The set-up: Kevin Durant was deciding where to spend the next years of his career last summer and the Celtics put on a big push to get the superstar. They brought their players and even Tom Brady to a meeting with Durant on Long Island, N.Y but he then spurned the Celtics and his his former team, leaving the Oklahoma City Thunder for the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors have had a a pair of notable ‘hiccups' (opening night at home against the Spurs and a road game at the Lakers) but all in all, this new "Super team" looks pretty good, entering on a five-game winning streak with a 9-2 overall record. The Celtics check in at 6-5 and desperately need to get their top FA signee Al Horford (concussion) and the valuable Jae Crowder (ankle) healthy and back on the court.

Golden State: The warriors were shocked 117-97 on the road against the Lakers back on Nov. 4 but have won five in a row since, averaging 123.4 PPG. They've recorded at least 30 assists and shot 50 percent or better in all five games of their streak, the first team since the 1990 Chicago Bulls to pull that off. Curry (27.9-6.0 APG) is averaging 33.6 points per game and Durant (27.9-8.0-4.1) 25.4 during the five-game streak, then of course there are Thompson (18.5) and Green (10.9-9.8-6.9) rounding out the best "Core Four" in the NBA.

Boston: The Celtics have a dynamic backcourt duo in Thomas (27.2-6.5 APG) and Bradley (18.5-8.7-3.5) but need to get key frontcourt players healthy. Al Horford has missed the last eight games and there is still no timetable for his return, while Crowder (14.2 & 5.1 LY) is out indefinitely with an ankle injury, after playing in just four games. Boston surrendered an average of 123 points during a three-game slide from Nov. 3 thru Nov. 9 but cut that number down to 93.8 in the last four contests (3-1 stretch), capped by a 90-83 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday.

The pick: Not sure how the Celtics a will be able to stay with the Warriors, who again lead the league in both scoring (117.4 PPG) and FG percentage (50.4%). The Warriors don't ease up on the road either, as they enter averaging 117.3 PPG in away games this year. The TD Garden was rocking last Dec. 11, when Boston led by five with 2:07 left in regulation but then the Warriors rallied for a 124-119 double-overtime win against the Celtics, which gave Golden State a 24-0 record at the time. The Warriors have added Durant since that game plus the Celtics are a "walking wounded" team. Make the Warriors an 8* play.