What is it with all the negativity on these forums?
Okay, the first thing people are going to say is that they are not being negative, they are being realistic. There are some people for whom this is true. But really, most of the pessimists on the forums are no more realistic than the optimists. The season is so young it's ridiculous to make any judgments about the team (remember the Heat had a slow start last year, and the Celtics had a fast one. Who went further?).
Being realistic is one thing. However, some of the negativity is almost spiteful in its nature. In another thread, someone made a good case for why Pietrus will help us. He can hit the three and defend well, both of which are valuable pieces off the bench; and while we don't know how good he is post-injury, he has potential. That's a very realistic and reasonable thing to say. However, several people come in and just dismiss all the rational arguments in favor of "NO WE ARE DONE NEXT LALALA NOT LISTENING!!!"
That is, it isn't constructive negativity. It is negativity for the sake of negativity. I know things for the team look dark right now, and Boston fans are notoriously knee-jerk in their reactions (I can't remember who it was, but recently I remember listening to sports radio and a Boston commentator note that if you only followed the Boston fans that called into his show you would think the Patriots were 3-13 from all the hyperbole).
It is irritating sometimes when half of the people on a thread are having a rational discussion about the team, and half a dozen people come in and basically say, "WHY BOTHER TALKING ABOUT THIS WE SUCK".
Now, here is the way I see it:
On paper, the Celtics are an elite team. At the moment, they are not playing to their potential. It remains to be seen whether it is possible for them to reach their potential, but it is FAR too early to make a serious conclusion one way or the other.
As long as they have a chance on paper, and it is too early to write them off, what is the point of the excessive negativity? It isn't fun to be negative. It is more fun to hold out hope, no matter how ridiculous it might seem to do so. I juts don't see how anyone can enjoy being negative.
You may argue that you are just keeping your expectations low so as not to be disappointed. But in doing so, you are throwing out any chance you have at enjoying the season. I would rather enjoy the Celtics season for what it is, holding out far-fetched hope. Yes, I'll be disappointed if it ends on a sour note, but then I can just watch the drama of the playoffs and Finals and root for another team.
Being a pessimist won't reduce the disappointment at the end of the season. All it does it make sure you don't enjoy the season at all. It just makes the whole thing miserable, for you and for anyone who is trying to enjoy themselves when you come in muttering about how much our team sucks.
That's just the way I see it. I don't understand why anyone would want to be excessively negative. And if you really want to be negative, that's your choice, but why do so many of you seem to take enjoyment in making sure us optimists don't enjoy ourselves?