The Boston Celtics and the Denver Nuggets are two recent NBA champions who can both win the title again this season.
The Celtics are 2-1 down to the New York Knicks, having lost both home games to start the series, but a blowout Game 3 win has convinced many that they’ll still advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.
The Nuggets are 2-1 up against the number one seed Oklahoma City Thunder, with Nikola Jokic proving why he’s widely regarded as the best player in the NBA.
Expert Colin Cowherd has now compared the two top contenders and explained the one particular reason why the Celtics are “very strange.”
Photo by Mostafa Bassim/Anadolu via Getty ImagesColin Cowherd compares Boston Celtics with Denver Nuggets
The defending champion Celtics have a far more talented roster than the Knicks, and yet they find themselves 2-1 behind.
Joe Mazzulla’s team lives and dies by the three-point shot, which tends to come and go, and they’re not as good at TD Garden as they are on the road.
“I’ve said this before, on FS1 and on my radio show, they’re a very strange championship team,” Cowherd explained. “Like, Denver is not. I kind of know what Denver is.
“When they got rid of KCP and Bruce Brown, they just weren’t quite as good on the edges, but I kind of know what I get in these close, clutch games with the Denver Nuggets.
“Boston is a better road team than they are a home team. That’s been a couple of years now. They were 35-9 on the road this year. That’s the second-best road win percentage ever. They’re a better road team than a home team. That’s just unheard of.”
Colin Cowherd shares theory over Boston Celtics’ home vs road record
Cowherd thinks the Celtics’ experience plays an important role in why they perform so well away from TD Garden.
However, he can’t work out why they’re noticeably worse at home, especially considering the excellent home support they receive.
“Boston is now a veteran team,” Cowherd added. “There’s no other way to classify it. Tatum, Brown, Porzingis, Al Horford, Derrick White… they’re a veteran team. So, home and road aren’t really a thing. But to be that good on the road is pretty remarkable.
“I’m trying to wrap my head around why they’re not a more dominant home team. We know Boston is one of the more intimidating crowds. We know every game is a sellout.
“Does this team play with a certain anxiety at home? Do they take their foot off the gas at home? I don’t know what it is. But I do think the team is a really close unit.”