NBA Finals 2021/2022 Analysis and Best Bets: Golden State Warriors vs Boston Celtics

The NBA conference finals are over and we finally have our two finalists. The Golden State Warriors and Boston Celtics will meet in the NBA finals for the first time since 1964 when the Celtics won the series in 5 games. They faced each other twice this year, with both teams taking a road win, but the stakes are much higher this time around. I’ve got 2 series best bets ready and waiting, so have a look at the article below for my analysis & tips.

In this article: 

• Golden State Warriors Stats & Analysis
• Boston Celtics Stats & Analysis
• Golden State Warriors vs Boston Celtics Best Bets

Golden State Warriors Stats & Analysis

The Golden State Warriors are back in the NBA finals once again after a  2-year absence from the playoffs. This will be their 6th appearance in the finals since the 2014/15 season with largely the same core of players. They finished the regular season 3rd in the standings with 53 wins and 29 losses and went on a 5-game winning streak to close out the season.

They have been the best performing team in the playoffs with a NET rating of 8.0, blowing past the Nuggets, Grizzlies and Mavericks in the first three rounds respectively. The Grizzlies were their toughest opponents so far, but even they were able to take just 2 games. The Warriors have averaged 114.5 points scored, 109.1 allowed per game, a field goal percentage of 49.3% and 37.9% from beyond the arc in 15 playoff games. Impressive!

Stephen Curry has been their top performer in this tournament with 25 points, 6.2 assists, and 4.9 rebounds per game. Klay Thompson has also been able to contribute significantly despite spending most of the regular season out with injury and is now averaging almost 20 points and 2.4 assists per game. But the Warriors really mostly on their off-ball movement, spacing and teamwork to get the job done, and it’s no coincidence they are in a good position to go all the way.

Boston Celtics Stats & Analysis

The Boston Celtics are finally making another appearance in the NBA finals for the first time since the 2009/10 season after losing twice to the Cavs and once to the Heat in just the last 5 years. They finished the regular season 2nd in the conference with 51 wins and 31 losses and just 2 wins adrift of the first-placed Miami Heat.

The Celtics faced the Brooklyn Nets in the first round of the playoffs, and Ime Udoka pulled out the broomstick as the Celtics got the job done in just 4 games. They then took on the Milwaukee Bucks in the conference semi-finals and took care of business in a tight 7-game series where they kept the Bucks to an average of just 97.7 points per game and a field goal percentage of just 45.9%. The Miami Heat were yet another tough opponent in the conference finals, as Eric Spoelstra’s boys took them to another difficult 7-game series, but the combination of their elite defence and the Heat’s spacing issues got the Celtics to the finals once again.

Jayson Tatum has been by far their top performer in the playoffs this year, averaging 27.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game. Jaylen Brown has also been a key contributor with 22.9 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, but it’s their suffocating defence and teamwork that got them where they are now. That said, they are coming off their second 7-game series in a row, and I expect fatigue to play a key factor in their performance in this series.

Golden State Warriors vs Boston Celtics Best Bets

The Warriors are favourites to win this series and the bookmakers have them to lift the title at 1.66 odds. They will enjoy home advantage, and playing the first two games in front of home fans will provide a huge boost for Steve Kerr’s boys. They have won all 9 of their home games this year in the playoffs whilst going 3-4 on the road. It will definitely be a tight series with a lot of heavy defence on both sides, but the Warriors definitely have an edge. They have played 3 games fewer than the Celtics and their last series against Dallas saw just 5 games, leaving a lot of time for rest and recovery.

• Selection: Warriors to Win the Title
• Best Odds: 1.66 (Bet365)
• Stakes: 6/10

It’s no secret the Golden State Warriors rely on Stephen Curry for the biggest part of their offence and if anyone can win the Finals MVP award this year – it’s him. It’s not just about the points, assists and long-range shots for him, but his movement off the ball and ability to move opposing defences out of position is one of the biggest reasons behind the Warriors’ success. You can bet the Celtics will throw everything but the kitchen sink at Steph hoping to stop him, but in a playoff series, we already know that this is next to impossible. He is simply too quick and crafty, even at 34 years old, and I don’t think the Celtics can keep him at bay. I expect the Dubs to come out on top in this series and win the title, and what better time for Steph to finally win his first career Finals MVP award.

• Selection: Stephen Curry to win Finals MVP
• Best odds: 1.90 (Bet365)
• Stakes: 4/10

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