NBA Basketball 2/21/10
Boston Celtics (35-18)-Denver Nuggets (36-19)

By Mark-Sunday, Feb 21st 2010 3:30 PM EST
Line-Denver-4

Just a few short days ago the talk surrounding Boston was how age and injuries have taken a toll on a team just two years removed from the NBA Championship. And like all things associated with sports, winning seems to make everything good or at least quiets the critics for a day or so. The Celtics have at least silenced the naysayers with a three game west coast win streak that included wins over the Lakers and Trail Blazers. When the Celtics win it's usually because they are making a concerted effort on the defensive end and that's been the case. Each game in the NBA is history once it hits the record books meaning the three game up swing and solid defense mean little as they prepare for Denver today unless this trend continues. Not to be lost in the talk of defense, age and injuries had to be the play of Kevin Garnett who looked like the KG of old with a 16 point night on 7-9 shooting which has not happened too often this season. Now the million dollar question is can Garnett and the Celtics duplicate these recent performances long term?

Denver is thought to be the strongest challenge to the team from Tinsel Town and certainly looked the part in beating Cleveland on the road where the Cavaliers play the part of Superman when home. In other words losing at home happens as frequently as a Wizards win. Probably a poor analogy and even poorer timing as the Nuggets did the near impossible this season by knocking off King James in front of his minions and follow that up with a flat 107-97 loss at Washington which in a way defies logic. But not for Denver as they have been up and down and can beat the best one night and lose to the lessor lights the next and the lowly Wizards traded away four major contributors so go figure. Carmelo Anthony looks healthy now and many feel the Nuggets are just out of sync and will come together over the second half of the year but once again I think this team has such high expectations after giving LA a run for their money in the playoffs we don't bother to look at a team that has crafted a not too shabby 36-19 record.

Boston is 8-2-2 ATS in the last 12 as an underdog of .5-4.5 points, 8-2-1 against the number in the past 11 as a road underdog of .5-4.5 points and 1-5-1 against the spread in their last 7 with one day of rest. The Nuggets are 5-16 ATS in the last 21 as a favorite of .5-4.5 points, 5-1 against the number in the past 6 versus a team with a winning record and 1-4 against the spread in thir past 5 as a favorite.

Are the Celtics back or just hitting a hot streak and can Denver get some consistency going? The home team usually fares well when these two butt heads and the games have generally been decided by double figures. For some reason good teams bring out the best in the Nuggets and they catch Boston at the end of a road swing so I think this isn't a great spot for the C's.