Does the Celtic Reputation inspire greater effort from opponents?

[Ogaju]

I am sick and tired of all these teams rolling over to the Nets and getting beat up and then playing like world champions against the Celtics.

Does the Celtics record as the most storied team in NBA history just bring out the best in opponents, or do we just play down to our opponents.

I believe that the former is the case. When the Celtics have a competitive team, the link to the great past of the Celtics is automatic and opponents come in with a chip to bring down not just these Celtics but the entire mystique that the surging team has now acquired by virtue of its link to the franchises storied past.

[Phantom255x]

Nope, it's because we play down, plain and simple.

Just look at the C's the past 2 games. How have THEY played. Not good at all.

A lot of things are missing (including open shots), and the defense looks atrocious.

It would be another thing if the C's played exceptional but still lost in a close contest.

[Csfan1984]

The C's have a ton of holes and win with effort. There are few teams that bring it as they do. Sometimes teams like that fight and it wakes them up.