The Boston Celtics and the Denver Nuggets are two current NBA champions who can each win the title once more this season.
The Celtics are 2-1 all the way down to the New York Knicks, having misplaced each dwelling video games to begin the sequence, however a blowout Recreation 3 win has satisfied many who they’ll nonetheless advance to the Japanese Convention Finals.
The Nuggets are 2-1 up in opposition to the primary seed Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, with Nikola Jokic proving why he’s broadly considered one of the best participant within the NBA.
Knowledgeable Colin Cowherd has now in contrast the 2 high contenders and defined the one explicit purpose why the Celtics are “very unusual.”
The defending champion Celtics have a much more gifted roster than the Knicks, and but they discover themselves 2-1 behind.
Joe Mazzulla’s crew lives and dies by the three-point shot, which tends to return and go, they usually’re not nearly as good at TD Backyard as they’re on the highway.
“I’ve mentioned this earlier than, on FS1 and on my radio present, they’re a really unusual championship crew,” Cowherd defined. “Like, Denver shouldn’t be. I sort of know what Denver is.
“After they removed KCP and Bruce Brown, they simply weren’t fairly nearly as good on the sides, however I sort of know what I get in these shut, clutch video games with the Denver Nuggets.
“Boston is a greater highway crew than they’re a house crew. That’s been a few years now. They had been 35-9 on the highway this yr. That’s the second-best highway win share ever. They’re a greater highway crew than a house crew. That’s simply exceptional.”
Cowherd thinks the Celtics’ expertise performs an vital function in why they carry out so properly away from TD Backyard.
Nonetheless, he can’t work out why they’re noticeably worse at dwelling, particularly contemplating the wonderful dwelling help they obtain.
“Boston is now a veteran crew,” Cowherd added. “There’s no different technique to classify it. Tatum, Brown, Porzingis, Al Horford, Derrick White… they’re a veteran crew. So, dwelling and highway aren’t actually a factor. However to be that good on the highway is fairly outstanding.
“I’m attempting to wrap my head round why they’re not a extra dominant dwelling crew. We all know Boston is among the extra intimidating crowds. We all know each recreation is a sellout.
“Does this crew play with a sure anxiousness at dwelling? Do they take their foot off the fuel at dwelling? I don’t know what it’s. However I do assume the crew is a very shut unit.”
