What the Warriors have to do to win
If Golden State plays Warriors Basketball ™ (the ball flies like a hot potato, everyone eats), they can win this series quite easily. They also have the luxury of a possible Steph Curry or Klay Thompson supernova on any given night, which is helpful. But if they play their brand of basketball, they don’t necessarily need it. CDL
If Golden State has proven anything over the years, it’s that when they’re healthy and playing their basketball style it’s hard enough to beat them in one game, let alone four. With three different players returning from injury for the final, the health question has at least one answer. TF
Staying healthy and keeping your big three (Curry, Thompson, Draymond Green) out of the Covid-19 protocols? Honestly, if the well-rested Warriors play their basketball style, exploit Boston’s mental weaknesses (see below) and prevent Jayson Tatum from having a final performance over the centuries, the Warriors should win their fourth title of the century. HF
The Warriors will win if they rely on their playoff experience and overwhelm the youth Celtics. Curry, Green and Thompson have played 82 NBA Finals games combined. By comparison, the entire Boston team will debut in the final. In addition, the warriors are equipped with a high-octane offensive that can be fired at any time. Curry and Thompson will lead the way, but they are almost unbeatable if Jordan Poole and Andrew Wiggins can also be explosive offensively. ARS
What the Celtics have to do to win
The Celtics got here thanks in large part to their defensive prowess. They have been the league’s number one defense since early 2022. They will have to play the toughest version of that defense to bring down an offensive giant like the Warriors. CDL
Stay healthy. Several key players, mainly Marcus Smart and Robert Williams III, have been in and out of the lineup so much so that they would think they were tossing a coin to decide if they would play a particular night. If this trend continues Boston they are in danger. TF
When the Celtics are firing at every cylinder, they are unstoppable. Unfortunately for them, they always seem to get in their way. Boston can’t afford to make their job difficult by making unforced changes, gathering inexplicably bad quarters and / or letting officials get their heads around it. The most experienced warriors will make you pay if they do. HF
The Celtics will win if they remain tenacious on defense. As they faced the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Celtics kept the Heat at several low-scoring quarters, including an 11-point first quarter in Game 4. The Celtics can also increase their chances of victory if Al Horford and Robert Williams are able. to master painting. ARS
Your NBA Finals MVP will be …
Stephen Curry already has a pretty tight trophy box (among his recognitions are three NBA championships and two regular season MVPs), but it contains a somewhat surprising, and sometimes controversial, omission: he has never won an MVP. of the final. I would bet this is the year that changes for him. CDL
The man, the myth, the legend, Curry himself. I could easily have gone with Andrew Wiggins here, but when I look at the stars at night, they seem so aligned that Steph finally gets the final MVP trophy and elevates his legacy a little more. TF
The smart money is from Steph Curry, of course, but let’s not forget that his Splash teammate, Klay Thompson, is able to take over by creating a series of long-range shots that could leave even the famous defense of Boston struggling to find answers. especially if his game plans focus on Steph to start the series. HF
Jayson Tatum. During the Eastern Conference Finals, Tatum was able to start his offensive constantly against a petty Heat defense that suffocated Trae Young and James Harden in previous rounds. Tatum will not face as much defensive pressure as the right but not great defenders, Thompson and Wiggins. Tatum will average about 30 points per game to earn MVP honors. ARS
Unannounced player to watch
In many ways, this series depends on the effectiveness of the Celtic defense and, by the transitive property, of the Time Lord, Robert Williams III. He may be his most versatile defender, but he’s battling a knee injury and he definitely didn’t look like him in the Miami series. If he can be even a fraction closer to 100% in the final, his defensive skill set gives the Celtics a real chance. CDL
Gary Payton II has been out for several weeks breaking his elbow against Memphis, and some people may have forgotten the impact it could have on the Warriors. This elbow injury could affect his ability to shoot when he returns, but he’s such an excellent defender that maybe it doesn’t matter too much. TF
Andrew Wiggins has had the strangest career of all finalists so far, from the best selection in the 2014 NBA Draft to the Rookie of the Year to the Minnesota Timberwolves border. Luckily for him, he rediscovered his shot put with the Warriors and has saved some of his best basketballs for the postseason. It’s hard not to take root for him, even if you’re a warrior hater. HF
Al Horford. The 15-year veteran will finally drift away from the dubious distinction of having played most of the postseason games without reaching an NBA Finals. Throughout the playoffs, Horford has found ways to make plays that change the game with defense and timely triples. It could be the biggest X factor in the series. ARS
Boston center Robert Williams III, on the right, has been a major defensive presence for the Celtics. Photography: Wilfredo Lee / AP
A bold prediction
Once again, Stephen Curry should finally get his long-awaited MVP of the finals this year, which would mean the Warriors would win the chip. But in case the Celtics were upset here, I say it now: Al Horford will have their moment in the sun and win the MVP of the final against all odds, in the style of Andre Iguodala. CDL
Commentary teams will campaign for Mark Jackson to get the job done. Jackson laid the foundations of the Warriors dynasty, but to date has not received any other coaching work. Expect at least one of your fellow commenters to hit the table by asking any team, any team, to hire this man. TF
We have a replay of Al Horford’s game. The Celtics needed an all-time game from the great Al Horford, 35, to win the fourth game of his epic series against the Milwaukee Bucks, where he scored 30 points on 11 of 14 shots. for Horford, which is more of the kind of glue consumed than someone compiling eye-catching stats, but if Boston needs it again, look for a repeat performance. HF
Nia Long and Deuce Tatum will find ways to go viral. Long, the promise of Celtics head coach Ime Udoka, and Deuce, the son of Jayson Tatum, have both captured the off-court focus with viral moments during the playoffs. We can expect Long, a consummate actress, to celebrate the victories with a cheerful dance and the four-year-old Deuce to support her father’s classmates, both of whom are causing social media to collapse. ARS
How would this Warriors team have fared against the LeBron Cavs in the 2015-18 season finale?
In fact, this team is much deeper, in many ways, than the previous Kevin Durant Golden State teams of years past. But as LeBron is stating, I can’t help but be optimistic that, at the height of his powers, he could have won a team without Durant with a 34-year-old Stephen Curry and an unpredictable version of Klay Thompson. returning from two major leg injuries. CDL
Really good. One of the few advantages the Cavs had over the 2015-18 Warriors was their superior athleticism. While Steph, Klay, and Draymond may be older now, the rest of this Warriors roster is much more athletic than their predecessors. TF
No matter how fun the Warriors story has been, if you transport them back in time to 2015-18, the Cavaliers will win at least one more title. Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green are all seniors after all and Kevin Durant (who was the final MVP in both 2017 and 2018) would not make the trip back. These warriors have no alignment of death, rather a medically induced coma line. HF
The 2021-22 Warriors are good, but the 2015-18 Warriors were fantastic. It was a team that could have competed with any of the best NBA teams in history, including the 1997 Chicago Bulls or the 2001 LA Lakers. However, this year’s Warriors team would likely win two games against the Cavs team that featured LeBron James and Kyrie Irving. ARS
The winner will be …
Warriors 4-2 Celtics. There are many nuances in predicting who lifts the Larry O’Brien trophy. But let’s be simple: we’ve spent too many years playing basketball to bet on a healthy Stephen Curry, who is still the best shooter the NBA has ever seen. CDL
Warriors 4-2 Celtics. Focus on coaching and experience. Or, in the case of Boston, its lack. Ime Udoka has done an excellent job reaching the final in his first season as head coach, but he made some questionable decisions at the end of the season. Steve Kerr and his core have been here many times before: this experience could be crucial under the bright lights of the final. TF
Warriors 4-2 Celtics. These Celtics could take the brunt: while they had a difficult start to the season, struggling to maintain a .500 record while head coach Ime Udoka adapted to his new role, Boston ended up being the best team in the world. ‘NBA from the start. of 2022. However, their inexperience forced them to play more games in the postseason than they probably should have. He’s looking for a big road victory before the Warriors take control of the series. HF
Celtics 4-3 Warriors. It’s conventional to stand next to Golden State, who have an edge in experience and a lead on the court. However, this …