2022 NBA PLAYOFFS: Picking the NBA Finals

The Finals are set! The Celtics and Warriors clawed their way to the final round, past formidable opponents who didn’t make it easy for them. 

The Celtics played two seven game series and swept a Brooklyn team that headlines two of the most prolific offensive talents in NBA history.  

The Warriors got past young superstars in Nikola Jokić, Ja Morant and Luka Dončić to reach their sixth finals in eight seasons, extending  their dynastic rule. 

Both teams are deserving of a championship because of their impressive runs.  Hopefully,  Finals live up to the hype.  Expect exceptional  coaching prowess, unbelievable offense and defense  and competition at its highest level. 

Time to pick. 

WARRIORS IN 6 

Like their previous three matchups, the Warriors don’t want this series to go to seven because that’s when things can  get wacky.

Are they good enough to win a Game 6 on the road? You bet. Especially against this Celtics team that seems to play better on the road than at home. My guess is that the Warriors will try to shoot for five games. 

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have to be elite all the way through to pull off this upset. They can’t go on these cold streaks that have happened too often during their run. Now is the time to shine. If either or both of them goes too quiet against THIS team, advantage Warriors. They need to average at least 60 points combined for the series. Tatum, specifically, needs to give at least 31 a game. 

Tatum and Brown are younger, quicker and elite wings who can give the Warriors problems. This is not to say the Warriors don’t have the personnel to guard them – because they do – but they are way more athletic than Dončić. A much smaller Morant got what he wanted against the Warriors. Imagine what the C’s big guns can do? 

Al Horford must consistently continue to defend, shoot the  three and rebound.  He has been a huge difference maker for them. Stretching the floor, blocking shots and grabbing  timely rebounds. 

Can Boston win this? Yes! They must push it to seven games, make Steph Curry’s life hell and Tatum and Brown must dominate. Smart must continue to hit big shots and limit his turnovers. Payton Pritchard must be Peyton and Grant Williams must be Grant. 

The Warriors don’t need to rely heavily on their superstars. Their superstar coach, Steve Kerr, will put his players in the right positions  to give them the best shot to win the game. It’d be great for Curry and Klay Thompson to have big series but it’s not compulsory for the Warriors to win. 

Their team, led by an outstanding coach, is good enough to get it done without  big performances from its stars. 

Oh and you can’t trump experience. Warriors are playing for their fourth title. 

If the Celtics manage to pull this off, it’ll say a lot about this team, its coach and its superstar. Their legacies will take on a whole new meaning,