The 2022 NBA Finals will begin on Thursday night, and while Steph Curry and the Warriors enter the series as favorites to win a fourth championship in the last eight years, the Boston Celtics should pose the toughest test Golden State has faced this postseason.
The Warriors and Celtics split the regular-season series, 1-1, with each team winning on the road. Golden State is a perfect 9-0 at home during this postseason, though, and has fewer health concerns entering the series.
The Celtics also enter the finals less rested, after surviving a seven-game series against Jimmy Butler’s Heat in the Eastern Conference finals.
Ahead of Game 1 on Thursday night at the Chase Center, members of USA TODAY’s NBA Wires staff made their predictions for the series, and identified the X-factor that could swing the momentum for either side.
