The Warriors are in the enviable position of sitting back and resting while their eventual opponent is headed to a Game 7 in the rough-and-tumble Eastern Conference Finals.
Golden State will have been off for an entire week by the time the NBA Finals begin Thursday night, and will enjoy home court advantage whether the Heat or the Celtics come out of the East. The time off is already proving beneficial, as Gary Payton II is expected to return for the championship series, possibly in time for Game 1.
In contrast, the Celtics have been playing virtually every other day since the start of their second-round series with the Bucks, which also lasted seven games. Marcus Smart is dealing with a sprained right ankle and Robert Williams has a sore left knee, both of which have caused them to sit out games. They’re listed as questionable for Sunday night, just as they were for Games 5 and 6.
Miami’s injury situation is just as serious, with Kyle Lowry, Max Strus and Gabe Vincent playing through hamstring problems. They’re all listed as questionable for Game 7, along with P.J. Tucker, who has irritation in his left knee. Also questionable is Tyler Herro, who has missed the past three games with a strained groin. Jimmy Butler has inflammation in his right knee and twisted his ankle late in Game 6, but he doesn’t appear on the injury report.
Boston and Miami are both known for their aggressive defense and overall tough-mindedness, and either team would try to make the Finals as physical as possible. The Celtics can test Golden State’s defense with two dangerous scorers in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, but Butler provided a reminder Friday night that he can take over a game as well.
Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green will be seeking their fourth title together, and the oddsmakers will likely consider the Warriors to be solid favorites regardless of who they face.
We want your opinion on which team will provide a better matchup. Do the Heat or the Celtics have a better chance of keeping Golden State from collecting another ring? Please leave your responses in the comments section.
I favor GS over both but Boston seems like the tougher match up
I like warriors in 6 vs either team
Lol coulda just waited a day and we’ll know who is playing
It ain’t gonna be the Sixers that’s for sure!
BRK super team winning that title!!!!!!!!!
The BEARD!!! lol
It is legitimately super weird to see old pictures of him before the beard where your like oh yeah thats what he looks like.
Rebounds are the key
26 years old Kevon Olajuwon grabs 20 rebounds per game
East teams can’t shoot from the three
“East can’t shoot from 3”
7 of top 10 3% shooting teams are from the east.
Heat are shooting 31.5% from three vs the Celtics.
Celtics are shooting 35.0% from three vs the Heat.
For the entire playoffs from three, Celtics 36.3%, Heat 31.9%
Someone asked this at some point in the last couple of weeks, and I cant find what I said anywhere lol. I spent way too much time looking. It wasnt even about the actual words anymore; I just wanted to find it after all that time…
Anyway, Boston would have been a better matchup a few years ago, or even earlier in the season, before they got rid of all their depth. I was hoping for that matchup a couple of times, but we never got it. Boston played GS really tough during that stretch of time too. Not saying they have zero chance or anything now, but it was a lot closer previously, so now they would just need more from a shorter rotation. Definitely dont think they can start 2 bigs against GS. They can definitely make it interesting if they start Horford at the 5
The Heat and GS have a lot of similarities, but I picked GS over the Heat in the finals in the beginning of the season b/c GS has 2-3 extra pieces in the matchup the Heat dont have. If the Heat do get there, they definitely cant be using this messed up version of the rotation against them either, b/c that would make it even tougher. Also depends on health, with 4 Heat starters and Herro all super injured, plus the other guys listed, as mentioned. If they make shots, it’s at least close
I still think GS beats either team. I picked them before the season, again, for a reason, and there is nothing that can change my opinion on that until it doesnt happen, the same way I felt the first year they won, and people said they couldnt/were a fluke
How did they “get rid of all their depth”?
Mostly deep in playoffs teams basically play 7-8 man rotations.
They previously had super versatile rosters with several lengthy, athletic defenders (that can defend multiple positions, including multiple guys that could defend the guard spots and wings) that can also put the ball on the floor, playmake, shoot at least adequately. They still have that, but not as many pieces, so just fewer different lineups they can throw at them in the matchup, especially b/c they dont use guys they currently have either. In that sense, ifs helped that they shortened their rotation even more during this current series, at least as the Heat havent been using their guys either
“Several lengthy, athletic defenders that can defend multiple positions”?
Name some names, because this seems wrong. Tristan Thompson? No. Kemba? Heck no. Fournier? Can he even guard anyone?
I’m not talking about those guys lol
They’re the players the Celtics had last season (that played meaningful minutes).
So again, what players are you taking about?
You’re not very good at this, are you
I was sleeping… but honestly, I can tell you missed the point, so I’m not going to e pound on things I’ve been saying for 3 years about them/since thisbyears trade deadline. You purposely picked put 3 players that has nothing to do with anything I was saying to make your argument, just like some social media type of garbage that I dont participate in, so I choose not to participate further
Translation: “FAIL”
;-)
Translation “you’re a clown, obviously.” ;-)
Does it really matter?
GSW is all in.
If Miami was healthy it would be the heat all day. But I guess Boston, just because they are healthier
I won’t predict, a good way to jinx your team, but I hope the Celtics win. Go Celts!
Jinxes don’t exist. GO WARRIORS!
Not a huge difference, but I’d make BOS the favorite, and MIA dogs. Not with huge confidence in either, or in GSW for that matter. I don’t see a real championship level team, but someone has to win it.
GSW’s 6th Finals in 8 years is championship level, by definition.
The thread is about three 2021-22 teams. Nothing to do with any team(s) from another year, by definition.
GSW’s Finals championship winning core is still playing now, in 2022.
Just because 3 guys that were core are still there from prior championship teams doesn’t make them the same team, or as good. The only championship they won without Durant was in 2014. Quite awhile ago.
If you believe this 2022 version is championship level (by historical standards), fine, but the reason you’re giving isn’t going to convince any non-homer of it.
Actually it was 2015 when they beat the Cavs without KD. Then is 2016 they went 73-9 without Durant, and it took a lot of help from the league to get the Cavs the title that season.
Just because this year’s team isn’t as good as the ’17-18 teams were doesn’t mean they aren’t championship level.
Just as having 3 of the same players doesn’t mean they are.
The 4 champions on the Warriors (including Iguodala) know how to win championships, unlike the players on the Celtics, and twice as many as play for the Heat.
The experience definitely helps. I felt that was one of the reasons why Memphis and Dallas lost was lack of experience in the playoffs
Something funny is going on with the Heat.
The NBA assigned Scott Foster to be the crew chief today.
Which team does the NBA want to come out of the East?
lol. If the tv announcers’ annoyance are any indication, nott the Heat.
So true. The talking heads REALLY want the Celtics.
Daaammmn scott foster? Really? Well, the Heat never win with him…
Considering the Heat injury woes. You’d think Celtics would be a better matchup. I’m not picking against the Heat. They have enough for one gm. Then it’s one at a time.
Gotta feeling this is going down to last seconds. Go Heat
Boston would provide the best matchup
I know that doesn’t matter in the playoffs but the Warriors beat the Heat both times in the regular season. In the last game in March the Warriors didn’t play curry, Thompson, or Green and one against the Heat’s full line up. I didn’t watch that game so I don’t know what occurred. I know it was one of the games that Poole and Kuminga (22 points) both went off
Sorry about my spelling I thought I edited it.
I’m taking the Celtics to win in 7 over G State. Should be a damn good series