The NBA Finals game between the Boston Celtics and the Golden State Warriors must be superb.
These teams are balanced. The Celtics finished the regular season in the first league in terms of effective defense. The Warriors finished second. Still, each team has explosive offensive firepower, with Jason Tatum leading Boston and Stephen Curry stepping on Golden State.
The Warriors and the Celtics have split their two matches from the regular season, making it difficult to draw definitive conclusions. On December 17, the Boston Warriors beat the Celtics 111-107, but Clay Thompson, Jordan Poole, Al Horford and Grant Williams did not play tonight. On March 16, the San Francisco Celtics defeated the Warriors 110-88 in a game that Andrew Wiggins of the Warriors missed.
So how will the finals develop?
To answer this question, The athlete turned to three experts: a scout, a coach and a team leader. We gave each of them anonymity because their respective teams did not give them permission to comment publicly on this series.
(Editor’s note: Their ratings have been slightly edited for brevity and clarity.)
The Scout’s Perspective: “I choose Boston. They had a very difficult path, a very competitive path to get here: Brooklyn, Milwaukee and Miami, all very good teams, even the Nets. The Nets could easily have won a few games or even three games in this series. So all these things about the lack of experience (of the Celtics) and the fact that they were not in the finals – I would not throw it out the window, but they won two games 7 and one of those on the court of the other boys. So they certainly stood their ground.
“Size will be a problem for the Celtics. Kevan Looney was exceptional in previous series for the Warriors and at times was the best player for them. I think Boston can certainly counteract that, whether it’s Al Horford or Robert Williams III or even Grant Williams or even Daniel Thais. So I think the size of the Celtics will be a problem for the Warriors.
“I don’t think Clay Thompson is back yet. I’d say he’s shown more than flashes (from his old self, before injuries), but he’s not Clay Thompson from three years ago. I just think there’s something (missing), whether it’s athleticism or it’s getting a little older. I mean, he’s still a very good player. In terms of his superstar is a little less. I think that’s a factor.
“Curry is obviously a fantastic player. On the other hand, the other team has the defender of the year, Marcus Smart.
“Injuries will be a factor. I think Boston’s bench is better. Otto Porter Jr. went in and out for the Warriors. Gary Peyton II has to return, but has not played for some time. How effective will it be? …
“Golden State has the advantage of the home court, so you have to give it to them. This is an advantage, especially when you get to Game 7. But in his previous series, Boston won three games in Miami. I just think the Celtics have confidence. Their stars have shown that they fit the case.
“Jordan Poole? We will see. Will he rise to the occasion at this time? I’m not entirely convinced. …
“I think it must be a very good series. I thought Phoenix would get there. I think the best team came from the East and probably the second best team came from the West. …
“Size will be a big factor. Boston, starting with Williams and Horford, looks like the Celtics are huge. I just don’t think Looney will have the same impact on these guys. Against Dallas … he can almost be dominant. But Boston is a very different story. …
“Ever since January and they came together, the Celtics are probably the best team in the league. Winning two games 7 against really good teams is a huge confidence. I didn’t even mention Jason Tatum. If you compare the two stars on each team – Tatum and Curry, (Jaylan) Brown and Thompson – I think I almost give Boston an advantage because I don’t think Thompson isn’t there yet.
“I must mention Andrew Wiggins. It could be an X-factor. He was a real plus and the Warriors needed him to be really good. I don’t think they have a chance unless it’s really, really good. They just don’t have enough. I mean, they can’t count on Poole. They will not rely on Luni. Thompson will give them a lot. But they need Andrew Wiggins to be a major, and I don’t think they have a chance unless he performs at a very, very high level.
“I just think Boston has more depth, more size and has risen so far and they will continue to do so.
Stephen Curry and Clay Thompson, as well as Draymond Green (not pictured here), are going to their fourth NBA Championship together. (Kelly L. Cox / USA today)
The coach’s views: “I think Boston will find a way, I really do. They were my choice from the beginning.
“I still think Golden State is a machine. They are just closed in on each other. And they are so selfless. And they know their guilt so well. Everyone who plays agrees with the attack. And they generate open hits and make hard hits. Their violation is dynamic. The way they pass, cut and move without the basketball is fun to watch.
“Boston’s defense will be good enough to limit the easy buckets that Golden State generates. This is what I am considering. This is the key for me. I think Boston will be able to get those points off the board. So when you say, “Curry and Thompson get eight points in back cuts. They get the pin. They receive the frontal immersion. Well, they get it all. But they get it in weaker defensive teams. And my reason for choosing Boston is that they will be more disciplined than letting that happen.
“It all depends on health. Does Robert Williams play? What is Marcus Smart’s ankle? I think everyone has problems, right? Is Gary Peyton II back? Does this help (Golden State)? Gary Peyton’s return takes minutes from whom?
“Boston can play great with Robert Williams, maybe with Horford. They can play a little with Grant Williams. They can change a lot. They are physical. What would be interesting to me is what the officials call the series. Do they allow Boston to be physical and slow down the Golden State with their bodies holding, hitting, pushing, hindering progress? Or they say, “We do not allow this. Do we call this series a certain way? Not a game for a game, but essentially the whole series – how will they make the series? You have heard the term “freedom of movement”. This is so important to Steph Curry. Will they keep Marcus Smart and (the Celtics) defenders on the perimeter and hinder Curry’s progress? …
“It depends (a) how strong both teams are and (b) how the officials define the series. Many things happened in the finals of the Eastern Conference, all the accusations and failures. And these same officials will lead the finals. You will see Scott Foster and James Capers, the same boys. But you have to navigate all the failures and false nonsense. Some of them are fouls. But the good players – the smart players – put you in a little box and say, “I’m going to make you play because I’m falling.” But this series was about accusations, flopping and stacking bodies. I don’t know what happens when you start doing this in Golden State, opposite Golden State.
“If you allow Golden State to play with freedom of movement, if you allow them to play their offensive game, no one can beat them. If you say, “Marcus Smart, you’re going to be allowed to put your body on a man or get on Clay Thompson and break him with your body and reach and throw the ball two or three times a game,” then we’re playing basketball. in the style of the Boston Celtics. … Boston beats any team that tries to play physically. What will prevail: the physicality of Boston or the shooting of Golden State?
Marcus Smart (center), the current NBA Defender of the Year, plays physically – if officials allow this style of play, ie. (David Butler II / USA Today)
The views of the CEO: “(Celtics) fucked all the time (in their run to the finals). Like, with the injuries that were in the East, Boston is the best team. They lose game 5 at home to Milwaukee (in the second round), which you can’t do. They lost Game 6 at home to an injured Miami team (in the Eastern Finals). But their level of talent (is elite) – Tatum and Brown… and their depth from one to seven, which is basically everything (Celtics coach Name Udoka) plays. They did a great job of shortening the bench and were the top seven boys in the East. The best team won. Have they messed up more than you might expect? Probably. But they are the best team at the moment with what everyone else is facing injuries. … They have been the best team in the East for four months now.
“(But) Warriors have an advantage in the household, which I think will be a big deal. Obviously the audience is different from Oracle (Arena), but it’s still very, very good. And they seem to have taken their step in defense almost more than offensively in these playoffs. And then you add Steph, Clay – who’s not exactly the same Clay, but more than enough. And then they’ll put (Wiggins) on Tatum, I guess. My big question is will they start Clay on Brown, or will they have Draymond (Green) on one of the two big ones and move Wiggins to the other? I guess they’ll start Clay Brown and let Draymond do his job for the safety of the rover, the best-in-the-basketball he is. But I just think their ability to create shots the way he does. they do it, well …
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