Where Does The Current Team Rank In Watchability / Likability?

[Roy H.]

For clarification, likability and watchability aren't necessarily the same thing.  So, feel free to give two rankings.  But, since the title team in 2008, where does this team rank in each?

For me, I'd go:

1.  2008 title team
2.  2011 team when healthy, pre-trade deadline
3.  2022 team after January

[gouki88]

I'd separate watchability and likeability personally. For me, watchability is more about how well they play basketball. How fluid is the offence? How crushing is the defence? Things like that. In that regard, my ranking would be:

1. 2008
2. 2022
3. 2011

But likeability I find more to do with the makeup of the guys on the team, their underdog status, how easy is it to root for them. As such:

1. 2017
2. 2022
3. 2008

So, in other words, this team is pretty special for me. They might actually top 2008 if they raise #18, simply due to the unprecedented mid-season turnaround.

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

not counting 08?

2010-finals team shoulda won it all and blew it

2012- great last run with KG and PP. great series against lebron and heat

we have made 3 ECF since 2012 and lost them all

i will not rate this team until they at least make another ECF.

[Phantom255x]

In addition to what everyone has said, I will say those Celtics teams in 2016-2017 and 2018-2019 were very likable to me. They may not have had the firepower of course, but still made pretty deep runs and were fun to root for and watch (Isaiah Thomas-era around 2015-2017, then the Hospital Celtics in 2018-2019 which went deep in the ECF).

[Roy H.]

2010-finals team shoulda won it all and blew it

That was an exciting Finals run, although Game 7 may be the single most painful experience I've had as a fan at any level.

But, I didn't find the team particularly likable or watchable, due almost solely to Rasheed Wallace.  He was such a disappointment that season.

But likeability I find more to do with the makeup of the guys on the team, their underdog status, how easy is it to root for them. As such:

1. 2017

That would have been my honorable mention.  I had a ton of fun rooting for that team.  IT will go down as one of my all-time favorites, short-timer or not.

[action781]

Glad gouki mentioned the 2017 team, I think the 2018 postseason team also needs a shoutout.  I tried ranking them but I like them all and find them all very watchable.

[cons]

beating a villian like kyrie is taking this teams likability over the top

this is easily as much fun as theyve been since 2008

2008 they beat kobe and the lakers so obviously thats big / rivalry

but i dont think even kobe / lakers were hated then as much as the current kyrie/ nets

so in that sense 2022 wins
(provided they actually win the series)

 

[angryguy77]

not counting 08?

2010-finals team shoulda won it all and blew it

2012- great last run with KG and PP. great series against lebron and heat

we have made 3 ECF since 2012 and lost them all

i will not rate this team until they at least make another ECF.

I'd save Putin from a house fire before Joey Crawford after the heist he pulled in game 7.
I'll never believe that game didn't have a thumb on the scale. Stern and the crooks felt it was LA's turn that year.

[keevsnick]

To me its easily 2nd behind the 08' team. The thing about these guys is they are mostly homegrown.

Tatum, Brown, Smart, Williams, Pritchard, Grant (and you "discovered" Theis). Thats 7 of the 9 rotation guys that are "our" guys. To me, that makes it somewhat more special because its a group you've followed and watched grow their entire career.

Then add in the fact that them winning is major personal vindication. Brown was my pre-draft choice back in 16 and I've personally always felt breaking up the Jays was idiotic.

And on top of that they even have the savy veteran you root to see win a ring in Horford.

All likeable guys personally as well.

[Goldstar88]

For me, this years team is the most likable and watchable since the KG/PP Era. First time in over a decade where it feels like the C’s have a legitimate chance to win it all.

Obviously no player matches KG, but I love Smarts energy, competitiveness, defensive prowess and leadership. Feel like JB and JT are more reserved in terms of their personality, but both are just good dudes and obviously super talented. Love Al for his leadership, he’s a glue guy and imo, the most under appreciated starter. Just does whatever the team needs.
Timelord is a show stopper and he completely alters the game defensively. I think he’s the most important defensive player on the team and haven't seen a player protect the paint like he does since KG. Plus, the blocks and dunks are incredible. Then the bench with Grant, White, Theis, and Pritchard. All are just good guys and fun to watch.. You never know which one of them is going to come up big when some of the starters are having an off night.

Brad has said on many occasions that he wants high character players on the roster and it’s resulted in a team that genuinely looks like they enjoy playing together and one that’s very easy to root for.

[radiohead]

If this team wins the chip this year, I’d rank them ahead of the 2008 team mainly because this is a homegrown team. As much as i love the 2008 team, there’s a bigger feeling of pride and accomplishment  with the current roster as most of them are homegrown products. We’ve seen them develop and grow right before our eyes.

[Big333223]

I loved the '17 team. Isaiah Thomas was as exciting to watch as anyone the Celtics have ever had that season. They consistently punched above their weight and outworked other teams. That's my #1.

My #2 is the '10 team, even above the '08 team. '08 was great and that group's ability to shut down the basket was extraordinary but they were so new. Pierce and Tony Allen were the only guys I felt a real connection with. By '10 that team felt like family and watching Rondo blossom was incredible.

This year and '18 are tied for #3. After the loss of Hayward, watching that group respond the way they did was awesome and that was a fun year to behold Kyrie's wizardry before it all went sour. That playoff run was miraculous.

My excitement for that '18 team is tamped down a bit by thinking about what might have been and also knowing who Kyrie really is/was in retrospect.

As much fun as I'm having watching this team now, the first season was just so frustrating. But maybe I should be giving this group more love for overcoming the early season frustrations.

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

not counting 08?

2010-finals team shoulda won it all and blew it

2012- great last run with KG and PP. great series against lebron and heat

we have made 3 ECF since 2012 and lost them all

i will not rate this team until they at least make another ECF.

I'd save Putin from a house fire before Joey Crawford after the heist he pulled in game 7.
I'll never believe that game didn't have a thumb on the scale. Stern and the crooks felt it was LA's turn that year.

i think we all have PTSD from that game. it was gut wrenching to watch that 12 point lead in the 4th slowly erode away because they kept putting the fakers at the line to win it.  i mean the fakers had just won it year before.  so stern wanted back to back? who knows but it reeked like a dead animal on the road in 100 degree heat. very painful watching post game celebration knowing that was our title. soul ripping.