Do the Celtics still matter in Boston?

[Shamrocker]

Look, I get it. Boston, for a myriad of reasons, will never be a basketball town.  Maybe it’s the so called “NBA culture”, maybe it’s the officiating, maybe it’s because Larry Bird and Kevin McHale aren’t walking through that door again.  But, for whatever reason, have the Celtics become an afterthought in the market, again? While the Bruins are enjoying record viewership, Celtics TV ratings are in free fall. (Bruins regularly beat the Celtics in ratings 2.1.)

On the radio, one local sports station (98.5) treat the Celtics as a punchline, while the other ( 93.7), treats them as an afterthought.  I can’t think of one prominent TV/ Radio personality who is able to confidently, and knowledgeably talk basketball. The Bruins have Michael Felger and Mike Salk, Redsox have Lou Merloni, and Tony Maz, Patriots have Gresh, and Scott Zolack, but who do we have? Michael Holley? Gary Tanguay?

I understand we’re not considered a title contender. But, last night excluded, the Celtics are playing inspired ball. Does that not matter?

We all the love Celtics, and will never stop watching. But, have the Celtics lost the hearts and minds of the region?

[clover]

They'll only have the diehards like us until Danny genuinely retools and they have either a great team with a new big-time star being brought in and/or they win it all.

Fair enough, in my book.

[Celtics18]

I'm surprised to hear that the Bruins are trouncing the Celtics in ratings.  I know that the Sox and the Pats are more popular, but, really?  Losing to hockey?

[pearljammer10]

they just arent an exciting team. I am a diehard Celts fan, basketball is number one for me... I get bored watching them play especially without their flashiest player who happens to be a young all star talent. They're a [dang] good team, but they're [dang] boring. I can only imagine how the general public feels.

I mean look at the Spurs since Duncan's been drafted. Every year one of the best teams, bunch of championships, popularity wise? They are nowhere near the top.

[CelticG1]

Are they really losing to the bruins? It would be a first. Bruins are a title contender though and we were below 500 for most of the season.

Anyway for sports guys there was Ordway for as much as people don't like him (and every other radio personality) was and is a Celtics guy. I think Holley is too.

I don't know why people get defensive about Felger mocking the NBA   Holley used to mock Hockey all the time. I don't blame felger when there are so many unlikable people in the league. I mean our own RAjon gets torn apart in a celtics forum.  He at least recognizes the greatness of Pierce and KG and they ripped allen for leaving

[Shamrocker]

they just arent an exciting team. I am a diehard Celts fan, basketball is number one for me... I get bored watching them play especially without their flashiest player who happens to be a young all star talent. They're a [dang] good team, but they're [dang] boring. I can only imagine how the general public feels.

I mean look at the Spurs since Duncan's been drafted. Every year one of the best teams, bunch of championships, popularity wise? They are nowhere near the top.

Maybe you're right. But the Spurs have led the league in TV ratings the past two years.

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2012/05/09/spurs-lead-league-in-local-tv-ratings-despite-21-5-drop/

[celtsfan84]

they just arent an exciting team. I am a diehard Celts fan, basketball is number one for me... I get bored watching them play especially without their flashiest player who happens to be a young all star talent. They're a [dang] good team, but they're [dang] boring. I can only imagine how the general public feels.

I mean look at the Spurs since Duncan's been drafted. Every year one of the best teams, bunch of championships, popularity wise? They are nowhere near the top.

Maybe you're right. But the Spurs have led the league in TV ratings the past two years.

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2012/05/09/spurs-lead-league-in-local-tv-ratings-despite-21-5-drop/

Two things to keep in mind -

1) The Spurs are the only major franchise in that market, whcih will inflate their local TV rating.  Their national TV games don't always fare quite as well.

2) The Spurs are a more exciting team than their reputation.  Actually, I think the "boring" reputation is outdated.  Parker and Ginobili are two of the more creative and exciting finishers in basketball and the Spurs are the 4th highest scoring team in the NBA.  The national media might still see them as boring, but the local fans who follow them have reason to differ.

[JHTruth]

I am a super die hard fan and even I have trouble getting into them this year. They always play an extremely slow pace and have become extremely predictable on O. They're a veteran team built for the playoffs. They need to turn the page on this squad as much as we love them. I guess we've just seen this movie so many times.

[scaryjerry]

Mike salk debuted yesterday...before that for years and years I'd say ordway favored the Celtics and was good when he had Maxwell on.

To me, they're the most relevant...hate hockey, hate baseball..couldn't care less about those Boston teams

[action781]

Mike salk debuted yesterday...before that for years and years I'd say ordway favored the Celtics and was good when he had Maxwell on.

To me, they're the most relevant...hate hockey, hate baseball..couldn't care less about those Boston teams

Yeah, Max used to be a regular on the big show for a while.  Holley is certainly a basketball guy too.  And even though he's on 6-11, Mikey Adams is much more of a basketball guy than a hockey guy.

[action781]

Also, on a cold Monday night in March for a regular season basketball game against the Heat, Greatest Bar in Boston was absolutely going nuts and even chanting "lets go celtics" and "defense".  My roommate even video recorded it because of how wild it was.

And they still sell out every home game.

I'd say Celtics still matter.

[LooseCannon]

I don't know why people get defensive about Felger mocking the NBA   Holley used to mock Hockey all the time.

Basketball is good.  Hockey sucks.  It's okay to mock hockey.

[connor]

Of course the Celtics still matter, but in a sports town where people generally follow at least 2 if not 3 teams its easy to get lost in the mix when you aren't a legit contender for a title, growing young talent or playing excitingly.

The Celtics had plenty of buzz going for them at the start of this season, but they got off to a slow start and as soon as Rondo went down so did the hopes of the majority of fans that we would be a competitive team come playoff time. It doesn't matter that the team seems rejuvenated and are actually stringing together wins. There is no real title hope and not much to watch in terms of future talent for this team (other than Avery who isn't flashy and the mercurial Jeff Green).

With the Bruins playing so well and having recently won a championship, the Patriots in the midst of an exciting offseason following a deep playoff run and the Red Sox coming back in a baseball town with a retooled roster under new management, the Celtics just don't have the draw that they normally would.

Come playoff time it will be back to normal. And at the start of next season there will be plenty of people talking about the C's, whether that continues depends entirely on our play

[xmuscularghandix]

I'm surprised to hear that the Bruins are trouncing the Celtics in ratings.  I know that the Sox and the Pats are more popular, but, really?  Losing to hockey?

Nationally Basketball kills Hockey but Boston is an original city... not to mention they won a Cup 2 years ago. This doesn't surprise me at all.

[Lightskinsmurf]

Don't live in boston. I'm more of a football guy myself tho. I like basketball when football isn't on. Love my patriots and celtics equally but love the sport of football more.