2022 NBA Finals
It has been 3 seasons since the Golden State Warriors last competed in an NBA finals series, and 4 since they last won outright.
Across the court from them in the 2022 NBA finals are the Boston Celtics. Last making a final in 2010, the team from the west coast have had a hiatus of sorts. The joint most successful franchise in NBA history, the Celtics have not tasted success since the 2008 finals against the Los Angeles Lakers. The playoff winners of the east and west coast are both hungry to return to winning ways. With an on-form Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, the Warriors have the offensive options to take them all the way.
The Celtics have Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown scoring on average the most within the team. Both teams produce high quality basketball. But one feels that the winner of the finals will be the team that can consistently deliver a high standard. Potentially across 7 games. The prospect of a fourth NBA championship ring for Curry and Thompson will no doubt be a driving force for them to come out tops again. For the current crop of Celtics players, a first championship win among them is motivation enough.
Recent history
Since the Warriors last won in 2018, the winning team has come from the western conference only once. The LA Lakers bested the Miami Heat in the 2020 finals (following a shortened season due to COVID-19). The 2019 finals winners, the Toronto Raptors took out the Warriors in 6 games. While the 2021 finals winners, the Milwaukee Bucks won their second ever finals in 6 games against the Phoenix Suns.
The Golden State Warriors are arguably the most successful team in the 2010’s. During this period they competed in 5 finals, winning 3. Coached by Chicago Bulls legend Steve Kerr, the Warriors can attribute a great deal of their success to him. The Boston Celtics on the other hand enjoyed their prime years very much in the past. Winning 9 times in the 10 years between 1957 and 1967, the older generation Celtics were in a class of their own. This is highlighted in the fact that they are joint leaders in the overall winners list of the NBA finals. Tied on 17 wins a piece, the Celtics and the LA Lakers are 11 championship finals wins ahead of third placed Golden State Warriors on 6 wins to their name.
Boston Celtics
While the Celtics have the joint most finals titles of 17, they also have the record of appearing in 10 straight finals. 2008 was the last time the team tasted success, winning a 6-game thriller against their arch-rivals the LA Lakers. The class of 2008 put the Celtics ahead of the Lakers on the all-time winners list. Since then however, the Lakers have won another 3 titles, thus levelling up with their east coast rivals.
The most recent finals that the Celtics competed in was in 2010. Here they lost to the Lakers in 7. Since then, it has been a dry spell for this successful franchise. Head coach Ime Udoka took the reins at the start of the 2021/ 2022 season, and his maiden season with the team has been a success. Udoka is no stranger to the position he finds himself in. He was the assistant coach with the San Antonio Spurs in their winning run in the 2014 finals. If the team can make it all the way in 2022, this will have been a fairy-tale debut season for the Nigerian American head coach.
Golden State Warriors
The team of the 2010’s, the Golden State Warriors need to prove that their 3 final wins in 4 years was no flash in the pan. Interestingly of the last 4 finals that they have contested, the Warriors have only ever competed against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Coming up against Boston’s finest presents a new challenge to Steve Kerr’s men. Tied on 6 finals titles, the Warriors share this position with the Chicago Bulls.
Made famous by a certain Michael Jordan, the Bulls were easily the team of the 1990’s (winning all 6 of their titles in this period). This fact will not be lost on former Bull Steve Kerr. Should Golden State win this edition, Kerr will have played an integral role in the Warriors solidifying third spot on the all-time list. A lot rests on superstar Curry’s shoulders. The 2 times NBA most valuable player has a certain x-factor that is hard to ignore. When he shows up at his best, the Warriors are a tough team to beat.
Chances
Both the Celtics and the Warriors stand a good chance to take home the title. One could argue that the Celtics have had a tougher playoff run to the finals, with their earlier 2 playoff series going all the way to 7 games. They have also had to beat reigning champions, the Milwaukee Bucks, and winners of the Eastern Conference Miami Heat to reach the final. In contrast the Warriors have had an easier path. Beating the Memphis Grizzlies in 6 was probably their toughest playoff series in reaching the finals. The past will count for nothing come the 2nd of June when the 2022 NBA finals kick off. Whichever team comes out tops in the 2022 NBA finals, one thing for sure: they will have added stock to these already legendary franchises. On 16 June 2022 we will know.
The NBA is the most popular league in the world and boasts some of the greatest players to ever grace the sport. Each season is a jam-packed schedule and sees teams play 82 games split the regular and post season. This gives you ample time to place long term bets like Outright winner or Conference Winner for example with Betway. We have detailed reviews covering Betway South Africa as well as Betway in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and Tanzania.
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