It's time for the Garden to step up

[celticinorlando]

absolutely. bench guys tend to play better at home. i expect baby and co to play better while hickson west and co struggle.

[Green Hell]

The Garden needs to let Lebron, The Cavs and anyone else who dare step into the jungle know what it means to spend 48 minutes in Green Hell.

[cdif911]

Guys, this is very important.

Someone create a facebook group.  Tell Jeff to put this on the front page.  Wake up Bill Simmons.

Our crowd is the only way we can win this series.  Period.  We have to win all three in Boston - I firmly believe that.

We need a crowd like we had in 02 and 03 (I agree those were better crowds than our 2008 crowd sans Game 6 Finals.)

We had all sorts of chants then, everything.  We need chants again.  Bill Simmons suggested chanting New-York-Knicks when LeBron was at the line.  That would be great.

But EVERYONE needs to make noise.  We have 3 days to put to something together.  It is up to us who will be attending games to make noise.  We have a huge impact on the game.

But someone, please, do something.  Get the word out, twitter, facebook, front page here, etc -- WE HAVE TO BE AS LOUD AS EVER, especially for the critical Game 3.

If we have a crowd like Cleveland did, we will lose.  We have to be louder than we were against Miami.  Louder than ever.

I love everything you just said but the only problem is how do we get the info to the people who are actually at the game.  We can post this all over but i feel like 60-70% of people at the games are only there just to be there and don't much follow the team when they're not at the game.  Hence, they won't be reading a Celtics blog or anything.

I completely agree that the crowd could take us to these victories.  Maybe we should create of rules (or guidelines) for proper fan behavior at a game.  My first rule would be "NEVER tell a fellow Celtics fan to sit down!  No one blocks your view at home.  If you dont' want to get up an cheer, your living room is a safer enviroment.

this is why I'm glad I have front row seats

honestly, if everyone else is sitting, you should too - it's ok to try and get everyone else up, that's cool, but if you're the ONLY one up, you look like an idiot and you detract from the experience of others

[Mike-Dub]

Guys, this is very important.

Someone create a facebook group.  Tell Jeff to put this on the front page.  Wake up Bill Simmons.

Our crowd is the only way we can win this series.  Period.  We have to win all three in Boston - I firmly believe that.

We need a crowd like we had in 02 and 03 (I agree those were better crowds than our 2008 crowd sans Game 6 Finals.)

We had all sorts of chants then, everything.  We need chants again.  Bill Simmons suggested chanting New-York-Knicks when LeBron was at the line.  That would be great.

But EVERYONE needs to make noise.  We have 3 days to put to something together.  It is up to us who will be attending games to make noise.  We have a huge impact on the game.

But someone, please, do something.  Get the word out, twitter, facebook, front page here, etc -- WE HAVE TO BE AS LOUD AS EVER, especially for the critical Game 3.

If we have a crowd like Cleveland did, we will lose.  We have to be louder than we were against Miami.  Louder than ever.

I love everything you just said but the only problem is how do we get the info to the people who are actually at the game.  We can post this all over but i feel like 60-70% of people at the games are only there just to be there and don't much follow the team when they're not at the game.  Hence, they won't be reading a Celtics blog or anything.

I completely agree that the crowd could take us to these victories.  Maybe we should create of rules (or guidelines) for proper fan behavior at a game.  My first rule would be "NEVER tell a fellow Celtics fan to sit down!  No one blocks your view at home.  If you dont' want to get up an cheer, your living room is a safer enviroment.

this is why I'm glad I have front row seats

honestly, if everyone else is sitting, you should too - it's ok to try and get everyone else up, that's cool, but if you're the ONLY one up, you look like an idiot and you detract from the experience of others

If everyone else stood up then it wouldn't matter.  Oh and no offense, but that is the kind of attitude that has made the Garden crowd suck this year.

[cdif911]

Guys, this is very important.

Someone create a facebook group.  Tell Jeff to put this on the front page.  Wake up Bill Simmons.

Our crowd is the only way we can win this series.  Period.  We have to win all three in Boston - I firmly believe that.

We need a crowd like we had in 02 and 03 (I agree those were better crowds than our 2008 crowd sans Game 6 Finals.)

We had all sorts of chants then, everything.  We need chants again.  Bill Simmons suggested chanting New-York-Knicks when LeBron was at the line.  That would be great.

But EVERYONE needs to make noise.  We have 3 days to put to something together.  It is up to us who will be attending games to make noise.  We have a huge impact on the game.

But someone, please, do something.  Get the word out, twitter, facebook, front page here, etc -- WE HAVE TO BE AS LOUD AS EVER, especially for the critical Game 3.

If we have a crowd like Cleveland did, we will lose.  We have to be louder than we were against Miami.  Louder than ever.

I love everything you just said but the only problem is how do we get the info to the people who are actually at the game.  We can post this all over but i feel like 60-70% of people at the games are only there just to be there and don't much follow the team when they're not at the game.  Hence, they won't be reading a Celtics blog or anything.

I completely agree that the crowd could take us to these victories.  Maybe we should create of rules (or guidelines) for proper fan behavior at a game.  My first rule would be "NEVER tell a fellow Celtics fan to sit down!  No one blocks your view at home.  If you dont' want to get up an cheer, your living room is a safer enviroment.

this is why I'm glad I have front row seats

honestly, if everyone else is sitting, you should too - it's ok to try and get everyone else up, that's cool, but if you're the ONLY one up, you look like an idiot and you detract from the experience of others

If everyone else stood up then it wouldn't matter.  Oh and no offense, but that is the kind of attitude that has made the Garden crowd suck this year.

what I'm saying is one individual standing and screaming looks like a moron and can't talk the next day - if you can infuse that enthusiasm into others, great - if not, you're just being a jerk and making it so others can't see

the corollary to this is the guy who does the chicken dance to get the crowd excited/get on the jumbotron - he's just annoying - I really don't think he cares about the Celtics at all - I don't think I've ever seen him actually watching the game.

[Mike-Dub]

Guys, this is very important.

Someone create a facebook group.  Tell Jeff to put this on the front page.  Wake up Bill Simmons.

Our crowd is the only way we can win this series.  Period.  We have to win all three in Boston - I firmly believe that.

We need a crowd like we had in 02 and 03 (I agree those were better crowds than our 2008 crowd sans Game 6 Finals.)

We had all sorts of chants then, everything.  We need chants again.  Bill Simmons suggested chanting New-York-Knicks when LeBron was at the line.  That would be great.

But EVERYONE needs to make noise.  We have 3 days to put to something together.  It is up to us who will be attending games to make noise.  We have a huge impact on the game.

But someone, please, do something.  Get the word out, twitter, facebook, front page here, etc -- WE HAVE TO BE AS LOUD AS EVER, especially for the critical Game 3.

If we have a crowd like Cleveland did, we will lose.  We have to be louder than we were against Miami.  Louder than ever.

I love everything you just said but the only problem is how do we get the info to the people who are actually at the game.  We can post this all over but i feel like 60-70% of people at the games are only there just to be there and don't much follow the team when they're not at the game.  Hence, they won't be reading a Celtics blog or anything.

I completely agree that the crowd could take us to these victories.  Maybe we should create of rules (or guidelines) for proper fan behavior at a game.  My first rule would be "NEVER tell a fellow Celtics fan to sit down!  No one blocks your view at home.  If you dont' want to get up an cheer, your living room is a safer enviroment.

this is why I'm glad I have front row seats

honestly, if everyone else is sitting, you should too - it's ok to try and get everyone else up, that's cool, but if you're the ONLY one up, you look like an idiot and you detract from the experience of others

If everyone else stood up then it wouldn't matter.  Oh and no offense, but that is the kind of attitude that has made the Garden crowd suck this year.

what I'm saying is one individual standing and screaming looks like a moron and can't talk the next day - if you can infuse that enthusiasm into others, great - if not, you're just being a jerk and making it so others can't see

the corollary to this is the guy who does the chicken dance to get the crowd excited/get on the jumbotron - he's just annoying - I really don't think he cares about the Celtics at all - I don't think I've ever seen him actually watching the game.

Forget about the Chicken-Man then, but if someone is standing up and cheering with their all for the C's then the person behind them should just stand up too, I don't understand what is so hard about that. 

The guy standing up by himself and cheering till he looses his voice may look like an idiot to other people, but if he is cheering with all his heart for the C's then he isn't an idiot to me IMO.

[Amonkey]

Y'all should try get all "soccer" on them.  Start singing songs, going off with crazy chants, jump up and down the entire game.  Can you sneak a pair of drums in?  Be crazy and wild!  I know I will be at home (when I get home from work since I'll be DVRing the game).

[cdif911]

Y'all should try get all "soccer" on them.  Start singing songs, going off with crazy chants, jump up and down the entire game.  Can you sneak a pair of drums in?  Be crazy and wild!  I know I will be at home (when I get home from work since I'll be DVRing the game).

you'll be drumming at home during a DVR'd game?

[jasail]

The Garden will show the Q what home court advantage is all about.

[Greenbean]

Okay I am convinced this will be a surreal crowd and Im thinking about breaking the bank to be a part of it.

Some factors:

- Many Bostonians were down on this Celtics team going into the playoffs. Now with a dominant showing in round one, and looking like a team that has a chance to knock off the mighty Cavs in round 2, there is a significant buzz about this team.

In other words, the people are starting to believe.

We saw the same thing midway through the Bruins-Sabres series and the crowds have been unreal ever since.

- Friday night game!!!!! Before this season, we were absolutely lights out on Friday games at home. The reason? Well lets just say the crowd gets extra "lathered" when there is no work in the morning. Personally, I love the idea of controlled chaos in an arena. I have always wanted to attend a European soccer match to experience the atmosphere. I think the Garden can approach that feeling on Friday.

-We are playing a rival. Boston fans are smart enough to realize that these teams hate each other. Well, we will channel that same hatred to the floor in the form of boos, chants, and passion.

Basically, I believe that this Celtics team can be lifted to a win in this game by the crowd. The Cavs will come at us with everything they have. The crowd is responsible for mitigating the 200% effort we will see from the opponent.

I have full faith that they/we will come through.

Now the question is, do I shell out the 200 bucks to play my role in this thing?

[openairmovie]

Ok ....Ive held off on saying anything till I saw most peoples opinion on it....so here it is


All of this and last season, I've been irritated by a few things that the team decided to harp on. For some reason in the 07-08 season this wasnt the case, nor in the 06-07 season (That I can remember, I tried drowning most of those memories away)  or seasons prior.

The things I want to NEVER see in the Garden again

1. The Male Cheerleaders- backflips after made free throws? Holding signs saying "Its Jungle Time"  Parading and skipping around the floor area, if I had a BB gun....oh wait I cant say that.  But in all honesty they are annoying, they are in no way a part of the game and I cant think of ANYONE that cares that those baboons are there.

2. The new lucky.....he sucks   he is a glorified male cheerleader when doing his stuff, and when he isnt dancing around  he is nowhere to be found for the most part. I want the old coke sniffing, charity event  ditching   Lucky back,  he was at least cool

3. The socialized drinking-  I know this isnt going to be accepted well but my girlfriend and I dont drink,  just something we both decided on.  But one thing that we've noticed is that the amount of  social drinking that goes on at the Garden now is absurd. Guys take their girlfriends, the girl goes gets here beer then stays in the concourse to talk to people, and then the guy goes and stands out there with her.   Why are you even at the stadium man? Really?   And what I've noticed from about the 3 dozen games I've been to since the Big 3 is most of these guys sitting in my area who are indeed there for the drinking  really arent into the game at all whether its that headache starting to kick in or what .  Have your one or two  and be a part of the game.

4. The household names- Really lets be honest, the name garnett, allen, pierce  is known in almost every New England home now.....5 years ago most people couldnt name 3 people on the celtics. unless you were a real fan of the team. These names got people into the stadium, sold the tickets and left those real fans  on the outside looking in. So from a fans perspective the big 3 trading could be the worst thing for them,  whereas if the team drafted young talent, signed a few key guys and slowly worked their way up into relevance as they did in those early 00's playoff series, then the place would be like it was there because the right people were there.

[EJPLAYA]

I would argue that when the team plays aggressive, energetic, focused, and gives 100 percent out there the fans follow suit. I don't buy into the thought that the fans owe the players a rowdy energetic atmosphere. The players owe the fans the energy and effort which automatically brings that out of the crowd. If they come out with no focus or intensity and don't give the effort they should, as we saw many times in the regular season, then they deserve to hear boos instead. Fortunately I don't think this is what you will see out of this team during the playoffs. I do think they were saving themselves in the regular season for good or bad. Please starters. Give us a reason to cheer.

[Greenbean]

Ok ....Ive held off on saying anything till I saw most peoples opinion on it....so here it is


All of this and last season, I've been irritated by a few things that the team decided to harp on. For some reason in the 07-08 season this wasnt the case, nor in the 06-07 season (That I can remember, I tried drowning most of those memories away)  or seasons prior.

The things I want to NEVER see in the Garden again

1. The Male Cheerleaders- backflips after made free throws? Holding signs saying "Its Jungle Time"  Parading and skipping around the floor area, if I had a BB gun....oh wait I cant say that.  But in all honesty they are annoying, they are in no way a part of the game and I cant think of ANYONE that cares that those baboons are there.

2. The new lucky.....he sucks   he is a glorified male cheerleader when doing his stuff, and when he isnt dancing around  he is nowhere to be found for the most part. I want the old coke sniffing, charity event  ditching   Lucky back,  he was at least cool

3. The socialized drinking-  I know this isnt going to be accepted well but my girlfriend and I dont drink,  just something we both decided on.  But one thing that we've noticed is that the amount of  social drinking that goes on at the Garden now is absurd. Guys take their girlfriends, the girl goes gets here beer then stays in the concourse to talk to people, and then the guy goes and stands out there with her.   Why are you even at the stadium man? Really?   And what I've noticed from about the 3 dozen games I've been to since the Big 3 is most of these guys sitting in my area who are indeed there for the drinking  really arent into the game at all whether its that headache starting to kick in or what .  Have your one or two  and be a part of the game.

4. The household names- Really lets be honest, the name garnett, allen, pierce  is known in almost every New England home now.....5 years ago most people couldnt name 3 people on the celtics. unless you were a real fan of the team. These names got people into the stadium, sold the tickets and left those real fans  on the outside looking in. So from a fans perspective the big 3 trading could be the worst thing for them,  whereas if the team drafted young talent, signed a few key guys and slowly worked their way up into relevance as they did in those early 00's playoff series, then the place would be like it was there because the right people were there.

I try to block all of that out and just enjoy the game. I wouldnt mind of all of that went away but I am there to see the Celtics so that's what I focus on.

[Greenbean]

I would argue that when the team plays aggressive, energetic, focused, and gives 100 percent out there the fans follow suit. I don't buy into the thought that the fans owe the players a rowdy energetic atmosphere. The players owe the fans the energy and effort which automatically brings that out of the crowd. If they come out with no focus or intensity and don't give the effort they should, as we saw many times in the regular season, then they deserve to hear boos instead. Fortunately I don't think this is what you will see out of this team during the playoffs. I do think they were saving themselves in the regular season for good or bad. Please starters. Give us a reason to cheer.

Of course the fans react to good basketball but at the same time the truly memorable crowds are the ones who literally dont stop for the whole game. For example, I dont want just a reaction to a basket or a stop. There should be continuous loud noise for the whole game. The great crowds arent reactionary, they are proactive. They are screaming "Beat LA" in the concession lines and starting chants unprompted by the jumbotron.

It's synergistic. It goes both ways. The crowd is the reason sometimes that teams can sustain long runs when they are tired or get a key defensive stop in the 4th when they are absolutely gassed.

I remember one prime time game where the announcers were quite critical of the Boston crowd. He said "Its like they need a reason to be loud".

It's not like we "owe" them anything. It's just that the crowd has the power to change the way the game is being played.

There are plenty of examples of that in sports. Fenway Park in any game, The Warriors beating the Mavs, The Hawks taking us to 7 games winning every home game in 08...the list can go on forever.

The point I am making is that I think people in Boston are starting to believe and they are ready to support their team like they have in the past when it was nearly impossible to beat us in Boston.

[Chris]

Ok ....Ive held off on saying anything till I saw most peoples opinion on it....so here it is


All of this and last season, I've been irritated by a few things that the team decided to harp on. For some reason in the 07-08 season this wasnt the case, nor in the 06-07 season (That I can remember, I tried drowning most of those memories away)  or seasons prior.

The things I want to NEVER see in the Garden again

1. The Male Cheerleaders- backflips after made free throws? Holding signs saying "Its Jungle Time"  Parading and skipping around the floor area, if I had a BB gun....oh wait I cant say that.  But in all honesty they are annoying, they are in no way a part of the game and I cant think of ANYONE that cares that those baboons are there.

2. The new lucky.....he sucks   he is a glorified male cheerleader when doing his stuff, and when he isnt dancing around  he is nowhere to be found for the most part. I want the old coke sniffing, charity event  ditching   Lucky back,  he was at least cool

3. The socialized drinking-  I know this isnt going to be accepted well but my girlfriend and I dont drink,  just something we both decided on.  But one thing that we've noticed is that the amount of  social drinking that goes on at the Garden now is absurd. Guys take their girlfriends, the girl goes gets here beer then stays in the concourse to talk to people, and then the guy goes and stands out there with her.   Why are you even at the stadium man? Really?   And what I've noticed from about the 3 dozen games I've been to since the Big 3 is most of these guys sitting in my area who are indeed there for the drinking  really arent into the game at all whether its that headache starting to kick in or what .  Have your one or two  and be a part of the game.

I am not sure about some of the other stuff, but I agree with this.  I am fine with people who want to have a few drinks at the game, thats part of the fun.  However, if you are getting up every 10 minutes to get more beer, I have a bit of a problem.

For one, those are the people who spill their beer over everyone, as they are getting back into their row.  

More importantly, as someone who has end seats, it is very annoying when a group of college kids are sitting there, getting up every 10 minutes...each.  But they are not doing it together.  1 person gets up to get beer.  Then their buddy gets up 2 minutes later.  And then the third person.  And then they come back 2 minutes apart.  So when I really should have just had to stand up 2 times, it ends up being 6 times.  

And please, if you spill beer on someone...apologize!