Boston Celtics vs Golden State Warriors 6/13/22: Starting Lineups, Matchup Preview, Betting Odds, Predictions
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Boston Celtics vs. Golden State Warriors Matchup Preview (6/13/22)
The NBA Finals are all tied up once again! Another impressive third quarter from the Golden State Warriors, followed by a late-game comeback in the fourth quarter, allowed them to grab a road win in one of the most hostile arenas in the NBA. It may have been more poetic for the Warriors to go down 3-1 and see if they can come back and win the series to redeem themselves from their 2016 Finals meltdown. However, they clearly did not want to be put in a position where they had to win three straight against this resilient Boston team.
Golden State has only lost one game at home throughout the playoffs and it was to the Boston Celtics in this series. As the playoffs continue and the margin for error grows infinitesimally smaller, there are a few universal stats that can alter the outcome of a game: rebounding, turnovers, and free throw percentage. In Game Four, Golden State outrebounded Boston by 13 boards and shot a higher free throw percentage, despite being on the road. The Dubs may have had one more turnover than Boston, but they kept that margin close while winning the other two statistical categories; the small things matter when two teams are this imposing. See which team I have winning in Game Five to take the lead in this series! It should be a nail-biter and could result in another seven-game NBA Finals.
Boston Celtics vs. Golden State Warriors Betting Odds
The spread is currently set at 3.5 points, similar to where it has been in recent games, with the Warriors being the favorites at home. Golden State grabbed a much-needed road win against the Celtics in Game Four to regain some control with just three games to go. I like for the Warriors to cover the spread at home, especially since every game has been pretty wide in the final margin. Game Four did a lot to boost the Dubs’ confidence, but they also recognize that Boston has the capability of winning on the road if they approach the game too lackadaisically. The sense of urgency will be there, and better games from Draymond Green, Klay Thompson, and Jordan Poole should help, too.
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How To Watch
Date: 6/13/22
Time: 9:00 PM ET
Arena: Chase Center – San Francisco, CA
Channel: ABC
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Boston Celtics Starting Lineup
PG: Marcus Smart
SG: Jaylen Brown
SF: Jayson Tatum
PF: Al Horford
C: Robert Williams III
Boston Celtics Analysis
Boston may have lost Game Four, and consequently, are back in a similar position to how it started this series (needing to win another road game to take control of the series); however, that should not be much of a problem for a team that is 8-3 on the road in the 2022 NBA Playoffs. The Celtics were up late in the fourth quarter and could not quite close it out last game, which is incredibly disappointing for a team that has seemed to grow and mature as a unit throughout the postseason. Several Boston players have stepped up in recent games, but it needs more from All-Star Jayson Tatum if it wants to beat a team as experienced and disciplined as the Warriors. Tatum has averaged 22.3 points, 7.8 assists, and seven rebounds per game in this series, but is shooting merely 34.1% from the field to get to those numbers. Additionally, he has a plus-minus of -6 through four games, which is unacceptable for a team’s best players, especially one that is amongst the greatest in the NBA. Boston has to buckle down and get consistent performances from all of its main players to grab two more wins against this Golden State team.
Golden State Warriors Starting Lineup
PG: Steph Curry
SG: Klay Thompson
SF: Andrew Wiggins
PF: Draymond Green
C: Kevon Looney
Golden State Warriors Analysis
Forget about the past struggles in the NBA Finals for the two-time MVP. Steph Curry has played the part of a Finals MVP against the league’s best defense and arguably one of the best defenses the NBA has had in the recent past. You could argue that he hasn’t even truly sought out his shot as much as he should either; his shooting split through the first four games is 50/49/86. Any player who is that hot should be shooting every other possession. Some of that can be attributed to Boston’s spectacular perimeter defense (opponent 3P%), which has ranked first in the league all season, but if he really wanted to, he could average even more than 34.3 points per game in this series. That’s a mindboggling thought to wrap your head around when considering that the Defensive Player of the Year is his primary defender. Even when comparing this series to the entire playoffs, Steph has averaged seven more points per game against the Celtics than over the course of the postseason. He will either carry this team to yet another NBA Championship or fall just short due to an inadequate supporting cast. Only time will tell.
