After defeating the Atlanta Hawks in the 7 vs. 8 Play-In game earlier this week, Orlando Magic fans chanted “We want Boston” as the final seconds ticked off the clock.
Well, Orlando fans got their wish. The Magic will face off against the Celtics in the first round of the playoffs starting Sunday. But they might not realize what they are getting into.
“We want Boston” has become a dangerous tradition for opposing fan bases. And if history is any indication, it never ends well.
It all started back in April 2022, when Brooklyn Nets fans echoed those same three words through the banner-less rafters of Barclays Center. A few weeks later, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving were packing their bags for Cancun after getting swept.
A year later, the Philadelphia 76ers fanbase echoed the same chant after their Round One win over the Nets, preparing to play the Celtics in Round Two. Those Sixers fans now shudder with nightmares of Jayson Tatum’s record-setting 51-point masterclass in Game 7.
As if the league hadn’t learned of the dangers of summoning the Boston Celtics, the chant reached a new virality across NBA arenas last postseason. After Miami beckoned the “We want Boston” curse, the Celtics ended the rivalry for good. Cleveland’s call for Boston ended in a gentleman’s sweep in Round Two. The Pacers also took their chance, and Boston brought out the brooms. And in the Finals, Dallas made the same mistake. Celtics fans ended up walking down Causeway Street in “You got Boston” shirts while the Larry O’Brien trophy rode by in a duck boat.
Here’s an abbreviated history:
So, Orlando Magic fans, I have a simple question: Have you not learned?
Chanting “We want Boston” in your arena is the basketball equivalent of saying Bloody Mary three times in a mirror — you’re about to be haunted.
For the Celtics, this is the ultimate compliment. As the face of dominance across the NBA these past few years, Boston lives rent-free in the minds of opposing fan bases. And now? They’ve got even more fuel. As if the Celtics needed any more motivation to continue stacking Larry O’Briens into the biggest trophy case in the league, they now have another reason to stomp all over the competition.
The Magic will now be spending the next few weeks dealing with the Celtics’ historic onslaught of ferocious talent. This team is deep, disciplined, and experienced — a basketball machine built for the playoffs. Orlando’s chants may have been loud, but Boston’s response will be deafening.
Be careful what you wish for, Orlando.
