The NBA Finals game is scheduled, with Stephen Curry and the Warriors facing Jason Tatum and the Celtics. Who will be crowned champions? The Crossover staff makes their choice.
Howard Beck: Warriors in 7
It has to be fun… and tense and tense and very, very close. The Warriors, who are making their sixth final appearance in eight years, are still a scoring machine with Steph and Clay Thompson, now assisted by young guns like Jordan Poole and Andrew Wiggins. The Celtics will be the best defense against the Golden State this postseason. And no matter how healthy Warriors D are, they will have their hands full with Tatum and Jaylan Brown. The series can simply be reduced to intangible things, such as experience from the finals and the advantage of the home court, both of which are in favor of the Warriors.
Chris Herring: Warriors in 7
Boston matches extremely well with Golden State, enough to make it hard not to pick the Celtics here. The defense is certainly good enough to thwart Dubs’ attack in turning the ball over at times. And I think Boston will be able to focus on defending Jordan Poole. Still, I think Golden State is taking advantage of his experience at this point and doing enough to win, leading to Steph’s first MVP in the NBA Finals.
Rohan Nadcarni: Warriors in 7
Defending Boston will create problems for the Warriors. At the same time, Golden State has been amazing with Steph and Dray in the squad this season and I think the Dubs also have a deeper team. The Warriors can defend themselves and will present Boston with the most sophisticated offensive attack the Celts have seen in the entire postseason. Add the advantage of the experience and I like the chances of Golden State.
Chris Manix: The Celtics at 6 p.m.
Boston is shaken and the experience in those moments matters (hello, Oklahoma City). But the Celtics’ defense may be the best the NBA has seen in decades, and the team’s mental endurance in the playoffs gives optimism that Boston will not be overwhelmed in the finals. I think the Celtics are pushing a lot of speed for Golden State (who doesn’t?), Finding ways to attack Curry and Thompson and win on their home floor.
Graphics by Bryce Wood / Sports Illustrated
Michael Pina: The Celtics at 6 p.m.
In those playoffs, the Warriors did not face as great a defense as Boston. This is a shape-shifting, happy group that has no clear point of vulnerability. Everyone is a plus defender. Everyone is universal. There is no obvious weakness. Golden State has a No. 1 offense this postseason for a reason, however. With Steph Curry, Clay Thompson and Draymond Green on the court, they go through the action at a speed that makes most opponents dizzy. But there are so many ways the Celtics are designed to slow them down. And if the Warriors want to win, they’ll probably have to hit harder than they’re used to, while hoping Boston cools down on the other side.
John Gonzalez: Warriors in 7
The Celtics went through an absurd collection of talent to reach this point, sending the Nets (a modern wrong choice for everyone after the season), the Bucks (last year’s champions) and Heath (the No. 1 East). As much as it hurts me, the Ime Udoka team is playing as well as anyone could. But I’m a fan of continuity. As our SI teammate Howard Beck has just pointed out, Steph Curry and the Warriors have been together for a long time and have been in the finals in six of the last eight seasons. There is a lot to be said for the experience and understanding of what to expect on the biggest stage.
Watch the NBA Finals online with fuboTV: Try it for free!
Scroll to Continue
Ashley Nicole Moss: Warriors in 6
Curry, Thompson, Draymond Green, Keven Looney, Wiggins – and this is just the (possible) starting lineup! THIS TEAM IS DEEP. Not to mention intangible assets, the biggest is Championship DNA. You have a core of vets who have been to the Promised Land several times together; this experience and energy are contagious to those who are not. As for the Celtics, an extremely talented team, but this will not be the first time we see an inexperienced team fall apart in the bright lights of the NBA Finals. Also, I don’t think the Celtics will have an answer for someone who moves without a ball the way Steph Curry does. However, I will say that the Warriors have a habit of waiting until the third quarter to move the switch, and if the Boston Jace lights up, there will be no return. That’s why I believe Boston has two wins in this series, both at home.
Robin Lundberg: The Celtics at 6 p.m.
I’m already sorry about that as I write this, but I’ll go with the Celtics. I’m hesitant to doubt Steph Curry and the Golden State pedigree, but the Warriors haven’t faced a team like Boston. The Celtics’ ability to defend and distribute the floor in size gives them an advantage in this match, which I think they will win if they can limit their mistakes.
Jeremy Wu: Warriors in 7
I don’t think Golden State is the better team here. I just have a feeling the Warriors will find a way. Protecting Boston will make life difficult. But if we break up, the experience and urgency that Golden State brings to what should be a long series gives them a nod.
Ben Pickman: Warriors in 7
The finals in 2022 include the two best teams in the regular season in terms of defense rating and are designed to be a grueling series for both franchises. The differences between the two are small, but I give the Warriors a slight advantage because of the advantage both at home and because of how Boston performed in the situations at the end of the game in this playoff. According to stats.NBA.com, Boston has a -1.5 net rating in clutch situations this postseason and has seen its attack drop to just 94.7 points per 100 possessions. Meanwhile, Golden State’s crime thrives in such situations. Expect games to go downhill – and the series to go the distance – as Warriors’ proven ability to perform in difficult times is a potential differentiator.
Michael Shapiro: The Celtics at 6 p.m.
The Golden State has yet to see anything like this Boston defense in the 2022 playoffs, and the Celtics should not suffer the same problems that plagued them in the Eastern Conference finals. This must be a long series. A classic of seven games is a lot in the game. But after surviving the Snail Fest against Miami, it feels like Boston’s time on the mountaintop.
Elizabeth Swinton: Warriors in 7
The Celtics have dropped top stars on their way to the NBA Finals, but the Warriors’ defense and depth will be a challenge. Golden State is still not facing as strong a defense as Boston this postseason, but will have time to figure out how to overcome the pressure of the Celtics. Jason Tatum will lead the way to Boston, but the Warriors have the experience and advantage on the home court to take the title in a close series.
Kyle Wood: The Celtics at 7 p.m.
Boston has played with Golden State the best of any team in the last few years. This matters, as does the extra break provided by the schedule of the finals, which is disproportionately in favor of the Celtics, as well as their elite three-point defense, a phenomenal post-season road record and an advantage inside attack and defense. Boston’s healthy team can give the Warriors a hit in a series of seven games.
More coverage of the NBA:
Add Comment