Boston Celtics vs Golden State Warriors 3/16/22: Starting Lineups, Matchup Preview, Betting Odds, Predictions

Boston Celtics vs. Golden State Warriors Matchup Preview (3/16/22)

In what could be an NBA Finals matchup later this season (in a perfect world), the Boston Celtics will battle with the Golden State Warriors. Boston has won five of its past six games, with the only loss coming at home against the Dallas Mavericks, who have been surprising all season long. The Celtics have been an unstoppable force on the defensive end, and even in their loss to the Mavericks on Sunday, they merely allowed 95 points. It is still an urgent time for Boston as it needs to continue climbing the Eastern Conference standings: home-court advantage is crucial in the playoffs.

After a long wait, the Golden State Warriors finally returned Draymond Green to the lineup, and it did not take long at all for his impact to be shown. Green’s return quickly prompted a 47-point night from Steph Curry; it’s evident how important Green is on offense for the Warriors despite not stuffing the stat sheet. Below, I go into more detail about game specifics and who I think will win the game, so check it out!

Boston Celtics vs. Golden State Warriors Betting Odds

If this game were one week ago, I would have sided with the Boston Celtics even though they are on the road. However, Draymond Green’s return to the lineup makes all the difference in this game. The Warriors improve drastically on both ends of the floor when Green is playing, and we should also see Klay start to find his rhythm with Green back out there as well. Steph Curry did not waste any time returning to his usual, MVP-level form as he had 47 points against the Wizards in Green’s first game back. Altogether, I see the Warriors squeaking this one out. I will be taking the Golden State Warriors’ Moneyline because there is some value with as well as Boston has played recently.

How To Watch

Date: 3/16/22
Time: 10:00 PM ET
Arena: Chase Center – San Francisco, CA
Channel: ESPN

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Boston Celtics Starting Lineup

PG: Marcus Smart
SG: Jaylen Brown
SF: Jayson Tatum
PF: Robert Williams III
C: Al Horford

Boston Celtics Analysis

Since January 1, 2022, the Boston Celtics have had the best defensive rating in the NBA (105.1), and it has not been particularly close. During that span, the next closest (lowest) defensive rating has been the Dallas Mavericks, who have a rating of 107.7. It’s fairly difficult to give context on just how ridiculous the Celtics have been on that end, but if you don’t understand, take my word for it. Boston has a completely healthy roster outside of Aaron Nesmith and has continued its stellar play, winning five of its past six. In its most recent game against the Mavericks, Jayson Tatum and the rest of the offense struggled a bit; however, he averaged 40 points, six rebounds, and five assists in the five prior games. When Tatum and Jaylen Brown are on, and the C’s defense is at its best, this team is tough to beat.

Golden State Warriors Starting Lineup

PG: Steph Curry
SG: Klay Thompson
SF: Andrew Wiggins
PF: Draymond Green
C: Kevon Looney

Golden State Warriors Analysis

Finally, the Golden State Warriors fans can rejoice and feel some semblance of hope once again. Draymond Green has returned in the lineup and played solid minutes in his first game back, posting six points, seven rebounds, and six assists. These may not seem like important numbers, but he accumulated them in merely 20 minutes, and his game far transcends the stat sheet. Every NBA analyst that has studied basketball for years can attest to Green’s importance to the Warriors, and it was on full display last game when Steph Curry went for 47 points in an explosive performance. Golden State may not immediately return to how well it was playing at the beginning of the season; however, we should start to see it return to that form over time. It could be scary if the Warriors get back to that level by the start of the playoffs.

Boston Celtics vs. Golden State Warriors Daily Fantasy Picks

There is absolutely no denying that if Jayson Tatum played an entire season how he has played his past six games, he would be the favorite to win the MVP award. While he struggled a bit at times in their most recent game, he has been terrific in the previous five, posting averages of 40 points, six boards, and five assists on an outrageous 54/42/88 shooting split. Boston will rely on Tatum in this matchup as the Warriors’ defense should be somewhat back to how it was at the beginning of the season now that Draymond Green is back on the floor. If Tatum can put up 25-30 shots, then another 40-point game is certainly not out of the question.

What can I say about Steph Curry that I have not already said? Curry has solidified himself as one of the greatest point guards of all time, and he just turned 34 years old on Monday. Due to his playstyle, Curry could continue producing at a high level for a few more years, which is a scary thought. Even when his high offensive usage goes down, he will have catch-and-shoot value into his 40s if he wants to keep playing. The point is that Curry is still very much a threat, and his most recent 47-point game proved that once again. In addition to the 47 points, Curry also dished out six assists and pulled down six rebounds. While the return of Draymond Green does not have everything to do with this, there definitely is a level of chemistry that exists between the two that allows Curry to play with more comfort. If you throw Klay Thompson into that mix, too, then all of a sudden, it is beginning to feel like the Warriors teams of the 2010s!