBA league office to some extent. I mean, KG's suspension was totally about something other than what happened in Milwaukee. And some of those techs against Orlando were completely bogus, like where Rondo asked "Can I ask you one thing," and got hit with a tech, or when Perk complained to the ref right next to him (who had missed the call) that the ball had hit the backboard (and thus had been goaltended) he got hit with a tech for little more than saying, "hey, it hit the backboard." I don't think we're talking about an NBA conspiracy, but I do think it's human nature to hate the champs and you see that in the way the officials and the League office are treating us this year.

Thanks.

Hey, it's all drama. It's about the story lines and what sells in sports. You got to keep the fan interest and TV ratings up. Probably, more so in basketball. But, that's only the half of it and for another discussion.

Remember, the NBA needs a new bully: An excellent team that wins but rubs others the wrong way in the process. Let's see... Why not Boston? Bingo! I got bingo. We win again! But, yeah... The NBA no longer have the strong Pistons of recent years or the intimidating Detroit "Bad Boys" of years ago. The tough defensive teams of the Knicks or Heat from recent memory. The only thing is: Boston doesn't have the makeup of personalities on their roster to accurately play the roles of villains in the league. They need the national media to talk them up as such. Look no further than the NBA Finals of last season. I don't believe I would be too off base in saying or believing that the majority of fan support seemingly lean more in favor of the Lakers. Think about it: How come the Lakers get acknowledged by national media, NBA fans and players alike as the best team in the NBA despite the fact that they weren't able to defeat the better team that is the Celtics in the NBA Finals? Did everyone all of a sudden forget. Or do most people loathe the Boston Celtics to the point that you would rather discredit them than to give them props. Whatever. Because if the Celtics can pull off the repeat this season. You'll see a lot of NBA fans and pundits having a serve case of amnesia.

What are we talking about... Practice?! I mean... We're talking about... Um, talking... Right! Talking??? Wait. What were we talking about, I forgot the question?

Speaking of Detroit, I raised this point before. Notice how Perkins is being viewed by referees like he's Rasheed Wallace as far as technical fouls go. He complains. I'd said before that that's fine but Perkins doesn't have Rasheed's talent. If he did... I wouldn't mind it as much. It wouldn't bother me. It can bother me somewhat because in getting a technical foul you're affecting the team with it being a distraction to them and yourself if you've to come out of the game or you're ejected. That is, if you're an important piece to the team's success. And Perkins is an important player on this team. Specifically, what he can provide from a defensive standpoint.