The wait for the 2022 NBA Finals is nearly at an end. The Golden State Warriors and Boston Celtics have established themselves as the top two teams in the NBA and are set to square off. Each team has proven to be battle-tested and is prepared for the challenge. Game 1 is set to tip off on Thursday so all basketball-starved fans can finally see the action return.
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The Celtics have proven not to be intimidated by any matchup during their path through the playoffs. However, the Warriors will stretch their impressive defense in a way they have not yet seen. Boston will have its hands full attempting to match up with the dynamic Warriors offense led by Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Jordan Poole. With the 2022 NBA Championship on the line, expect both teams to leave it all on the line. Game 1 is right around the corner and here are three predictions for what to expect.
Celtics Game 1 2022 NBA Finals Predictions
Robert Williams Scores 12+
While each team possesses an impressive defense, Robert Williams should be a matchup both teams have circled. The Celtics' big man has had an impressive postseason averaging 7.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks. The 24-year-old has grown into a perfect complementary player for this Boston Celtics core. He has made a positive impact on both sides of the ball even while battling a knee injury. Despite clearly being hampered and struggling up and down the court at time, Williams has continue to play at a high level. The Celtics have prioritized rehab and rest for Williams during his time off. It will be interesting to see how much this helps as the team may need to step into the spotlight more in this series given how the matchups shake out.
The Warriors have an impressive overall defense but will struggle to match up with the verticality of Robert Williams. Kevon Looney has stepped up as the starting big man for Golden State in these playoffs. He has provided effective minutes and done his job at a high level. Both Looney and Robert Williams are listed at 6'9âł, but Looney lacks the verticality to match Williams. Using the Texas A&M product as a lob threat in the dunker spot has been an effective play for the Celtics all year. Expect Boston to lean on this play heavily and for Robert Williams to add at least 12 points.
WELCOME BACK TIMELORD đ€
Robert Williams III dunks on Andre Drummond's head đ„pic.twitter.com/eaYGGlUO0k
â ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) April 24, 2022
Game Total Goes Under 211.5
FanDuel has set the over/under for the opening matchup at 211.5 for the Game 1 matchup. While the Warriors' impressive offense oftentimes steals the show, this should not overshadow their high-level defense. During the regular season, the Celtics and Warriors ranked first and second in defensive rating. They also each ranked top five in points allowed with the Celtics holding teams to 103.9 points per game and the Warriors allowing just 106.1 points per game.
The Celtics have embraced making it a defensive battle throughout the playoffs. Expect this to continue in this series and for neither team to take off a possession. The Under is 10-8 so far in Celtics games this postseason. Look for the pace to be controlled in the opening matchup and for it to be a low-scoring game. The intensity of the playoffs oftentimes brings out the highest quality defense and this is sure to be the case in the opening game.
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Warriors Take Game One
The debate between rest versus rust when heading into the next round is common every year. While there certainly is an argument that teams are better off staying within their flow of normal rest, there is a notable difference in the amount of rest each team is on. The Warriors cruised to their Conference victory over the Mavericks in five games on May 26th. In contrast, the Celtics wrapped up their seven-game bloodbath with the Heat three days later. While it may not seem like a major difference, four days of rest versus seven days of rest can make a massive difference in a player's recovery.
Several Celtics have picked up notable knocks throughout the playoffs. Marcus Smart has battled an ankle injury, Robert Williams is fighting through a knee injury, and Jayson Tatum has been seen grabbing at his shoulder throughout the past series. It is not expected for any of these players to miss time, but the level they are capable of playing at is the larger concern. Expect the Warriors to come out hot and for the Celtics to struggle out of the gate. The Celtics have come from behind in the past two playoff series, so going down 1-0 will not rule out Boston by any means. However, the combination of extra rest and the home crowd does not bode well for the Eastern Conference champions.
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