What I don't understand: Why has Rondo overtaken Pierce in terms of popularity?

[LooseCannon]

It's funny because Rondo is the more popular player around the league, but has always had some vocal detractors. Then when he went down with the ACL tear and the team started winning those voices grew.

On all the Celtics message boards I frequent there is a lot of anti Rondo talk, which I don't remember ever happening to Pierce to the same extent.

Probably because there were very few Celtics message boards from ten to fifteen years go... you know, when Pierce was having his 'problem child' phase.

And, back in the day, who would complain about Pierce when they had Antoine Walker to kick around?

[D.o.s.]

Or Ricky Davis?


We missed out of some classic Game thread material between those two, not to mention the trade idea/"this guy makes me mad for nebulous reasons I don't care to articulate111!!" threads.

[ACF]

I think 17/18/20 games will do that for you.

[Celtics18]

It's funny because Rondo is the more popular player around the league, but has always had some vocal detractors. Then when he went down with the ACL tear and the team started winning those voices grew.

On all the Celtics message boards I frequent there is a lot of anti Rondo talk, which I don't remember ever happening to Pierce to the same extent.

Probably because there were very few Celtics message boards from ten to fifteen years go... you know, when Pierce was having his 'problem child' phase.

I remember that there was a large contingent of fans back around '06 who were dying to get rid of Paul Pierce.  There were a lot of the same complaints about him that there are about Rondo today:  Selfish, not a guy to build a team around, attitude problems.

I'm glad we kept him.

[Fafnir]

Because Pierce is a shadow of the Pierce I remember.

Rondo is just more fun to watch now.

[2short]

It's funny because Rondo is the more popular player around the league, but has always had some vocal detractors. Then when he went down with the ACL tear and the team started winning those voices grew.

On all the Celtics message boards I frequent there is a lot of anti Rondo talk, which I don't remember ever happening to Pierce to the same extent.

Probably because there were very few Celtics message boards from ten to fifteen years go... you know, when Pierce was having his 'problem child' phase.

flash back to the indy playoff series and paul pretty much imploded (and then the post game interview with bandage    )
but he grew up and became one of the best celtics ever

[pearljammer10]

Probably for the same reason a guy like Blake stoopid Griffin takes over a guy like Duncan in popularity. Just a younger breed of more exciting basketball players that can appeal to the everyday fan, rather than the die hard fans who appreciate the legendary players and all they've given to the game.

That said I like both Rondo and Pierce for what they each bring to the table. Rondo is just more popular because he makes the highlight reel more often.

[sed522002]

It probably has a lot to do with the age gap and new fans post 2008. If there were fans that started following them this year they would probably look at PP and think he was washed up (without enjoying or really knowing what he brought to the team).

Also, the previous years during the playoffs, when I would be on game threads on different websites it was always about what Rondo was going to do that night. Everyone knew PP was the Truth and could hit big shots, but people wanted to see Rondo because he has flare.