Prominent NBA podcaster calls gap between Nuggets and Celtics "insurmountable"

On the Sunday episode of the Bill Simmons Podcast, Simmons and Ryen Rusillo of the Ringer dove into a plethora of NBA-related topics, as they do every week. One focus for the two former Boston media members was the recent matchup between the Nuggets and Celtics.

Simmons opined that there was clearly a gap between the Nuggets and the Celtics and he asked Rusillo to describe that gap, to which he replied, “insurmountable”. He went on to explain that the Nuggets are just so in tune, and Nikola Jokic is so dominant that there is nothing the Celtics - or any other team - can do to erase the distance.

It’s hard to quibble too much with the assessment just based on the previous meetings this season, as the Nuggets asserted their crunch time mettle in both games to pull out close wins.

But based on the Celtics’ body of work, and depth of elite talent, “insurmountable” feels like it may be a bit strong. The Celtics have a 51-14 record, 5.5 games ahead of the Nuggets currently, and they boast a league-best 11.3 NET rating.

There are obvious questions and concerns about this Boston team, and they won’t truly be able to silence their doubters unless they go all the way and win a championship. But they have indisputably been the best team in the NBA over the course of this regular season.

Sure, if the two teams match up in the Finals, the Nuggets may be a small favorite. And they may have extra confidence given their championship-winning experience last year, and head-to-head success this regular season.

But to say the gap is insurmountable between the Nuggets and a team that is on pace for 65 wins and to have a top 10 NET Rating of all time is a bridge too far, at least for me. But that’s clearly not hyperbole for Ryen Rusillo, and Bill Simmons didn’t exactly push back either.

Hopefully, we get to see this matchup in June between the clear best two teams in the league. It should be a great series and one that all NBA fans would enjoy.