Mark Ross looks ahead to the NBA Finals, as the recent dynasty Golden State Warriors take on NBA royalty in the Boston Celtics.
Whilst most NBA teams struggle to find their way to the finals of the NBA, the Golden State Warriors have it set as home on their satellite navigation. Steve Kerr is leading his team to their sixth finals in eight seasons. Six in eight years, talk about a dynasty. After two down years, the Warriors are back with a vengeance and luckily for them, they have Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green in tow.
The trio has put together one of the best teams, if not the best team in the last decade as they look to lift their fourth trophy since 2015. Golden State head into the Finals as the favorites to lift the trophy on 8/13. Their route to the Finals was certainly easier than the Boston Celtics (in terms of seedings) and they made quick work of it. Denver could nothing to stop the Warriors as they won 4-1 comfortably. Next up was the number two seed Memphis Grizzlies. Ja Morant put up a bit more of a fight, but after an injury knocked Morant out of the series Golden State went on to claim a 4-2 victory.
Finally, in the Conference Championships Luka Doncic was next up to stop the juggernaut offense. Once again there was nothing that could be done as Golden State ran out to a 4-1 victory. In their run to the finals, the Warriors have only dropped four games in total. Boston is another animal but Golden State is coming in a lot fresher and more rested. Odds are that Golden State is going to struggle more against a strong defense like Boston but, if they can continue their form and only drop one or two games BetVictor is offering 4/1 and 9/2 respectively.
30 teams
7 months
1311 gamesAll comes down to this.
š”ā Golden State Warriors v Boston Celtics š¢ā
Your NBA Finals.#BleedGreen #DubNation pic.twitter.com/ciAqYRfkD6
— BetVictor (@BetVictor) May 30, 2022
Are the Warriors likely to dominate the number two seeded Boston Celtics as easily? Well, Boston is the only team in the playoffs this year to record a 4-0 but they have just come out of a seven-game series with the number one seed Miami Heat. In between the blowout and the tightly fought affair, the Celtics faced off against the fourth-seeded Philadelphia 76ers. The wannabe MVP Joel Embiid couldnāt stop Jimmy Butler and Miami ran out 4-2 winners.
Boston is built on the fact that they are the bigger team and they have a bonafide superstar in Jayson Tatum. Golden State faced a bigger team in the Dallas Mavericks and they managed to overcome that challenge. Boston however, might pose a different challenge. Al Horford is playing some of the best ball of his career, when fit Robert Williams II is a fantastic rim protector, and Grant Williams plays as big as they come. Not to mention, they have the current defensive player of the year in Marcus Smart. Not big but can defend anyone.
Boston is currently at 13/10 to win the whole thing, and if they are going to do that they will need to play defensive ball and hope that Jayson Tatum can pile up the points. Despite the Warriors having a former defensive player of the year, Tatum is likely to be going up against Andrew Wiggins. Tatum can score on anyone and he will be vital to the Celticās chances of becoming the most decorated team in NBA history.
š There's plenty of #NBA action tonight!
š Can't see the bet you're looking for?
ā Make Your Best Bet with our #Basketball Bet Builder!
— BetVictor (@BetVictor) January 29, 2022
Boston has won 4-0 in their opening game against rivals the Brooklyn Nets and has then played two series that went the distance. First up they beat the Milwaukee Bucks after seven games and then as mentioned they outlasted the Miami Heat. Two seven-game thrillers are enough to take it out of any time, let alone one that now has the prospect of facing Steph Curry and company. Boston is currently 18/1 to blow out the Warriors. High odds and rightly so. Warriors are almost guaranteed to win one game in front of their crowd so to Boston winning 4-1 is more likely at 17/2. If they win at all.
Both teams are playing with history in their hands. Boston has a chance to win its 18th title and Golden State could cement its title as the best team in the current era. Whatever happens, we have the two best teams from the playoffs going up against each other for a winner takes all series.
My pick is the Warriors to beat the Celtics 4-2 in the series – a result that you can get at 9/2.
Lead the Denver Nuggets 3-0.
4x All-Stars.
3x players averaging 20+ in the Play Offs.New death line-up. šš#NBA #DubNation pic.twitter.com/cPuaxcBu0y
— BetVictor (@BetVictor) April 22, 2022
