Boston Celtics fans are in unfamiliar territory today. The Conference Semi-Finals are starting and the Celtics aren’t one of the eight remaining teams.
The Celtics’ unexpected loss in seven games to the Philadelphia 76ers was just the second time in the last 10 seasons that Boston was eliminated in the first round. The other was 2021, when Jaylen Brown missed the postseason with a hand injury.
Perhaps you kept your calendar clear for the next several weeks, anticipating watching or attending Celtics
games in the second round and beyond, but now you must fill that void. As basketball fans, many of us will watch the rest of the playoffs anyway, no matter who’s on the court. We might even hate-watch certain teams, but either way we’ll be in front of the TV, where the natural inclination is to choose a side to support.
With that in mind, we’ve created these exclusive “Root-ability Rankings,” based not on metrics or science but on gut feeling, emotion, the eye test and the number one factor: getting the outcome that will benefit the Celtics the most. We’ll start with the least root-able (AKA most hated) and work up to the most root-able (least objectionable).
Note to Australian readers: “Root” here means to support a team, not that other thing, ok? Cheers.
These are the four remaining series.
The Root-ability Rankings
No. 8 – Lakers
Celtics rivalry quotient: 100%
Former Celtics: Marcus Smart (Typing that still feels wrong.)
Root for them because: You can’t. No true Celtics fan would ever root for the Lakers under any circumstances.
Root against them because: Although the Lakers have 17 titles, including five won prior to 1955 as the Minneapolis Lakers, that’s still one shy of the Celtics’ 18 banners. Note that head-to-head in the Finals, Boston has beaten the Lakers nine times in 12 meetings. The Lakers must never again be allowed to catch up in total titles. That’s the top reason, but the list is endless.
Bottom line: If the unthinkable happened – a NY-LA Finals – we’d need to root for the Knicks. That’s how serious this is.
No. 7 – Knicks
Celtics rivalry quotient: 100%
Former Celtics on their roster: None, although Jalen Brunson’s dad Rick played seven games for Boston in November of 2000.
Root for them because: The only reason to ever root for the Knicks is if they’re playing the Lakers in the Finals.
Root against them because: The whole Boston vs. New York rivalry comes into play. Educated guess is that most Knicks fans also support the Yankees, Rangers and football Giants. The Knicks and Celtics are the only two franchises that have remained in their original cities for all 80 seasons of the league.
Bottom line: Knicks fans attempt to taunt Celtics fans regularly, even though their last championship came in 1973. Imagine how loud they’d get if they actually win the Larry O’Brien trophy.
No. 6 – 76ers
Celtics rivalry quotient: 99%
Former Celtics on their roster: None
Root for them because: They’re playing the Knicks.
Root against them because: Obviously, they came back from down 3-1 to steal the first-round series from the Celtics. Also, Philly and Boston have met in the playoffs more than any other pair (Boston leads 15-8). Want some others? Joel Embiid flops even more prodigiously than his teammate, Kyle Lowry. Celtics fans haven’t forgotten Kelly Oubre, Jr. attacking Kelly Olynyk because Olynyk set a hard pick in a playoff game. We also must acknowledge curmudgeon coach Nick Nurse.
Bottom line: This was the first time in 44 years that the Sixers won a playoff series from the Celtics. We can live with that, as long as they take down New York next.
No. 5 – Cavs
Celtics rivalry quotient: 75%
Former Celtics on their roster: Dennis Schröder
Root for them because: Frankly, there’s no compelling reason, except that they if they win, this time LeBron James wouldn’t be able to take credit for it. Probably.
Root against them because: The Cavs stopped some playoff runs while Brad Stevens was coaching. They traded Kyrie Irving to Boston. And they laughed while winning the game before Paul Pierce’s number retirement. They also employ former Heat villain Max Strus and the most prolific foul grifter in NBA history, James Harden.
Bottom line: They rank number five only because numbers six, seven and eight are worse.
No. 4 – Thunder
Celtics rivalry quotient: 20%
Former Celtics on their roster: None (But Head Coach Mark Daigneault and General Manager Sam Presti are both Massachusetts natives.)
Root for them because: They’re playing the Lakers.
Root against them because: They’ve been accused of playing “unethical” basketball. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is an awesome clutch superstar and deserving MVP, probably the best player in the league. He also falls down a lot and thus is averaging 12.3 free throw attempts per game. Can’t forget Lu Dort, a muscular guard and one of the most physical defenders in the league, somehow is constantly manhandled by opponents who don’t look capable of it. Weird.
Bottom line: They’re the defending champs and were 4-0 versus LA this season. A series sweep seems possible, which would certainly delight every Celtics fan.
No. 3 – Timberwolves
Celtics rivalry quotient: 10%
Former Celtics on their roster: None
Root for them because: They traded Kevin Garnett to Boston, and without him there would be no 2008 banner in the rafters. Also, empathy for them losing Donte DiVincenzo to a torn Achilles tendon during the playoffs.
Root against them because: They’re playing the Spurs (read on for why that matters).
Bottom line: Celtics fans have no beef with the Wolves or their fans because there’s little history beyond the Garnett trade and two regular-season games each year. If they were to win, we wouldn’t get stressed.
No. 2 – Pistons
Celtics rivalry quotient: 50% (It used to be much higher.)
Former Celtics on their roster: Javonte Green
Root for them because: If the Knicks get past the Sixers, the Pistons would be next in line to stop the Knicks. Detroit beat New York all three times they faced each other this season.
Root against them because: The Pistons were an intense rival during the ‘80s and early ‘90s where they faced the Celtics in many playoff series. They were tough defenders who were often accused of dirty play, especially center Bill Laimbeer, whom Larry Bird despises to this day.
Bottom line: The Celtics beat Detroit in the 2008 Eastern Conference Finals, and the Pistons have barely sniffed the playoffs since then. The battles they had are ancient history now.
No. 1 – Spurs
Celtics rivalry quotient: 25%
Former Celtics on their roster: Luke Kornet, Kelly Olynyk, plus Dylan Harper is Ron Harper, Jr.’s twin brother, and Julian Champagnie is the twin brother of Justin Champagnie (now with the Wizards), who played with Boston in 2023 at the end of the season and through the postseason.
Root for them because: Let’s see if Luke can become a two-time champion. Also, because – you guessed it – if they beat Minnesota they will be another barrier to LA potentially reaching the Finals. The Spurs won three of four versus the Lakers.
Root against them because: Victor Wembanyama has the potential to lead San Antonio to the Finals as often as Tim Duncan did, if not more. That’s actually not a real reason to root against them now, except for envy.
Bottom line: Unless you’re still not over the Celtics losing the Duncan draft lottery, ride the Spurs to the title. Their extensive connections with Celtics personnel make them a natural pick for Boston fans to support.
Happy viewing!
