"When it comes to worst coach in the NBA I would put Denver's Brian Shaw right up there with Orlando's Jacque Vaughn and Sacramento's recycled Tyrone Corbin.
Shaw just may be the worse, which is one reason why I like the Celtics to beat the Nuggets at home today. The Nuggets have dealt with injuries, like many other teams, but Shaw still remains clueless about finding the right rotation and chemistry. Denver has better talent than a 19-30 team. But Shaw isn't capable of leading them out of the muck and mud they are in now.
The Nuggets are 1-10 in their last 11 games. They have been outscored by an average of 11.1 points per game during this span. They just lost 105-98 on the road to the 76ers last night. What a shame. What an embarrassment. Philadelphia scoring 105 points is like Golden State putting up 200 points. It was the most points the 76ers have scored since Dec. 13.
Denver had to exert some energy, too, rallying from 28 points down to trim the 76ers' lead to five in the fourth quarter. The loss dropped the Nuggets' road record to 7-17, 3-12 during their past 15 away games. They have covered just 39 percent away from Pepsi Center and are 1-5-1 ATS the last seven times when playing without rest.
Boston likely is headed to the lottery again. But the Celtics are a slightly stronger defensive team, much better coached, more together and at home where they have beaten Denver 14 of the last 16 times covering the last four times.
The Nuggets are in a major offensive funk failing to reaching triple digits in eight of their last nine games, including the last five. The Celtics nipped the Nuggets in Denver, 100-99, on Jan. 23. The Nuggets were missing point guard Ty Lawson in that game. Lawson is back but shooting less than 26 percent from the field in his last four games. Backup point guard Jameer Nelson, who is obviously washed-up, also is shooting less than 26 percent from the floor during his last five games.
Boston also played last night, beating the hot Knicks, 108-97, at Madison Square Garden. Three takeaways from that game were Avery Bradley proving he can score despite a fractured thumb on his non-shooting hand, Jared Sullinger breaking out of his slump and Marcus Smart exerting a lot of energy and spark to the team early being moved into the starting lineup.
Boston has now covered in seven of its last nine games. The Celtics also are 8-2 ATS the past 10 times when playing without rest. They are the younger team with a pep to their step and game.
The Nuggets are a leaderless, down team without spark. Lawson, their catalyst, is not playing well. The Nuggets don't have a good track record in Boston, nor against below .500 teams covering just 31 percent during the past 63 times."
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