Tank's 2022 NBA Finals Predictions
Ezra Shaw. Getty Images.NBA Finals
Golden State Warriors vs. Boston Celtics
Warriors in Five
For five years, no team was more dominant than the Golden State Warriors, who won three championships in four years, missing a four-peat by two points. They had a chance to win again in 2019 but broke down in the NBA Finals. The Warriors spent the last two seasons healing but now are poised to claim another championship as they cruised to the NBA Finals, easily beating the Nuggets, Grizzlies, and Mavericks. Stephen Curry is again proving he is the best long-distance shooter in NBA history as he has averaged 25.9 points per game in the playoffs. Curry is joined by Klay Thompson and Jordan Poole for a deadly backcourt that will quickly try to wear out the Celtics.
The Boston Celtics have been waiting 12 years to return to the NBA Finals. They had suffered four heartbreaking losses in the Eastern Conference Finals since losing to the Lakers in the 2010 NBA Finals. The Celtics are making their 22nd appearance in the NBA Finals and are seeking their 18th NBA Championship. The Celtics will try to win using defense, as that has been their path to the NBA Finals. Since January, they had been the best team in the Eastern Conference after a slow start. In the playoffs, they swept the Nets but needed seven games to beat the Bucks and Heat. These last two series have been physical and demanding. The key for the Celtics will be Jayson Tatum; if he can make his shots, the Celtics will have a chance.
In the end, it will be the Warriors' long-distance shooting that will wear down the Celtics' defense. Marcus Smart and Al Horford will dominate the paint, and if the series is decided in the paint, Boston will win. However, with Curry, Thompson, and Poole dialing up the three-ball, the Warriors will be stopped. Look for the Warriors to win the first two games at home by double-digits. Boston will be energized at home to win Game 3 by 25, but the Warriors win Game 4 by 30 and close out the series with another blowout in Game 5, as blowouts are what NBA Playoff Basketball is all about.
NBA Finals MVP
Stephen Curry, Golden State