Your Favorite Celtic: Vote For Something You Can Feel Good About Today!

[PhoSita]

Just figured I'd give everybody an opportunity to vote on something they can feel good about today, regardless of political affiliation.   

Not exactly groundbreaking stuff, but hey, not every vote has to decide the future of our country.


My choice: IT, by a hair over Crowder (not quite as exciting to watch) and Horford (hasn't been here long enough).


IT instantly made the Celtics fun to watch again, and they've been entertaining for as long as he's been on the floor ever since.  If somehow the Celts could be every bit as competitive while playing Marcus Smart and Terry Rozier at point guard for the whole game, there's no chance the Celts would be even 20% as fun to watch as they are with IT. 

IT also happens to be a perfect antidote to everything that bugged me about watching Rajon Rondo for half a decade.  He's fearless, he's upbeat, he can score from anywhere, he gets to the line, he keeps the offense moving, and he's a leader on and off the court.  He doesn't seem to take a single minute that he gets to play in the NBA for granted. 

I never expected a 5'9'' guard who was drafted 60th to be the Celts' franchise player, and I'm not sure how many more years this can last, but I'm thrilled to take this ride for as far as it goes, even if it doesn't result in any significant playoff wins.   The Celts are fun and likable a lot sooner than I ever thought they'd be back when Ainge finally traded away KG and Pierce.

[positivitize]

I think Smart needs to be on this list. He's my favorite and I don't think I'm alone in that.

[PhoSita]

I think Smart needs to be on this list. He's my favorite and I don't think I'm alone in that.

I can only list 5 options, I think.

EDIT: Nevermind, fixed it.  Your vote is counted for Smart.

[fairweatherfan]

Writing in Brad Stevens. 

...I honestly don't know who my favorite player would be, I'm in mildly-to-moderately positive territory for the entire core. Don't really love anybody, don't really hate anybody. It feels....ok.

[positivitize]

I think Smart needs to be on this list. He's my favorite and I don't think I'm alone in that.

I can only list 5 options, I think.

Fair enough.

[PhoSita]

Writing in Brad Stevens. 

...I honestly don't know who my favorite player would be, I'm in mildly-to-moderately positive territory for the entire core. Don't really love anybody, don't really hate anybody. It feels....ok.

I like Brad Stevens a lot, but I think he gets a little bit too much credit at times, perhaps because we have a roster without a clear cut "superstar," so people want to fixate on somebody.

Brad has really built a quality system on both ends here and the team, from the long-tenured guys like Bradley on down to the rookies, appears well-coached and locked-in.  Stevens really seems to know how to impress guys and get them to buy into working hard and executing the way he wants them to execute.


All of that said, the Celts have yet to win 50 games under Stevens and his playoff record is 2-8.  Now, it's not as if he's been playing with a stacked deck or anything, but I think we ought to slow our roll.  Brad was hired as a developmental coach, not just to develop players, but to actually develop himself.  He's done a great job so far and I expect he'll only get better with time.

[green_bballers13]

I wish our next All Star was an option, as this is the guy that will take us from pretender to contender.

[fairweatherfan]

Writing in Brad Stevens. 

...I honestly don't know who my favorite player would be, I'm in mildly-to-moderately positive territory for the entire core. Don't really love anybody, don't really hate anybody. It feels....ok.

I like Brad Stevens a lot, but I think he gets a little bit too much credit at times, perhaps because we have a roster without a clear cut "superstar," so people want to fixate on somebody.

Brad has really built a quality system on both ends here and the team, from the long-tenured guys like Bradley on down to the rookies, appears well-coached and locked-in.  Stevens really seems to know how to impress guys and get them to buy into working hard and executing the way he wants them to execute.


All of that said, the Celts have yet to win 50 games under Stevens and his playoff record is 2-8.  Now, it's not as if he's been playing with a stacked deck or anything, but I think we ought to slow our roll.  Brad was hired as a developmental coach, not just to develop players, but to actually develop himself.  He's done a great job so far and I expect he'll only get better with time.

Much like LeBron losing in the Finals, you've got to make the playoffs to lose in the playoffs. We had no business whatsoever making them the year we got swept, and it was really only expected last year because of our unexpected trip the year before, especially once it was clear Lee was cooked. That's more in Stevens' column than any one player's, to me.

Definitely agree that while Stevens has shown he can make a decent team out of a lot of castoffs and deep rotation guys, he hasn't shown yet that he can turn a decent team into a fringe contender, or a fringe contender into a real one. My vote's more due to not having a clear favorite of the players than anything else...honestly I could probably change it to Danny Ainge.

[Who]

Smart or Bradley

[hwangjini_1]

I think Smart needs to be on this list. He's my favorite and I don't think I'm alone in that.

i second that sentiment. watching smart on defense is like watching a miniature KG.

[LarBrd33]

I get why people will pick Jaylen, but I still expect him to take a few years despite the big Cavs game.  That reminded me of the big game Marcus had against Westbrook.  I love Jaylen and I'm excited about his future, but if we're talking about players I love watching today, I'm going with Avery Bradley.  He's probably our best shooter (other than maybe Olynyk).  His game is so smooth.  He's been here the longest.  He's an All-NBA defender.   I think he's my favorite at the moment. 

I love most of the players on this team, though.   Thomas is a little supernova.  Love watching Crowder and Horford.  I just always favor guys who can consistently shoot.

[max215]

Jae Crowder. What a guy.

[PhoSita]

I don't understand why IT doesn't get more love.

He's the best scorer we've had since the days of Prime Paul Pierce.  He's a natural 20 point per night guy.  He was born to get buckets.  It's not like he's a gunner, either.  He's efficient and he makes plays for others.

This team would be pretty tough to watch without IT, even if they played even better D and scrapped hard for everything.

[positivitize]

I don't understand why IT doesn't get more love.

He's the best scorer we've had since the days of Prime Paul Pierce.  He's a natural 20 point per night guy.  He was born to get buckets.  It's not like he's a gunner, either.  He's efficient and he makes plays for others.

This team would be pretty tough to watch without IT, even if they played even better D and scrapped hard for everything.

You're right about all of this. IT is probably my second or third favorite player on the C's and I've only grown more fond of him. I love that he's always an underdog (usually literally) due to his size. I love his skill in finishing. He's electric to watch. He hits his foul shots. He gets hot. He scores.

That said, Marcus Smart embodies how I approach the game. I love him for all the reasons other fans/franchises hate him. I feel as if he's just got the "mean" in him to an extent that IT doesn't. He also makes electrifying plays that defy the odds and win basketball games (like guarding Millsap or outrebounding Mozgov). IT is a more consistant and better basketball player, but Marcus just speaks to my soul. Marcus is my spirit animal.

[tankcity!]

Jaylen Brown baby!