Every Single Fanbase That Chanted "We Want Boston" During The Playoffs Found Out Exactly Why You Should Never Poke The Bear

Brian Babineau. Getty Images.

You know, there's a saying that you should be careful what you wish for. All season long opposing fanbases across the league did their best to hide their actual deep-rooted fear of the Boston Celtics. When they were blowing doors off everything in their path during the regular season, you had all these people do their best to lie to themselves about how they "weren't worried" once the playoffs came around. That the Celtics would choke if they were to go up against any of these other teams in the league. A funny stance from fanbases of teams that couldn't even beat the Celtics at any point in the year, but it was a predictable way for them to cope.

Once the playoffs began, we started to see a common theme. At every stop along the way, we heard one common theme from these people

"We Want Boston"

Ahead of the first round, we heard from those of #HeatCulture. Remember when they were supposed to be the big bad boogeyman? Those were the days

How did that work out? It's been a while so perhaps you don't really remember. That's OK, that's why I'm here

Well that was awkward. All that without Porzingis for the majority of it too. Can't even win a game on your home floor? What about all those decals in the paint that talked about how the Heat are the nastiest, hardest working team or whatever the fuck #HeatCulture is supposed to be? I guess that didn't translate. That's unfortunate.

Up next we had the Cavs. It's been a while since BOS/CLE had any sort of rivalry, but they too couldn't resist

Ah shit, here we go again. Now this was also a while ago and there's a chance you don't remember who this turned out either. Let's have a look

Damn! Are all of these fanbases masochists or something? That has to be the only explanation for all this right? I mean, by this point it had been pretty clear that the Boston Celtics were a wagon and not exactly the team you should be baiting. But hey, nobody wanted to learn that lesson and instead chose the path of pain. Fine by me.

Once we got to the ECF, I figured we had made it past this stuff. There had been more than enough evidence to suggest that asking for Boston meant asking for trouble. Would they hold off? Of course not

And just like those who came before them, the Celtics made quick work of them too. The quickest of work to date if we're going to tell the whole story

This had to be especially painful given how the Pacers blew this series. People don't really talk about the fact that it was actually the Pacers who gave the Celts their biggest challenge of this run. Perhaps there should be more respect on what the Pacers are building. Granted their fans are morons for poking the bear, but they certainly weren't the only fanbase to do it.

Enter the NBA Finals. At this point you have to be truly insane to publicly challenge this team. Would Mavs fans be any different? Nope

Anyone know how this worked out for Mavs fans? Surely this time it worked right?

Oh, the Mavs got stomped too? Who could have possibly seen this coming as well! Oh that's right, all of us. 

To me, this is one of the sweetest parts of this title run. All the talking heads spending weeks doing whatever they could to discredit what the Celts were doing. Series after series of picking against them, calling them frauds, chokers etc. Opposing fanbases poking the bear and screaming they wanted the Celtics only for the Celtics to show up and stuff them into a locker, it's all so goddamn gratifying. You're kidding yourself if you don't think this adds to the sweetness of the Celts winning Banner 18.

Not only did they shut all their critics up in dominant fashion, they shut all of these fanbases up too. Mavs fans pumping their chest out after winning Game 4 like that even came close to mattering. How cute that was. Meanwhile everyone with eyes knew these two teams were in different leagues. That was supposed to be the big bad West? And I'm to believe that's some sort of juggernaut conference? I don't think so.

The real, actual juggernaut of this league is the same team it's been since October. It's the same team all these fanbases wanted to see, only for them to eventually watch as the Celts sent them to Cancun without breaking a sweat. 

So as we prepare for the 2024-25 season, let this be a lesson to the rest of the fanbases in the league. Poke the bear at your own risk, because once you do there's no escape. You aren't going to like what you find out.