Dynasty Continues: Golden State Wins Its Fourth Title In Eight Years, Beating Boston In Six Games

    Well there can be no debate about whether the better team won the 2022 NBA Finals. Tonight in Game 6 at TD Garden, Golden State rolled to their fourth double-digit victory of the series 103-90 to take it 4-2 and capture their fourth NBA title in eight seasons. Warriors superstar guard Stephen Curry (game-high 34 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals) further cemented his place in NBA history with his richly deserved first Finals MVP award. Boston started the game on a 14-2 run and it was basically all downhill from there as Golden State punched back with a 21-0 run (the biggest in 50 years in Finals history) and pretty much cruised the rest of the way. 

    Golden State's starters were better than Boston's and once again, their bench was as well. Small forward Andrew Wiggins added 18 points, six rebounds, five assists, four steals and three blocks while power forward Draymond Green saved his best performance of the series for the last game as he had 12 points (including his first two 3-pointers vs. Boston), 12 rebounds, eight assists, two blocks and two steals. Shooting guard Klay Thompson (12 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals) was mostly a non-factor but who cares, since along with Curry and Green, they each won their fourth NBA title together. Backup shooting guard Jordan Poole notched 15 points off the bench as Golden State's substitutes outscored Boston's 21-5. 

    Celtics small forward Jayson Tatum (13 points, 7 assists, 3 steals) made his inaugural All-NBA First-Team this season but he looked anything like that against the Warriors. He closed out a rough series with one more stinker: he was 6-for-18 from the field with five turnovers. Conversely, shooting guard Jaylen Brown (34 points, 7 rebounds) did not shy away from the moment and did everything he could to keep his team in it. Power forward Al Horford (19 points, 14 rebounds, 2 steals) was superb and playing on a gimpy knee, center Robert Williams (10 points, 7 rebounds, 5 blocks) put forth an admirable showing given how banged up he seems to be. Celts point guard Marcus Smart registered nine points and nine assists which doesn't sound too bad except that he shot 4-for-12 from the floor. 

    Golden State led 27-22 after the first quarter and by 15 points at halftime (54-39). Boston turned it around a little bit in the third quarter (27-22) but the Warriors had no interest in playing Game 7 on Sunday so they shut it down in the fourth quarter (27-24) and got ready to party at Encore Boston. Despite being so much smaller and less athletic, the Warriors grabbed three more rebounds (44-41) than the Celtics including four more offensive boards (15-11). The real story of the game though (just like it was all postseason for Boston in their losses) was their alarming amount of turnovers: the C's had seven more turnovers (22-15) and the Warriors made five more steals (13-8) than them. Golden State also scored eight more second chance points (21-13). The bottom line was that one team looked comfortable being here and the other was completely over their heads after going up 2-1 in the series and then they dropped the last three games in a row (after they hadn't lost consecutive contests since January). 

    It will take awhile to get over this but once the dust settles, I think realistic Celtics fans should appreciate that this was still an extremely successful season. As long as they have Tatum and Brown, they will be a major contender in the East. However, this was far from a vintage Warriors team like the previous championship versions. Curry was ridiculous but getting outplayed by Wiggins should not happen when you are Brown or especially Tatum. Let's just hope that Boston is not one of those teams that gets close once and then is never heard from again at that level (like Oklahoma City). It is going to be a long summer for the Celtics players, coaches and front office, wondering what could have been if they had just tightened things up a bit and stayed more focused throughout the six games.  

C's Folded In The Fourth Quarter As The Warriors Won Game 5 104-94 To Take A 3-2 Series Lead

 

    With everything to play for and only two wins away from the 18th championship in franchise history, Boston sadly could not get the job done tonight in Game 5 of the 2022 NBA Finals at the Chase Center. Golden State only led by one point (75-74) going into the fourth quarter but they dominated in the final frame (29-20) to take a 3-2 series lead. Game 6 is on Thursday (9, ABC) at TD Garden as the Celtics will now have two win two games in a row to take the title, not to mention survive three Game 7s in a row which is absurd. They put themselves in this mess by choking down the stretch in Game 4 at home and this was the first time in the 2022 playoffs (7-1) that they were defeated again directly following a loss.  

    It was an odd night since the Warriors did all this with their superstar guard Stephen Curry (16 points, 8 assists) having one of the worst performances in his storied career. In fact, it was the first time in the last 233 games (regular season and playoffs) that he didn't make a single three-pointer (0-for-9). They not only survived but played well without him thanks to small forward Andrew Wiggins (26 points, game-high 13 rebounds and 2 steals) having his second great outing in a row. Curry had carried his team in the first four games of the series so it was only fitting that his teammates finally paid him back. Shooting guard Klay Thompson added 21 points and two steals while Golden State's bench outscored Boston's 31-10. Backup shooting guard Gary Payton II added 15 points, five rebounds and three steals while backup guard Jordan Poole scored 14 points off the bench including another buzzer beater to end the third quarter (quite similar to what he did in Game 2). 

    After a brutal first quarter where they were outscored 27-16, the C's slowly started to wake up in the second quarter but they still trailed by 12 points (51-39) at halftime. They changed a narrative that's haunted them all postseason long by actually playing outstanding basketball in the third quarter (35-24). They erased a 16-point deficit and even briefly led for a few moments. This should have been Boston's stars' time to shine but small forward Jayson Tatum (27 points, 10 rebounds) was outdueled by Wiggins when it really counted and shooting guard Jaylen Brown (18 points, 9 rebounds) was nowhere to be found for the most part. Point guard Marcus Smart scored 20 points but his constant flopping predictably caught up to him and center Robert Williams (10 points, 8 rebounds) was the only Celtic starter to finish with a positive plus-minus (plus-11). 

    It doesn't matter that Boston might be more talented and deeper than Golden State since they have no answer for the Warriors' championship experience and mental toughness; they don't get rattled in any situation unlike the Celts who seem to have a panic attack in every game that is when they aren't freaking out on the refs or yelling at each other like a bad high school team. The Warriors shot five percent better from the field (46%-41%), dished out five more assists (23-18), had seven more steals (9-2), scored 14 more points in the paint (50-36) and 13 more points off turnovers (22-9) than the C's. Boston hit two more three-pointers (11-9), they made eight more free throws (21-13) and grabbed eight more rebounds (47-39) including twice as many offensive boards (8-4). Turnovers absolutely killed the road team (18-6!) though, otherwise they would have been fine with nine more second chance points (16-7) than the undersized Warriors. 

    So what does this all mean for Game 6? I'd be lying if I said I have the faintest idea what will transpire in Boston's final home game of the season. Time and again, the C's have responded in tough situations like that (already going 3-0 in elimination games this postseason) and this is kind of their thing to make things as difficult as possible. However, this is not the Bucks and it isn't the Heat either for that matter. They might have rallied from down 3-2 in the series against Milwaukee and won Game 7 in Miami but these Warriors are in a different weight class than those previous solid opponents. There is no chance that Curry will be that ice cold once again so the C's have to hope that they don't let the pressure get to them so they can just go out and try to get this series to a Game 7 where (cliche alert!) anything can happen.

Stephen Curry Drops 43 Points As Golden State Beats Boston 107-97 To Even The NBA Finals 2-2

 

    Just when you start to have confidence in the Celtics this postseason, they completely disappoint you and fall flat on their faces. Tonight at TD Garden in Game 4 of the 2022 NBA Finals and with a golden opportunity to take a commanding 3-1 lead in the series, the Warriors closed up shop on a 17-3 run to win 107-97 and even up things up at 2-2. Golden State improved to 6-0 this postseason following a loss. Similar to the second round where they lost Game 5 to Milwaukee or in the Eastern Conference Finals vs. Miami where they choked in Game 6, Boston once again found a way to falter in a major way on their home court. They fell to 6-5 at the Garden this postseason including a puzzling 4-5 record in the last three rounds (forget the sweep vs. the hapless Nets). Golden State's superstar point guard Stephen Curry (43 points, 10 rebounds) had one of the best games of his Hall of Fame career as he singularly willed his team to victory. Game 5 is at the Chase Center in Oakland on Monday (9, ABC). 

    It was all about Curry but Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson added 18 points and two blocks, small forward Andrew Wiggins notched 17 points and 16 rebounds (!) while backup shooting guard Jordan Poole put up 14 points off the bench. Power forward Draymond Green was slightly more useful than his Game 3 no-show as he had nine rebounds, eight assists and four steals. For Boston, small forward Jayson Tatum (23 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 blocks) and shooting guard Jaylen Brown (21 points, 6 rebounds) were both OK but neither of them could rescue their team as they collectively went ice cold in crunch time yet again. Point guard Marcus Smart (18 points, 5 assists, 4 steals) was fine until he kept taking 3-pointers and missing them late in the fourth quarter (sound familiar?) and power forward Robert Williams grabbed 12 rebounds. Finally, backup point guard Derrick White notched 16 points off the bench for the Celtics. 

    This was the first close game of the series so you had an uneasy feeling the whole night as Boston could never really separate from Golden State. Boston was up 28-27 after the first quarter and they led by five points at halftime (54-49). Their regularly scheduled third quarter collapse wasn't as terrible as usual (30-24 Warriors) but the change was that the fourth quarter-which Boston had owned in the first two games-was utterly dominated by the road team. The Warriors outscored the Celtics 28-19 as Curry could not be stopped and nobody on the C's could do much to stem his barrage (7-for-14 for the game) of three-pointers.

    The numbers as you would expect were not pretty for the home team: Golden State grabbed 13 more rebounds (55-42) including five more offensive boards (16-11) and the Warriors had seven more second chance points (19-12). With Boston's size advantage, that rebound total is unacceptable especially on their home floor. The Warriors also shot four percent better than the Celtics from the field (44%-40%). If I know anything about the Celts, they will probably play great on Monday and grab another road win to take a 3-2 series lead with a chance to win Banner 18 back at the Garden on Thursday (9, ABC). Then again, Curry is clearly the best player in this series (and a lock to capture his first Finals MVP award if they win another title) who the NBA's top-ranked defense has no idea how to stop let alone slow down. Don't get it twisted though, the Celtics are the better team and if they lose to this mostly one-man wrecking crew, it will be a bitter pill to swallow for this summer and many years beyond it. 

In The First NBA Finals Game Here In 12 Years, C's Beat Warriors 116-100 To Take A 2-1 Series Lead

 

    When it comes to the Celtics this postseason, there is one thing that so far we can always count on: they never lose back-to-back games. In fact, the last time that Boston dropped consecutive contests was way back in January during the regular season. Tonight in Game 3 of the 2022 NBA Finals at TD Garden, Boston methodically worked over Golden State and won 116-100 to take a 2-1 series lead. They improved to 7-0 following losses in these playoffs which ties an NBA record. For the only time in this drawn out series, there will be just one day off (how will all the millionaires survive?) between games with Game 4 coming on Friday (9, ABC) at the Garden. 

    For some historical context: when an NBA Finals series had been tied 1-1, the winner of Game 3 has gone on to capture the NBA championship 82% of the time (32/39). The C's got big performances from shooting guard Jaylen Brown (team-high 27 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists), small forward Jayson Tatum (26 points, 9 assists, 6 rebounds) and point guard Marcus Smart (24 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists). In fact, they became the first trio of teammates to all put up 20+ points, 5+ rebounds and 5+ assists in the same NBA Finals game since the Lakers did it in 1984 with Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Michael Cooper. Ever heard of them? Warriors point guard Stephen Curry (game-high 31 points, 2 steals) continued to tear up Boston's top-ranked defense and shooting guard Klay Thompson (25 points) actually reappeared after looking old and washed up in the first two games of the Finals. 

    Small forward Andrew Wiggins added 18 points, two blocks and two steals but backup shooting guard Jordan Poole (10 points) was the only other Golden State player to score in double figures. One of the main reasons why the C's should win this series is because of their superior depth which was on full display: center Al Horford had 11 points, eight rebounds and six assists, power forward Robert Williams notched eight points, 10 rebounds, four blocks and three steals while power forward Grant Williams registered 10 points and five rebounds in 20 minutes off the bench. Boston was in control for most of the evening, that is excluding another awful third quarter. The Celts got off to a fast start and led 33-22 after the first quarter which turned into a 68-56 advantage at halftime. The Warriors took the third quarter (33-25) and even briefly were ahead by two points during it after the C's were up by as many as 18 points. As bad as the Celtics have been in the third quarter in this series and most of the postseason, they have been equally great in the fourth quarter and Game 3 thankfully was no different. They completely locked down Golden State and outscored them 23-11 while Warriors power forward Draymond Green (2 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists) fouled out and the wheels fell off for his team. 

    Multiple times already during the Finals, ABC's announcer Jeff Van Gundy has talked about how much bigger, faster and more athletic the Celtics are than the Warriors and in Game 3, that was abundantly clear. Boston grabbed a whopping 16 more rebounds (47-31) including nine more offensive boards (15-6), they handed out six more assists (28-22), scored twice as many points in the paint (52-26) and put up twice as many second chance points (22-11). Just like in Game 2, I expect Golden State to play better in Game 4. They have no choice because if they lose and go down 3-1 in the series, I think it would be nearly impossible for them to beat the Celtics three times in a row. To paraphrase former Celtics head coach Rick Pitino, "Kevin Durant isn't walking through that door folks." It is a really exciting time to be a fan of the C's since they are now only two wins away from their first NBA title in 14 long years. 

Celts Catch Fire In The Fourth Quarter & Win Game 1 Of The NBA Finals, 120-108 Vs. Warriors

 

    It's hard to imagine a much better fourth quarter than what the Celtics conjured up this evening at the Chase Center in Game 1 of the 2022 NBA Finals vs. the Warriors. Boston trailed by 12 points (92-80) going into the final frame before they went absolutely bananas and outscored shell-shocked Golden State 40-16. The C's took Game 1 by a score of 120-108, proving that their lack of rest after the Eastern Conference Finals compared to the Warriors (who had a few more days off after beating Dallas in the Western Conference Finals) did not matter at all. Boston improved to 8-2 on the road this postseason while they also handed Golden State their first loss (9-1) on their shiny home court in the 2022 playoffs. Game 2 is Sunday night (8, ABC) back in San Francisco. FYI, only two teams in NBA Finals history have ever lost Games 1 & 2 at home and as you would assume, neither went on to win the series.

    There were many standouts for the Celts but none was better than their ageless power forward Al Horford (team-high 26 points, 6 rebounds) who hit a career-high six three-pointers. Shooting guard Jaylen Brown heated up in the second half and finished with 24 points, seven rebounds, five assists and two steals. Point guard Marcus Smart added 18 points, five rebounds and two steals while small forward Jayson Tatum was ice cold in terms of shooting (3-of-17) so he was held to 12 points but he notched a career-high 13 assists and added five rebounds. Backup point guard Derrick White had another brilliant performance off the bench as he was a game-high plus-25 with 21 points (5 3-pointers!) in 32 impressive minutes. 

    In the first quarter, Golden State's future Hall of Famer and the best shooter in NBA history point guard Stephen Curry (game-high 34 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals) was unreal with 21 points including an NBA record six three-pointers. Once Boston figured out that maybe they should cover him and not allow so many wide open looks, he went scoreless in the second quarter and was held to 13 points in the second half. Once Curry cooled off, there wasn't really another Warrior capable of stepping up offensively. Small forward Andrew Wiggins (20 points, 5 rebounds, 3 blocks) has definitely improved, shooting guard Klay Thompson (15 points) is understandably working his way back from two ACL tears in consecutive years while power forward Draymond Green (11 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals) still can't shoot whatsoever (2-of-12 from the floor including 0-for-4 on 3s and 0-for-3 on FTs). The ghost of small forward Otto Porter Jr. put up 12 points off the bench for Golden State. 

    Golden State led 32-28 after the first quarter but Boston picked it up in the second quarter (28-22) to lead at halftime by two points (56-54). Things started to look bleak in the third quarter when the Warriors led by as much as 15 points and they outscored Boston 38-24. Just when you thought that it was beginning to get out of hand, the C's kept chipping away and hitting three-pointers to stay within shouting distance. Still, nobody could have expected that stunning turnaround in the fourth quarter. Boston shot six percent better from the field (50%-44%), they hit two more three-pointers (21-19) and two more free throws (13-11) and dished out nine more assists (33-24) than Golden State. The C's scored eight more points in the paint (34-26) than the Warriors and 11 more points off turnovers (21-10). It'll take more than one loss to rattle Golden State though since Curry, Thompson and Green were all part of three championship squads in recent seasons with the Warriors. Boston will have to play even better to steal Game 2 and come home with a dream 2-0 lead in the series. You can count on the Warriors playing a much better and more complete game than this on Sunday night.

Jayson Tatum (44 Pts) & Stephen Curry (47) Have A Classic Duel As C's Outlast Warriors 119-114

 

    ABC and ESPN executives must have been doing cartwheels late last night as the shorthanded Celtics (31-26 overall, 18-10 home) and Warriors (28-29 overall, 11-19 away) staged an improbable instant classic regular season game. Down two starters (Jaylon Brown and Robert Williams) plus a top reserve (Evan Fournier), Boston won 119-114 at the TD Garden thanks to a true superstar performance by swingman Jayson Tatum (44 points, 10 rebounds, 2 steals) which was just enough to survive another unforgettable outing by Warriors icon Stephen Curry (47 points, 11 3-pointers, 7 rebounds) who is the greatest shooter in NBA history. Most importantly, it was Boston's season-high sixth win in a row which vaulted them ahead of idle Atlanta (30-26) and into fourth-place in the Eastern Conference. 

    This matchup had it all, including a crazy dive into the scorer's table by Warriors small forward Juan Toscano-Anderson (6 rebounds) that resulted in a cut on his head and possible concussion while the newest Celtic Jabari Parker scored 11 points in 16 minutes off the bench. Wait what? Celts point guard Kemba Walker (26 points, 8 rebounds) was really good and guard Marcus Smart (16 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals) had the impossible task of slowing down a red-hot Curry. Rookie guard Payton Pritchard (11 points) also gave Boston head coach Brad Stevens some valuable minutes off the bench as well. 

    With Klay Thompson sadly out for the entire season, Golden State is left to scrap for the play-in round of the Western Conference playoffs. As you can tell by the box score, Curry does not have much help at the moment. Former No. 1 pick in 2014 (1 spot ahead of Parker!) small forward Andrew Wiggins (22 points) has never developed into the star that many thought he would be. Swingman Kent Bazemore added 16 points for the Warriors while shooting guard Jordan Poole had 12 points off the bench. Uniquely gifted power forward Draymond Green (5 points, 10 assists, 5 rebounds) was held in check after he's had some monster numbers lately. 

    Golden State was hot right away as they led 33-24 after the first quarter and 66-60 at halftime. Truthfully, it felt like a gift that Boston was only down two possessions after two quarters since Tatum hit a tough jumper at the halftime buzzer. The C's made another push to tie it at 89 after three quarters before closing it out 30-25 in the fourth quarter. Boston had five more rebounds (45-40) including six more offensive boards (14-8) which led to 10 more points in the paint (48-38) and 11 more points second chance points (26-15). They also had three more steals (9-6) and eight less turnovers (17-9) than the sloppy Warriors which resulted in 15 more points off turnovers (23-8). 

    This was the start of an important three-game homestand for the Celtics as they host the Bulls (23-33 overall, 12-15 away) tomorrow night (7:30, NBC Sports Boston). Brown was sick (not with Covid-19) so hopefully he can return for that one. Williams is dealing with left knee soreness so we'll see about that and Stevens already said that Fournier is out of the league's health and safety protocol but he won't be suiting up against Chicago. Milwaukee (35-21) is four and a half games ahead of Boston so realistically, the best that they can finish in the East in 2021 is in fourth. Therefore, they have to do everything they can to hold onto that spot with less than a month left to go in the regular season.

The Celtics Kick Off Their Long (5 Games) West Coast Trip With A 111-107 Win At Golden State

 

    Load up on the coffee and energy drinks (do people still buy those?) because the Celtics (11-8 overall, 6-5 away) are going to have a bunch of late nights in the next week. Boston rewarded its fans that stayed up after a long day of shoveling and snowblowing back in New England with an entertaining 111-107 victory this evening against the Warriors (11-10 overall, 8-5 home) at the Chase Center. Golden State's superstar point guard Stephen Curry (game-high 38 points, 11 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 steals) was his usual electric self but the C's were able to limit the others around him. No doubt, they also took advantage of the fact that the Warriors are missing shooting guard Klay Thompson (torn ACL) for the season while talented rookie center James Wiseman is out with a wrist injury. 

    It's not often that you can say that the Celts' size was a main factor in a win against a quality opponent but tonight was one of those rare times. Boston owned the glass against Golden State: they had 15 more rebounds overall (51-36) including twice as many offensive boards (12-6) and nine more defensive boards (39-30). The other main reason that the Celtics prevailed was small forward Grant Williams (15 points, 2 blocks). Haha wait what? No, it's true. After being a truly awful 3-point shooter in his rookie year, he has become a legitimate threat from downtown where he is usually left wide open. He was a perfect 3-for-3 on 3-pointers against Golden State in 27 minutes off the bench. Sure, forward Jayson Tatum (team-high 27 points, 9 rebounds), shooting guard Jaylen Brown (18 points, 10 rebounds) and point guard Kemba Walker (19 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists) were all good but you expect that from guys of their caliber. 

    Curry couldn't say that he got the same support from his surrounding cast since the next highest scorer for the Warriors was something called Juan Toscano-Anderson (16 points), an undrafted rookie small forward out of Marquette who had a nice performance off of head coach Steve Kerr's shaky bench. Without Thompson who is perhaps the best glue guy in the NBA and a borderline Hall of Famer, Golden State is the island of misfit toys besides Curry. Small forward Andrew Wiggins' (15 points) has not taken the next step in his once promising career since coming to the Bay Area, shooting guard Kelly Oubre Jr. (12 points) is a decent role player and small forward Kent Bazemore (10 points, 2 steals) is basically a poor man's Oubre as a substitute. Oh and power forward Draymond Green (2 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks, 5 turnovers, 5 fouls) is still there and I love him but if possible, his shooting has gotten even worse. 

    It was a slow start for the C's as the Warriors were at their best in the first quarter (35-24). That was the only frame that Boston got outscored in though as they recovered to tie it at 52 going into halftime. Both teams were feeling it in the third quarter (34-33 Celts) and the Celtics did just enough to hang on in the fourth quarter (25-22). It was tied at 96 midway through the fourth when Boston went on a 10-0 run that gave them the small cushion to withstand everything that Golden State had left in the tank to throw at them.

    With the high-octane style that the Warriors employ, there will always be some wacky numbers when you play them. Golden State hit two more 3-pointers (15-13), scored 10 more fast break points (17-7), six more points off turnovers (18-12) and four more points in the paint (44-40) while handing out nearly twice as many assists (30-16), they had three times as many steals (9-3) and four less turnovers (15-11) than Boston. The Celtics survived by being more aggressive going to the basket, they attempted four more free throws (27-23) and hit four more of them (20-16) than the home team plus they almost doubled them in second chance points (16-9). They also shot a tiny bit better than the Warriors (46.4%-45.8%) which is notable anytime you face the greatest shooter in the history of the NBA (Curry).

    There is no rest for the Celts in the California sun as they travel to play the Kings (9-11) tomorrow night (10, NBC Sports Boston) at the Golden 1 Center. Lol, that's seriously the name of their stupid building. As usual, Sacramento is not good but their point guard De'Aaron Fox is coming off of a huge game at New Orleans on Monday where he had 38 points and 12 assists in a 118-109 win for the Kings over the lowly Pelicans (7-12). Rookie guard Tyrese Haliburton looks like a nice player for Sacramento too and shooting guard Buddy Hield is liable to go off versus the Celtics like he has before. With that said, there is no excuse; this is by far the easiest opponent on the entire road trip for the C's so they have to find a way to get it done in the second half of a back-to-back on the road despite not having Marcus Smart who sure would be helpful against all these dangerous guards on the Kings.