Sometimes we get to the end and we can’t help but feel somehow deceived. After a rigorous 82-game schedule and a grueling postseason, from time to time it seems like we end up with the wrong teams in the NBA Finals, whether it’s injuries, an unlikely ringer, bad trades, or just bad luck.
This year, however, that is not the case, as the Boston Celtics and Golden State Warriors face off in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday, in a battle between the two best teams of the postseason. Of course, there have been injuries along the way, like any other year, and we can talk about the collapse of Game 7 of the Phoenix Suns conference semifinals as a possible “yes, but what if” on the way to return of the Warriors to the final. But it’s hard to argue that Boston, the best team in the league since late January, and the Warriors with their healthy stars have somehow not earned their place in the final.
The match itself is juicy, with the Celtics having the best defense of the regular season and the second best in the playoffs, as the familiar faces of the Warriors Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green have led the best offensive of the postseason. . On paper, the series is full of intriguing clashes and somehow symbolizes an old battle against a new one for the supremacy of the league.
The Warriors enter as true blue blood, making their sixth appearance in the final in eight seasons, with three titles to prove it. The Celtics, meanwhile, have reached the final for the first time since 2010 as they were led by two stars in their mid-20s, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, along with a first-year head coach at Ime Udoka .
All of this makes the series extremely difficult to predict, but most agree that it should be long and exciting. Before we get ahead, though, we need to start with Game 1. Our CBS Sports NBA experts have warned not only who will win the first game of the 2022 NBA Finals, but also the final result. Exactly: How’s that for bold? Read the predictions below, along with information on Thursday’s opening NBA Finals display.
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How to watch match 1 live
Match: NBA Finals, Match 1 Date: Thursday, June 2 | Time: 9 pm ET. Location: Chase Center – San Francisco, CaliforniaTV: ABC | Live broadcast: fuboTV (Get access now) Proposals: BOS +145; GS -170; O / U 212.5 (via Caesars Sportsbook)
Featured game | Golden State Warriors vs. Boston Celtics
Celtics vs. Prediction Warriors, first game picks
Brad Botkin: There’s a lot of talk here about rest. Boston is well rested. It hasn’t been played since Sunday. I chose the Celtics to win the series and part of that logic stems from taking an early lead. Is the Golden State offensive atypical and takes a while to get used to? The same can be said of Boston’s defense. I like the creation of individual shots in Boston more than Golden State, and that applies to the series as a whole, as well as any particular game. Selection: Celtics +3.5 | Celtics 108, Warriors 101
James Herbert: My brain tells me this is going to be a low-scoring sensation game, since these are the two main defenses in the NBA. My brain also tells me that the Warriors will win comfortably, as they almost always get off to a good start in the series, the Celtics are a miraculous timekeeper far from being 0-3 in the top in these playoffs and the Golden State attack is a shock to the system. But I don’t trust my brain when it comes to predicting the outcome of a single basketball game. These teams are evenly matched, so maybe the Warriors will be neglected and the Boston attack will be launched. Let’s go crazy. Selection: Celtics +3.5 | Celtics 123, Warriors 115
Michael Kaskey-Blomain: Looking ahead to Game 1, the Warriors will be the most rested and arguably the most experienced team, which means they are less likely to be hit by the moment and affect their game. In addition, Golden State’s offense has been clicking through the postseason, while Boston’s has been inconsistent at times. Add to that the potential return of defenseman Gary Payton II, and the Warriors should be able to take over the business in the first game of the series. Choose: Warriors -3.5 and Warriors 113, Celtics 101
Jack Maloney: I picked the Celtics to win the series, but they only won Game 1 during that race and that was on a timer. The Warriors, meanwhile, have a remarkable 21-2 lead in the first game of Steve Kerr’s era. Keep in mind the extended rest and the advantage of the local Warriors track and they should win this one. Choose: Warriors -3.5 and Warriors 111, Celtics 104
Sam Quinn: The Warriors are 4-1 in Game 1 of the NBA Finals with Steve Kerr, losing only in 2019 to Toronto with Kevin Durant out. Their style differs so drastically from all other teams that opponents typically need a game or two to adjust, and even if they didn’t, the Warriors have a three-day break advantage and a healthier basic roster. Boston will make this a competitive series and maybe win it all, but Golden State should be very favored in Game 1. Choice: Warriors -3.5 | Warriors 109, Celtics 102
Colin Ward-Henninger: We can talk about how the two teams have performed in the first game so far during the playoffs, but as Warriors coach Steve Kerr keeps saying about the postseason: “Every game is different. Every game is different. different “. That said, we have to use some sort of criteria to make a guess, so let’s go with the fact that Golden State, a team whose stars are much bigger than the Celtics, has the benefit of almost a week off, while the Celtics will be three days away from finishing an emotional game 7 after one of the most physical and tiring series we’ve seen since the early 2000s. The Warriors only need you to slide a split second, at each end , to make you pay, and it looks like Boston will do it after the series just ended. Choose: Warriors -3.5 | Warriors 106, Celtics 98
Jasmyn Wimbish: The Warriors will come out and try to make a statement in Game 1. They have an advantage on the local court in an atmosphere that is disturbing to play in, and although I don’t think it’s easy, I’m going with Golden State to advance 1-0 . Choose: Warriors -3.5 | Warriors 110, Celtics 105