From "most hated" to the NBA's favorite underdog?

[Thruthelookingglass]

I was reading some comments about the possible Shaq signing and what really struck me was how fans from other teams are hoping the Celtics knock LeBron and the Heat(but mostly LeBron) on their collective butt this year.

Last year everyone dogged our C's and some player poll landed 3 or 4 of our guys on their list of most disliked players.  And it was obvious the C's weren't popular with other fans--or the refs. 

It's crazy how all the hate for the Celtics seems to have disappeared or have transferred to the Heat.  And I think that many have tired of the current two-time champs from the left coast.

So here's to a year that may take on the feel of 2007-2008, when when everyone quietly rooted for our underdogs.  Maybe Pierce will start getting star calls again!  I loathe the fact that a lot of the teams this year are already out of the running, but 2010-2011 looks like it could be a real Clash of the Titans played out over the season and post-season.

[Kiorrik]

Solid point. TP.

Even I am liking our squad better and better.

Let us go and kill 'm.

[scaryjerry]

Even though they came up short last season, and have already won a championhip, I think they gained alot of respect from everyone, fans across the nation this last postseason, and well Lebron lost alot

[Donoghus]

Even though they came up short last season, and have already won a championhip, I think they gained alot of respect from everyone, fans across the nation this last postseason, and well Lebron lost alot

Agreed.  I think last year's playoff run, especially the CLE & LAL series', certainly cast this team in a better light.

I was shocked at how many people out here in Chicago were behind the Celtics by the time the NBA Finals rolled around.  I figured there would've been a lot of ill will after Bulls-Celtics '09 but people certainly seemed to be pulling for them now.  I have to imagine some of that was due to utter Laker hatred but I also think there was the "underdog" factor.

It should be even more apparent this year after the Lebron to Miami debacle and the perception that ESPN is in Lebron and Miami's corner which will certainly lead to over-satuation from a media-standpoint on that team.

[Rashi]

Even though they came up short last season, and have already won a championhip, I think they gained alot of respect from everyone, fans across the nation this last postseason, and well Lebron lost alot

Beat me to it, but I agree. We may not have gone to win it all, but we have definitely won the respect of many doubters and fans of other teams.

And the way Heat's players and fans have been behaving the majority are rooting for the C's to take them out.

[Thruthelookingglass]

Even though they came up short last season, and have already won a championhip, I think they gained alot of respect from everyone, fans across the nation this last postseason, and well Lebron lost alot

That's a really good point Scaryjerry.  Even a lot of us were getting pretty bitter about some of those atrocious regular season games.  But that post-season run was a thing of beauty (except for about the last 7 minutes).  I bet that did do a lot to impress people who wouldn't otherwise care.

[Thruthelookingglass]

Let us go and kill 'm.

Oh yeah, can't wait!  See you on game thread! 

[Kiorrik]

Oh and one more thing: I think we *deserve* another championship, for a whole lot of reasons.

[indeedproceed]

The enemy of my enemy is my lesser enemy?

[Kiorrik]

The enemy of my enemy is my lesser enemy?

Indeed. (HAH. See what I did thur?)

[indeedproceed]

The enemy of my enemy is my lesser enemy?

Indeed. (HAH. See what I did thur?)

Oh I see. I totally Kiorrik that.

(I don't know how to work Kiorrik into a joke.)

[GreenFaith1819]

'Bout time.

Even in the Lean Years, it seemed as if our opponents loved beating us up. It seemed as if everyone team in the NBA was trying to get revenge for 20-30 years of NBA Dominance by Boston.

I'd love a season (or Two) where we actually get some respect around the league.

This somewhat shows the contrasts in styles (IMO) from Boston vice MIA - our Summer of 2007 was Very Professional, I think....extremely classy how KG, Ray and Pierce came out at that News Conference, dressed up in nice suits all about business.

MIA? You'd think it was WWF...LA "East"..Lebron breaking CLE's hearts on national TV.......sure I love MIA having bigger targets on their backs than us. Let's see how they deal with it.

[GreenEnvy]

'Bout time.

Even in the Lean Years, it seemed as if our opponents loved beating us up. It seemed as if everyone team in the NBA was trying to get revenge for 20-30 years of NBA Dominance by Boston.

I'd love a season (or Two) where we actually get some respect around the league.

This somewhat shows the contrasts in styles (IMO) from Boston vice MIA - our Summer of 2007 was Very Professional, I think....extremely classy how KG, Ray and Pierce came out at that News Conference, dressed up in nice suits all about business.

MIA? You'd think it was WWF...LA "East"..Lebron breaking CLE's hearts on national TV.......sure I love MIA having bigger targets on their backs than us. Let's see how they deal with it.

If only Mean Gene Okerlund hosted the decision instead of Jim Grey...

[celtsrp33]

'Bout time.

Even in the Lean Years, it seemed as if our opponents loved beating us up. It seemed as if everyone team in the NBA was trying to get revenge for 20-30 years of NBA Dominance by Boston.

I'd love a season (or Two) where we actually get some respect around the league.

This somewhat shows the contrasts in styles (IMO) from Boston vice MIA - our Summer of 2007 was Very Professional, I think....extremely classy how KG, Ray and Pierce came out at that News Conference, dressed up in nice suits all about business.

MIA? You'd think it was WWF...LA "East"..Lebron breaking CLE's hearts on national TV.......sure I love MIA having bigger targets on their backs than us. Let's see how they deal with it.

If only Mean Gene Okerlund hosted the decision instead of Jim Grey...

LOL.  TP!

[GreenFaith1819]

'Bout time.

Even in the Lean Years, it seemed as if our opponents loved beating us up. It seemed as if everyone team in the NBA was trying to get revenge for 20-30 years of NBA Dominance by Boston.

I'd love a season (or Two) where we actually get some respect around the league.

This somewhat shows the contrasts in styles (IMO) from Boston vice MIA - our Summer of 2007 was Very Professional, I think....extremely classy how KG, Ray and Pierce came out at that News Conference, dressed up in nice suits all about business.

MIA? You'd think it was WWF...LA "East"..Lebron breaking CLE's hearts on national TV.......sure I love MIA having bigger targets on their backs than us. Let's see how they deal with it.

If only Mean Gene Okerlund hosted the decision instead of Jim Grey...

LOL.  TP!

Yeah that was hilarious....C'mon Man! I saw that silly WWF thing that The Legion of Doom had in MIA after "The Decision"....those three clowns on stage..Chris Bosh flexing and yelling.....smoke and fog.......my youngest one thought that the stage was on fire .