2. Robert Williams Knee
The Celtics center-back lost nearly a month after undergoing surgery to repair a broken meniscus on March 27 and then suffered a bone hematoma in the same knee during the conference semifinals. There have been times when he resembled his self running and being hit, but they have been rare. And during Game 7 against the Heat, he just looked lame. Williams had 2 points and three rebounds in 14 minutes.
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Coach Ime Udoka said Williams still has some bloating that limits his movement.
Despite being known for their outside shooters, the Warriors average 47.6 points in the paint during those playoffs, fourth in the league. Williams, who has thrived in a free security role, could be vital against Warriors slashers like Jordan Poole.
Golden State has not relied on the triple as much as might be expected. So far, 41.6 percent of his playoff shots have come beyond the arc, compared to 45.5 percent for the Celtics.
3. Kings of the quarter
The Warriors have been absolutely spectacular during the quarterfinals in the playoffs. For 16 games, they have outscored their rivals by 25.4 points for every 100 possessions, almost 9 points better than the nearest team. They also have an 133.9 offensive score from another world in the quarterfinals.
Ime Udoka and the Celtics will be tested against the Warriors, especially when it comes to the fourth quarter. Matthew J Lee / Globe
Udoka has often said that one of the goals of his relentless and heavy physical defense is to wear down an opponent for the first 36 minutes so that he can start suffering during the final 12. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jimmy Butler looked gloomy at times. matches against Boston. The finals could turn into a battle of attrition.
4. Power of the stars
Jayson Tatum and Stephen Curry were the MVPs of the conference finals, but neither was particularly dominant in these series or, therefore, in these playoffs. Tatum has a 40-point game and eight with at least five losses. Curry has yet to score more than 34 points and has missed 18 free throws.
But both are capable of exploding, and if one does, it could tip the scales. Given that Curry is 34 years old and missed the last 12 games of the regular season with a foot injury, suffered when Marcus Smart rolled over him while chasing a loose ball, Tatum seems better positioned to catch fire.
5. In the first lines
The sleek Milwaukee front yard of Antetokounmpo, Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis made life difficult for the Celtics in painting. Warriors are not that imposing. No header is more than 6 feet 9 inches, and in the starting lineup, the Celtics could have a size advantage in every position. Although Kevon Looney has swallowed bounces during the postseason, he is not a significant threat as a tire protector.
Of course, the Warriors ’lineup options will determine how far the Celtics are leaning in their length. If Golden State puts four shooters on the ground at once, for example, it will be difficult for Boston to play with big double groups. It should be an interesting game of chess.
6. Road Warriors
For the second straight series, the Celtics will have no advantage at home. At this point, though, that may not matter. After outscoring their opponents by 7.7 points for every 100 possessions on the road during the regular season, the Celtics have achieved a brilliant 7-2 record away from TD Garden in the playoffs.
The Chase Center offers a turbulent lead on the local court for Jordan Poole and the rest of the Warriors. Jeff Chiu / Associated Press
The Chase Center crowd will be busier than the rest. But there are many Boston transplants in the Bay Area. So look for the green to find its way into the building.
On the other hand, the Warriors have become a global road show, and will have more fans at TD Garden than any other visiting team in these playoffs.
7. Gold additions?
The Celtics have taken some breaks during the playoffs. The Nets missed Ben Simmons and shooter Joe Harris. The Bucks did not have All-Star striker Khris Middleton. Heat stars Kyle Lowry and Tyler Herro combined to lose five games. But Golden State, a team that has been devastated by injuries in recent seasons, enters the Finals with their key pieces intact.
Absences have been on the periphery, with Gary Payton II (elbow), Otto Porter (foot) and Andre Iguodala (neck) all on the sidelines. Payton, a great defender, has been sidelined since the start of the conference semifinals and would offer a lift at this end of the court. Porter’s net-over-15 qualifier in the playoffs leads Golden State by nearly 5 points. The Warriors hope all three return for this series.
8. A known focus
The Celtics have not shied away from the spotlight, and their performance on the road has shown that they are not scared. But these are the finals, and no Boston player has experience in that scenario. The core of the Warriors, meanwhile, will enter its sixth final.
If the Celtics are nervous, they’re unlikely to last long, but it’s worth paying attention to game 1. Regardless, don’t expect the Celtics to be intimidated by the stars on the other side. They go 9-7 against Golden State during the Steve Kerr era, the best record among opponents.
9. Secondary options
Udoka basically reduced his rotation to seven during the last three games of the conference final, with Payton Pritchard as the odd man. But Golden State doesn’t have a physically isolated player like Butler who can blow up a showdown against Pritchard. This series could present opportunities for the shooter. The Celtics have a net score of over 10.9 with Pritchard on the court this postseason, the best among the rotating players.
Could Payton Pritchard play a bigger role than expected when it comes to the NBA Finals? Matthew J Lee / Globe
10. Weak links
The Celtics won’t have as much trouble looking for weaker links in the Golden State defense. Curry will be hunted in switches, although it has generally held up well. Poole, who offers an instant offensive from the bench, will need a lot of help whenever he ends up in Tatum or Brown. In addition, Klay Thompson has lost a step on the defensive after missing most of the last two seasons with injuries.
Adam Himmelsbach can be contacted at adam.himmelsbach@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @adamhimmelsbach.