Finally Boston Celtics are playing with the Golden State Warriors in the 2022 NBA Finals. Celtics tearing down the Miami Heat by 100-96 on game 7 in Sunday confirmed the Finals rivalry with the Warriors. Finals are set to began Thursday, June 2.
Golden State stepped into the Finals convincingly winning against the Western Conference Finals but Miami Heat gave the Celtics a sheer challenge after winning the game6 and tying with them. Finally Celtics took game 7 to reach to the Finals.
Let’s explore how the Celtics and the Warriors teams up against each other for the 2022 NBA Finals
Road to Finals, How the Two Got Here?
Golden State Warriors reached into the Finals with a clean sheet wiping away the Dallas Mavericks from the Western Conference Finals. Interestingly the scene was opposite to see as Jimmy Butler paced the Heat with a scintillating 47 point outing in game 6 winning against the Celtics which made a game 7 to be happen.
Tying the series 3-3 Miami Heat and Boston Celtics both the teams keep their hope to reach the finals till game 7 of the yesterday night’s. Finally Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown’s Heat won against the Heat though Jimmy Butler tried a lot for saving his team.
Warriors vs. Celtics series schedule
Here is the full schedule for the 2022 NBA Finals.
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
| June 2 | Game 1 | 9 p.m. | ABC |
| June 5 | Game 2 | 8 p.m. | ABC |
| June 8 | Game 3 | 9 p.m. | ABC |
| June 10 | Game 4 | 9 p.m. | ABC |
| June 13 | Game 5* | 9 p.m. | ABC |
| June 16 | Game 6* | 9 p.m. | ABC |
| June 19 | Game 7* | 8 p.m. | ABC |
* (If these are necessary)
Stats to Look at
In the Western conference Finals the Warriors were able to feast off the Mavericks’ lack of rim protection, averaging nearly 50 points per game. The Mavs and the other two teams from the Eastern Conference Finals averaged between 32 and 40 in the conference finals.
The Warriors got a lot of skills in panting their three pointers but the lack of rim may be an issue in the final as the opponent is not the Mavs like in the Conference Finals. The Mavs couldn’t show them some big body challenges but the Celtics are waiting to show their experience and skills.
The Warriors are back in the NBA Finals for the sixth time in eight years. Kevin Durant is in Brooklyn, and Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson are now each firmly entrenched in their 30s, but Golden State is again on the precipice of a championship. After defeating the Dallas Mavericks in five games in the Western Conference Finals, the Warriors will now have home court advantage in the Finals.
Deciding Factors
Warriors’ Steph Curry was never the best player on the court in the five trips to The Finals, partly because the competition for that honor was steep (LeBron James, Kevin Durant), partly because Curry for some reason seemed a level below his own standards and Andre Iguodala often elevated. After securing the All-Star and West finals MVPs this season, maybe the elusive Finals MVP is within his reach this time.
However, The Celtics are the bigger team. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown need to flex muscle in ways the Mavericks couldn’t in the West finals against Golden State. Al Horford is having a renaissance and Robert Williams III, assuming he’s healthy, is an athletic rim protector.
Grant Williams plays big and, if needed, there’s Daniel Theis. Boston can exploit this mismatch and force the Warriors to adjust if not completely rethink their small ball approach. If Steph Curry, Al Horford and Klay Thompson want to be in the history books there’s no alternative to flex the muscle against the big team.
Who’s the Favorite?
The Finals is having two team from two Conference Finals with their unique story. Golden State Warriors is returning after a two year gape the defection of 2017 and 2018 Finals MVP Kevin Durant, a pair of serious leg injuries to Klay Thompson and an additional season ender to Steph Curry.
But the Celtics might be a team of destiny given their surge since mid January, Tatum and Brown’s ascent, Smart’s defensive impact, a tough trek through the East playoffs and finally getting over that conference finals hump.
The Boston Celtics are proving them a tough team altogether against the Warriors but the Dubs are getting an home condition as a privilege on which they unbeaten this post season.
