Elsa - Getty Images
Rage against the machine man, rage.
Joakim Noah is certainly not a player that Celtics fans have grown to love. In fact, it's quite the opposite. But as much as they may hate him, he hates the Celtics more.
After losing to the Celtics 95-91 on Sunday, bank on Noah and the Bulls to be ready for revenge in Chicago tonight.
When I walked into the locker room on Sunday, I wasn't surprised to see him as one of the only players left - just sitting in front of his locker staring off as a reporter talked his ear off in French.
"Can I see that box score?" he asked me.
I handed it to him and watched as he looked it over, shaking his head in disgust.
"We shot 38-percent tonight, that sucks," he said.
But doing against the Celtics makes it exponentially worse for Noah.
"Yeah no question I hate losing to the Celtics," Noah said. "I don't know. I'm from New York so I kind of grew up hating the Celtics too."
"It's that green... I don't know. I just don't like that color," he said.
The Celtics and Bulls have had numerous battles since the new Big Three era (2007-8) with the Celtics owning an 11-6 head-to-head record over the Bulls in the regular season since then. And who can forget that memorable seven-game playoff series a few years back that the C's squeaked out?
It all boils in Noah's blood.
"I'm a competitor, they compete very hard. They have a lot of experience together and I just hate losing to them," he said.
While Noah is certainly not a fan of Kevin Garnett, and rarely has anything nice to say about him, he did admit that Garnett can still do many things even if he might have lost a step or two.
"I think KG was never a player who based his game on athleticism, even though he was always pretty athletic," Noah said. "It's just the way he affects the game defensively, he's still got that. Also, the way he spreads the floor with his shooting ability. He's still a great - he's still a competitor. I don't know. I don't want to give him too much credit."
And as far as the Celtics go as a team, count Noah on the side that still thinks they can be very dangerous when it really counts.
"I think they're definitely a team that's hard to take out in the playoffs just due to their experience and they're still talented as hell. So yeah they're still tough."
0 recs | 35 comments
I have a ton of respect for the way Noah plays the game and how he’s established himself in the league. I know he’s pretty vocal about “hating” the Celtics and KG, but I’ve always felt this comes off in a way in which it’s not particularly malicious in nature
kozlodoev - February 16, 2012
Yeah I don't really mind it
He doesn’t like other teams, which is better to me than the whole let’s all smile and hold hands thing that some of the newer nba fans like.
kg2128 - February 16, 2012
If anyone here likes Noah or respects him, I wrote this piece on KG/Noah last year...
http://www.celticsblog.com/2010/12/4/1854436/kevin-garnett-and-joakim-noah-rare-breeds
Jimmy Toscano - February 16, 2012
don't like him
but I have grown to respect him
all effort
Jeff Clark - February 16, 2012
ditto
mmmmm - February 16, 2012
Lol
He’s good and he has respect, but I just don’t like him very much.
relja111 - February 16, 2012
I've never liked Noah, going back to his Florida days, and he's annoying as all get out
But at least he gets it. He still sees rivalries and the fact that you’re supposed to dislike your opponent. I still want to smack his face, but smack him respectfully.
KY Celts fan - February 16, 2012
Agreed
on all points.
tmarine17 - February 16, 2012
agree
as a UK fan, I couldn’t stand him for a long time. BUt I always respected him. type of player you love when he’s on your team and hate when your team is playing
KGHurtYourFeelings - February 16, 2012
+1
Big_Easy - February 16, 2012 via mobile
Great effort always, awesome offensive rebounder...
and a good athlete for a center, but he screams after anything. If he is getting a rebound, playing D, if someone else makes a shot, ect. It’s annoying as can be but he’s a very good defensive center.
mjtig - February 16, 2012 via mobile
I hate the Gators and the French and have never liked Noah...
But we sure could use a guy like him on our team :)
Nothing but respect for the Joakim – a man who plays the game the right way and gives it his all out on the floor.
CelticPride - February 16, 2012
One of the most despised B-ball player in the SEC
+ a poor role model, this guy came from $$, and in 2008 was arrested in Gainsville for an open container of liqour and mariquana; just a few hours later picked up for driving with a suspended license/no seat belt. A real genius.
gocanes1 - February 16, 2012
He's supposed to hate the Celtics. Why is that news?
It was nauseating to see Celtics and Lakers players helping each other up last week.
I’ll take Noah on my team anytime.
Finkelskyhook - February 16, 2012
and I would prefer Perkins
gocanes1 - February 16, 2012
LOL Your abou the only one
They are really sick of him in OKC!
mdowell04 - February 16, 2012
in Boston, he would still be our best rebounder
gocanes1 - February 16, 2012
The fans of the 22-7 Thunder are sick of Perkins?
vinnie - February 16, 2012
Yeah, the feeling is mutual.
It’s a mix between hatred and respect that makes it so confusing.
If he would just cut his hair and shave….
green18, 19, 20... - February 16, 2012
he is so freaking ugly
JuJuan some moore - February 16, 2012
good point and when he is doing all that yelling it does not help matters
mjtig - February 16, 2012
She is...
ugly, isn’t she???
bonzo22 - February 16, 2012
his mom is a model if i remember right
JuJuan some moore - February 16, 2012
sister, mom, noah
kinda….skipped a generation it seems
piccolomair - February 16, 2012
And I still hate Joakim Noah..
Pietrus & Cream - February 16, 2012 via mobile
Yeah I don't like him but
I do respect the fact that he plays with intensity. Let’s go Celtics!
p-peazy - February 16, 2012
I don't mind it
You should have a certain amount of hate for your rivals. We may or may not be the Bull’s rival at the moment but those heated playoff series should have motivated some animosity.
Personally I hate the love fest mentality in the NBA today. I miss the day of guys like Larry Bird spitting venom at his rivals.
CelticsFanNC - February 16, 2012
How come..
good guys like Brandon Roy , Yao Ming, etc.. got their careers cut short by injuries while arrogant blowhards like Noah are still around playing?
jess m - February 16, 2012
Noah
The Bill Laimbeer of the new millennium. :)
Big_Easy - February 16, 2012 via mobile
+1
relja111 - February 16, 2012
laimbeer
was the first athlete I ever truly hated as a kid. I don’t hate him quite as much anymore, and I’ve hated athletes since (Kobe), but the pure unbridled hatred I felt as a little boy for laimbeer will never be matched. He was a villain. When Chief decked him, i jumped up and down and cheered with childlike wonderment.
Im oldder and jaded now, but I still have a soft spot for Laimbeer, because i’ll never hate anybody like I once hated him
KGHurtYourFeelings - February 16, 2012
Man, I remember those days. God he used to make me scream at my TV.
Well before that, Rick Barry was probably the first player that I truly hated and despised. He was ridiculously smart about getting into HIS opponent’s heads (not to mention us fans!). Great player. Hated him.
mmmmm - February 16, 2012
And the news...
said we had a tremor. lol
I despised him as well. In fact, my whole family did. We celebrated when the Chief decked him as well. Ah, the good old days.
bonzo22 - February 17, 2012
definitely a compliment though
no one hates the bobcats northwestern seton hall you only hate good teams
JuJuan some moore - February 16, 2012
joanie
get a haircut you whimp and look like a man you look like a sick broad oops dont get your panties all upset
Chetdee1 - February 16, 2012
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