Why have the Celtics NEVER played on Christmas in Boston?

[NBAJ2K]

I was reading an associated press article about the loss to the Lakers today, found this to be pretty crazy.

"It was the Celtics' first game on Christmas since 2002. They have a 10-15 record, going 9-15 on the road and 1-0 at a neutral site. They have never played at home on Christmas."

NEVER? why not? I assume there is some reason for it.

I know Doc had said that he felt the winner of the NBA Finals should be able to play at home on Christmas, but is there some other reason they have never played in Boston? 

Possibly the NBA likes having games in the West coast so they can set the start times better for ratings?

"The game was the 10th straight for the Lakers on Christmas. They have an overall record of 20-15 on Christmas including 11-6 at home"

Any thoughts?

One side note, I knwo its talked about all the time, but its disgusting how pro LA the announcers are.  I mean cmon, they mine as well be kool-aid drinking Lakers announcers for god sakes!

~J



Source:
http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2008/12/25/bryant_gasol_lead_lakers_past_celtics_92_83_1230256203/

[tenn_smoothie]

the Celts have gone on a post-christmas road trip since Jesus walked the earth - so, tradition may be the answer.

[PPneedsaWheelchair]

Are you looking for an excuse for your loss? Get over it.

[Redz]

Are you looking for an excuse for your loss? Get over it.

Nope. Didn't read it that way, the OP was asking why we never play on Christmas.  Not blaming the loss.  If you're looking to stir things up you won't last long here.  If you have some insight from the other side to offer, bring it on.

[NBAJ2K]

Are you looking for an excuse for your loss? Get over it.

I love how some newbie registers for the forum with a Username "PPneedsaWheelchair" and with their first post tries to throw a post up like that to get me riled up. Yes ure Lakers won the game tonight, Congrats on that, looks like it was a big deal as you even had streamers coming down from the rafters for a "REGULAR SEASON GAME". Its just one game buddy...

This thread wasn't created looking for an excuse at all, just was wondering what the reason was.  Doc felt that this game should have been in Boston and was trying to get the rule changed so that the team that wins the title plays at home on Christmas.  Since the Celtics have never played at home on Christmas, doesn't look like it would ever help Boston.

I assume they want afternoon games to be West Coast games due to ratings which I think is pretty crappy.

Celts had been rolling pretty well before this game, but we knew that even though they were winning, they still had some weaknesses.  Hopefully after this game they may focus a little bit more on fixing them.

[Andy Jick]

i remember (like yesterday) watching the celtics lose to the knicks on Christmas day 1985 - they blew a HUGE lead (it was Ewing's rookie season).  But it ended up being a blessing in disguise as many of the players point to that game as a "wake up call" that made them realize they can't just sleep walk through the season.

[Redz]

i remember (like yesterday) watching the celtics lose to the knicks on Christmas day 1985 - they blew a HUGE lead (it was Ewing's rookie season).  But it ended up being a blessing in disguise as many of the players point to that game as a "wake up call" that made them realize they can't just sleep walk through the season.

Yeh, that was my 2nd least favorite loss to the Knicks...The other was the opening round series when the C's went up 2-0 and lost in 5 to the Knicks.  It was the first sign of Larry starting to show his decline.

[Fox40Kid]

I have a friend who was at the game (in-laws live in LA) and we talked about how cool it would be to go to a Christmas game in Boston.

The holiday week is always their road trip week, so that could be a reason.  Also, Disney on Ice usually runs during the holiday week as well.  There is nothing on X-Mas day, but who knows what they have worked out with TD Bank.

Do the Bruins ever play on X-Mas day?

[Andy Jick]

i remember (like yesterday) watching the celtics lose to the knicks on Christmas day 1985 - they blew a HUGE lead (it was Ewing's rookie season).  But it ended up being a blessing in disguise as many of the players point to that game as a "wake up call" that made them realize they can't just sleep walk through the season.

Yeh, that was my 2nd least favorite loss to the Knicks...The other was the opening round series when the C's went up 2-0 and lost in 5 to the Knicks.  It was the first sign of Larry starting to show his decline.

yeah Redz...i remember that too.  larry missed that up-and-under reverse dunk late in game 5 and i remember saying to myself that the larry i knew and loved was on the downhill end of his career.  if i recall correctly, i believe jimmy rodgers was canned after that series too.

[Andy Jick]

Do the Bruins ever play on X-Mas day?

hockey shuts down for christmas eve and christmas day...they also put a "roster freeze" on any transactions during this time too.

[Redz]

i remember (like yesterday) watching the celtics lose to the knicks on Christmas day 1985 - they blew a HUGE lead (it was Ewing's rookie season).  But it ended up being a blessing in disguise as many of the players point to that game as a "wake up call" that made them realize they can't just sleep walk through the season.

Yeh, that was my 2nd least favorite loss to the Knicks...The other was the opening round series when the C's went up 2-0 and lost in 5 to the Knicks.  It was the first sign of Larry starting to show his decline.

yeah Redz...i remember that too.  larry missed that up-and-under reverse dunk late in game 5 and i remember saying to myself that the larry i knew and loved was on the downhill end of his career.  if i recall correctly, i believe jimmy rodgers was canned after that series too.

They Celts won game 1 or 2 of that series by like 50 points or something too

[QuinielaBox]

My parents always took me to the ice capades in the Boston Garden before I got into sports eg, listening to Johnny Most. Seems like things have not changed since I left Boston. Now one benefit when I lived in Seattle was that the Celtics usually came through town during the holidays or shortly after the All-star break.

[nickagneta]

Boston Garden has hosted an Ice Show of some kind during the week after Christmas since it seems like time began. The Celtics and Bruins going on a long road trip during that time is like a wintertime right of passage. You would figure that a guy like Pierce who has been here forever would have let Doc and some of his team mates know that was the reason why the Celtics were playing on Christmas Day in LA.

[dark_lord]

in recent memory, right around xmas is when they have their first big road trip out west.  the other is in february around the all star break.