This year’s edition of the NBA Playoffs has been thrilling. Like every year, the playoffs had it all, from powerhouse teams losing early, remarkable individual performances, and last-second wins. Sixteen teams entered the playoffs hoping to win a title but only two teams remain standing as they hope to win the 2022 NBA championship.
The league's 75th season features a matchup between two of the oldest franchises, with the Boston Celtics facing off against the Golden State Warriors. Both franchises have had their dynasties and dark ages over the years and have played many great games against each other. Although both franchises have had their successes and failures, they have had different paths what made their teams the way they are today.
The Celtics are among the most accomplished professional sports franchises, having won seventeen NBA championships. Many of the league's greatest players have played for the elite franchise, notably Larry Bird and Bill Russell. Although the Celtics may not be as successful as they were in the 1960s, the franchise has maintained a winning culture in its storied history.
The Warriors won the first title in league history in 1947 when they were in Philadelphia and two more in 1956 and 1975. Aside from these three titles, the Warriors have seen a great deal of mediocrity in their history before winning three titles over the last eight years. The Warriors are now back in the Finals and look to add a seventh championship banner to the rafters.
The two teams last faced each other in the finals in 1964 when the Celtics defeated the Warriors in five games. Nearly sixty years later, there will be a rematch of two remarkably talented squads from top to bottom. Both teams split the regular season series but this time, the stakes are much higher.
The Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics started the season poorly, and it looked like the East's best franchise would miss the playoffs in the NBAs 75th season. This was not the case as a mid-season turnaround propelled the Celtics into title contention. The Celtics are back in the Finals for the first time since 2010 hoping that the duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown will lead them to an eighteenth NBA title.
Under first-year head coach Ime Udoka, the Celtics have greatly improved on the defensive side of the ball. The trio of Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart, Al Horford, and Robert Williams has locked down opponents this season. Last season the Celtics finished sixteenth in defensive rating and finished first this season, also ending the season with the league’s best offensive rating.
It is not just the core of Horford, Smart, and Williams that has made Boston so good defensively. Jayson Tatum has also made great strides on the defensive side, recording the sixth-best defensive rating in the league at 106.3 for the season. This improvement on the defensive side on the ball may be what pushes the Celtics over the edge this season.
Despite how well the Celtics have played in the playoffs, they still lack their opponents' title experience. Nevertheless, the Celtics are still a talented and well coached team that can shut down superstar opponents. If one team has proven they can overcome adversity this season, it is the Boston Celtics.
The Golden State Warriors
For the last two seasons, the Golden State Warriors have missed the playoffs and seemed to have fallen off from their championship heyday. This season, the Warriors bounced back to make their sixth Finals appearance in eight years. In the Western Conference Finals, the Warriors defeated the Dallas Mavericks 4-1 to advance to the NBA Finals.
The trio of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green has led the Warriors to three championships in 2015, 2017, and 2018, with Kevin Durant being a part of the 2017 and 2018 teams. After Durant left the team in 2019, the Warriors have seen several of their players develop their games while their stars recovered from injuries.
Over the last two seasons, several key players have developed their games with the Warriors. Andrew Wiggins and Jordan Poole have developed into versatile offensive threats and will be vital in the Warriors' run to an NBA title. In the playoffs, Kevon Looney has stepped up for the Warriors, providing the Warriors with reliable scoring and rebounding.
The Warriors are not only an offensive juggernaut, but they are also strong on the defensive end. Boston may have better defensive players, but the Warriors have proven they can overcome the league's best defenses with their incredible three-point shooting. If one team has proven they can overcome any challenge in the playoffs, it is the Warriors.
Key Matchups:
Stephen Curry (GSW) vs. Marcus Smart (BOS)
2021-22 Regular Season Stats:
Stephen Curry: 25.5 PPG, 6.3 APG, 5.2 RPG, 1.3 SPG 43.7 FG%,
Marcus Smart: 12.1 PPG, 5.9 APG, 3.8 RPG, 1.7 SPG, 41.8 FG%
This season, Marcus Smart became the first guard to win the defensive player of the year award since Gary Payton in 1996. Since being drafted to the Celtics in 2014, Smarts defensive minded game has helped the Celtics become title contenders. Smart also has excellent court vision which sets up his teammates for points on the offensive end.
Smart is talented defensively, but Stephen Curry is the best shooter the game has ever seen. Curry is a generational player whose incredible shot-making skills earned the Warriors three titles from 2015 to 2018. Curry has made the most difficult looking shots look easy and has revolutionized the game and stopping him will not be easy.
Advantage: Warriors
Jaylen Brown (BOS) vs Klay Thompson (GSW)
2021-22 Regular Season Stats:
Jaylen Brown: 23.6 PPG, 6.1 APG, 3.5 RPG, 1.1 SPG 47.3 FG%
Klay Thompson: 20.4 PPG, 2.8 APG, 3.5 RPG, 0.5 SPG, 42.9 FG%
Klay Thompson has returned to the Warriors after missing the last two seasons to injury. Although Thompson has needed time to readjust to the game, he has been vital in the Warriors efforts to win the NBA title. The sharpshooting Thompson has been valuable on both ends of the floor, making winning plays in the playoffs for the Warriors.
Jaylen Brown may not be as experienced as Thompson, but he has had a better season. Brown leads Thompson in nearly all major statistical categories while being seven years younger. Brown has had the better season, but this matchup may be the most intriguing of the series as either player could outperform the other.
Advantage: Celtics
SF: Jayson Tatum (BOS) vs. Andrew Wiggins (GSW)
2021-22 Regular Season Stats:
Jayson Tatum: 26.9 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 4.4 APG 1.0 SPG 45.3 FG%
Andrew Wiggins: 17.2 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 2.2.APG 1.0 SPG 46.6 FG%
Jayson Tatum has been excellent in leading the Celtics' midseason turnaround. Tatum has been a perennial all-star for several years and has improved greatly since his rookie season in 2018. The Jayson Tatum era in Boston has had its ups and downs but Tatum has taken a leap this season that may lead the Celtics to their eighteenth NBA title.
Andrew Wiggins has also improved his game since arriving in Golden State in 2020. Wiggins was named an NBA all-star for the first time this season and has become reliable on both ends of the floor. Wiggins is one of the NBA's best small forwards, but he is not a number one option, unlike his positional match-up, Jayson Tatum.
Advantage: Celtics
There are plenty of reasons why either team could win this year's championship. The Celtics were the best team in the league over the last two months of the regular season and made it to the finals by taking down the East-leading Miami Heat. The Warriors are the more experienced team, however, and can outshoot anyone at any given time.
If the Celtics want to beat the Warriors, they must keep the Warriors from getting their usual shots. Doing this is easier said than done, but the Celtics are deeper defensively all around the board. If the Celtics can at least slow down the Warriors and take advantage of this on the offensive side, they can win the title.
The Warriors need their mental edge and three-point barrages to take down the Celtics. If the Warriors can adjust their shots against the stifling Celtics defense, they can win the NBA title. The Warriors have been to and won the Finals before but cannot underestimate the Celtics' younger talent.
Both teams are among the NBA's best on both sides of the ball and match up well against each other. The Finals go beyond just statistics, as whoever wants to win more will come out victorious. The Celtics and Warriors are among the most accomplished franchises in Basketball and look to add to their storied histories by winning this year's NBA title.
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