Boston Celtics (41-11) at Phoenix Suns (37-17)
10:30PM EST – 2/22/2008

Two of the NBA’s most dominant teams meet tonight in a game that will end up telling us a lot about both squads.  Boston owns the NBA’s best record and, at this point in the season, seem to be everyone’s favorite to represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals.  The Suns have earned one of the best records in the West, plus added Shaq to their roster, though it’s still too early to tell whether gaining Shaq and losing Shawn Marion will improve this team or not.  What we do know is that this is a playoff-quality match-up and that the winner of this game will be making a strong statement for how good they really are.  I know the Suns are coming off a 4-point loss to the Lakers on Wednesday, and that game was certainly a statement-type game as well, but you do have to consider that it was their first game after the All-Star break, as well as their first game with the big guy.  That’s no excuse, rather, it’s all the more reason Phoenix should be ultra-motivate for tonight’s clash against Boston.  The Celtics are seen as the pinnacle of the NBA, so if Phoenix can find a way to win tonight, it should give them a huge boost in confidence.  Boston, as they have been so many times this season, are in a position where they are expected to win.  This will be no easy feat, however, if they are able to pull it off, they can further the perception that they are an invincible-type team.  Having that label is two-fold.  Of course they’ll get the “bulls-eye on their back”, but being seen as the Goliath in the league also gives your team the kind of swagger it takes to win a championship.  The bottom line here is that whoever comes out on top tonight is going to get a major boost to their confidence.  In the NBA a little confidence on a good team goes a long, long way.

Celtics @ Suns Pick:  Boston Celtics +1.5

I’m just not ready to go against Boston yet.  Their record on the road is just as good as the Suns’ record at home, and nobody has been better than the Celtics at covering the spread on the road as they’ve earned an unmatched 36-15 record against the spread in their last 51 road contests.

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