Five 2022 NBA Finals storylines that will decide Celtics-Warriors
After seven weeks of postseason basketball, the Celtics-Warriors 2022 NBA Finals is set and will begin Thursday in San Francisco’s Chase Center.
What’s another four days. Adam Silver’s tournament has been an endless journey with too many blowouts, too many injuries and too many “play-in’’ rounds.
Even lead broadcaster Mike Breen didn’t make it all the way – sidelined by COVID-19 that forced him to miss the Celtics’ Game 7 100-96 road triumph Sunday in Miami.
Partner Jeff Van Gundy is working with a hoarse throat. Mark Jackson sounded like he was going through the motions when the Leprechauns hung on to advance to their first NBA Finals since 2010 and continue a quest for their 18th NBA championship.
The main course is finally here with the Celtics’ brutish defense facing the Warriors’ finesse that includes most of the championship core of Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson.
And the Warriors have an unheralded defense, too. This is Golden State’s sixth Finals in eight years, coming off a two-season hiatus.
Curry’s chewing on his mouthpiece and Green chewing out referees are back in prime time.
TNT’s Stan Van Gundy told The Post during the first-round Celtics-Nets series that Boston has played the league’s best basketball since the All-Star break and were unappreciated. The Warriors are -160 favorites for the series on BetMGM. This Jayson Tatum-Jaylen Brown-Marcus Smart grinding green-clad group still isn’t being given proper credit.
“If they win it, it’s the worst Celtics team to ever win it by far,’’ one coaching source said. “The league has a lot of good teams – no great teams.’’
Here’s five keys/storylines for Celtics-Warriors.
Will Celtics physical defense be allowed to flex muscles?
In 1990’s style, Boston bullied the Nets physically in a first-round sweep – particularly Kevin Durant. But this is the Finals.
“Can Boston out-physical the Warriors and win the rebounding war,’’ one NBA advance scout said. “Can they play physical without putting the Warriors on the foul line?’’
The Celtics, led by big man Al Horford, have put switching-on-every-possession in vogue, with 2022 NBA Draft prospects talking about fitting into the Celtics style of guarding 1-to-5.
“The concern is whether Boston’s switching defense works against the Warriors’ pace, speed and cutting game,’’ the scout said. “The Warriors may be the best team in the league at attacking this style of defense.’’
In addition, the scout pointed out that Golden State “makes you pay if you turn ball over against them. And Golden State gets the ball out quickly on made baskets, too, so transition defense will be a key to Boston success.’’
Golden State’s Finals Experience vs. Celtics Prideful Legacy
Celtics rookie coach Ime Udoka had a great line after Boston moved on.
“We don’t celebrate Eastern Conference Championships in this organization,’’ Udoka said.
However, not one of these Celtics have played in the NBA Finals as the Tatum-Brown-Smart Era has been constantly denied. Along this 2022 ride, the Celtics eliminated teams that ousted them in each of the past three playoffs – Nets (2021), Bucks (2019), Heat (2020).
“They are young but have old souls,’’ former Celtic and now-ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins said.
Meanwhile, the Warriors players have combined to play in 123 Finals games. Still, one coaching source says Thompson, after his ACL surgeries, is nowhere near what he was defensively during the title years.
“He’s not an A-level defender – in fact some nights he’s C-level,’’ the coaching source said.
The Tatum Factor
Perkins said if the Celtics pull this off, Tatum’s playoff run should be considered arguably the best individual postseason march in NBA history, slaying Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jimmy Butler and Curry in succession.
A key is whether Udoka can force Curry to defend Tatum on switches. In the playoffs, Tatum is averaging 27 points and 5.9 assists while shooting 37.5 percent from 3.
“Tatum will score,’’ an NBA scout said. “Boston will try to have whoever Curry guards, set a pick on the ball. When he is at his best is when he gets over six assists per game and gets others shots. Jayson’s trust for his teammates from the beginning of the year till now is much different. That one of the reasons they have won.’’
Another advance scout said a big question for Steve Kerr is “where do they hide Curry on defense? They’ll attack him and a key is keeping (Curry) out of foul trouble’’
Rebounding wins championships
This is an old axiom that got supplanted in the 3-point shooting, smallball era perfected by the Warriors. The Celtics, even when they play smallball with center Robert Williams on the bench, are a mighty rebounding team. Warriors center Kevon Looney, a free agent, has helped Golden State’s boardwork in the last two series.
Williams’ sore knee still is a tricky issue and he looked lost in Game 7 despite the win.
“Defensive rebounding will be a major part of this series for Golden State,’’ a talent evaluator said. “They don’t have to win this battle but can’t get crushed.’’
Can the Celtics plodding offense keep up?
The Warriors have a league-best 116.1 offensive rating in the playoffs, so Boston has a lot to live up to.
And the Warriors are likely getting back injured defensive specialists, Gary Payton III, Andre Iguodala and Otto Porter Jr.
“Both teams are great defensively so it will be fun to watch if scoring is hard to come by,’’ a scout said.
Another scout says Robert Willams will need “to find a way to impact the game’’ and take away Green’s strength of defending off the ball.
One scout said the Celtics beat a very tired-looking Heat team. Jackson seemed to agree in the ESPN booth.
“As a coach sitting here, I’m thinking we got to be better,’’ Jackson said of Boston’s attack. “That we got away in this series (vs. Miami), we’re not going to get away with out west.”
from novel lk | นิยาย นวนิยาย นิยายออนไลน์ เขียนนิยายออนไลน์ https://www.novellk.com/2022/05/five-2022-nba-finals-storylines-that.html
Comments
Post a Comment