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It’s time for some NBA Finals predictions 2022.
Warriors vs Celtics, Boston Celtics vs Golden State Warriors, call it as you like, we like to call it a series for the ages. A veteran team hosts an up-and-coming squad. The Dynasty meets the winningest franchise in NBA history. What’s not to like here?
NBA Finals predictions 2022
If you thought the Boston Celtics would reach this stage when you first made your NBA Finals picks 2022, then congratulations. At some point, you may have been the only person that believed in them, even ahead of Brad Stevens and Ime Udoka.
But the Celtics finished the season strongly. Their defense is elite and the Jayson Tatum–Jaylen Brown duo seems to have finally found its stride. Add Al Horford‘s IQ and Marcus Smart‘s defensive prowess to that mix and the Celtics have put together something special.
But as you may know by most NBA Finals predictions 2022, it’ll take more than something special to take the ring away from the Golden State Warriors. They’re set to play their sixth NBA Finals series in the past eight seasons, joining Bill Russell‘s Celtics, Jerry West and Magic Johnson‘s Lakers, and Michael Jordan‘s Chicago Bulls as the only teams to achieve that feature.
The Dubs know people counted them out before the start of the season. They missed the playoffs the past two years and people thought about how Klay Thompson was never going to be the same and how they wouldn’t make the NBA Finals again.
Then, Jordan Poole broke out as a star in the making, Andrew Wiggins became a defensive specialist, and the championship core proved that they were still alive and well. Now, they know this might well be their last chance to win another ring.
NBA Finals series prediction 2022
Making a prediction about a series is never easy. Multiple factors could come into place. From luck to questionable refereeing (and Adam Silver sending out Scott Foster to extend a series) to health. Anybody can get red hot or go ice cold in a seven-game series.
The Celtics boast the best defense in the league. They have the personnel to switch and match up against anybody, they know how to swarm the perimeter, and they won’t hesitate to put their body on the line or run through screens to challenge and alter shots.
They also have a solid one-two scoring punch, two guys who can efficiently score from all three levels, get to the line, drive to the lane, or pull up from distance. Nonetheless, it’ll be key for them to find a third scoring option to take some pressure off their shoulders.
That’s one of the aspects where the Warriors will be superior to them. They have three legit no 1. scoring options in Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Jordan Poole. If everything fails, they can also count on Andrew Wiggins to get to the rim and contribute at least 15 points per game.
While their defense is elite, the Celtics will have a tough time containing four shooters on the floor at all times. They haven’t met a rival like the Warriors thus far, and guarding them without double-teaming any player will be a major challenge.
Also, the Warriors are no longer the run-and-gun team they were in the early stages of the Steve Kerr era. They have some miles under their belt and would rather control the pace and tempo of the game, making the Celtics a favorable matchup in that regard.
The Dubs will get Gary Payton II and Otto Porter Jr back for this series. That, plus Andre Iguodala, Draymond Green, Kevon Looney, Wiggins, and even Juan Toscano-Anderson gives them the defensive depth, length, and strength to match up with the Celtics’ stars for 48 minutes.
The coaching matchup also favors the Dubs. Steve Kerr has been there way too often and he’s proven to be a master at making adjustments at this stage. The Warriors’ Death Lineup and its variations can bail him out of nearly every situation and no deficit is big enough to count them out of games.
The Celtics are no pushovers and can extend this series to seven games and it wouldn’t be a surprise. We wouldn’t even be shocked to see them go up in the series at some point. But all things considered, it’s hard to put your money against the Warriors in the NBA Finals.
Steve Kerr’s team is better coached, deeper, more talented, more experienced, and more versatile. The Celtics have youth on their side but that’s not always a good thing. Also, both Brown and Tatum have had some off nights in the postseason and that’s not something you can afford against such an experienced team.
Odds to win NBA title
Unsurprisingly, oddsmakers side with the Golden State Warriors in their NBA Finals predictions 2022.
That’s natural considering they’ll have homecourt advantage and have been to this stage six times in eight seasons, whereas this will be the first time that any player on the Boston Celtics’ roster has reached the NBA Finals.
As of May 30th, the Warriors have -160 odds to win the Finals, while the Celtics have +130 odds. That means that you’d need to bet $160 on the Warriors to win $100, while the Celtics would grant you a payout of $130 on a $100 investment.
In terms of Finals MVP, Stephen Curry leads the race with odds of +120, followed by Jayson Tatum’s +175. From there, we find Jaylen Brown (+1000), Draymond Green (+1400), Klay Thompson (+1500), Jordan Poole (+3000), and Marcus Smart (+3800).
