The moment we have all been waiting for, the NBA Finals are already here. Game 1 left fans speechless, as the Celtics vastly improved upon every aspect of their game when the second half began, taking the win and the lead in the series 1-0. However, Game 2 completely shifted the series’ narrative, with the Warriors dominating the entire match. Who might have the x-factor for Game 3? Let us find out.
Boston Celtics
Jaylen Brown
One of the best players of Game 1, Jaylen Brown, has been a consistent yet unpredictable player throughout these entire playoffs. Once he plays at his highest level, it is a really strenuous task for the opposing team to contain him. Nevertheless, he would add even more value to his performances if he was more effective in clutch scoring, as he only averages 1.2 points in the last five minutes of the matches.
Derrick White
If there were a Most Improved Player award for these Playoffs, Derrick White would definitely be a contender. He can be an incredibly efficient player offensively, with a field goal percentage of 54.5% and a three-point percentage of 62.5% in Game 1. Part of the reason why the Celtics team could maintain a point difference is mainly due to him. Provided he performs as good as in the first game, Golden State will have a hard time keeping up with Boston.
Al Horford
More motivated than ever, Horford demonstrated why he deserves a spot on the Boston Celtics. Being a resourceful player both offensive and defensively, he was the top scorer of Game 1, with 26 points. Therefore, we would not be surprised if he continues to do so throughout this series. Hopefully, he can recover from his subpar performance in the second game of the series, with him only scoring 2 points.
Golden State Warriors
Otto Porter Jr/Gary Payton II
With Otto Porter’s and Payton’s return, the Bay team has much more options for scoring three-point shots. With the Warriors’ signature ball movement, they fit perfectly for catch-and-shoot opportunities, especially when the opposing team’s defense focuses on guarding Curry and Thompson. We could witness this on Sunday’s match, as both had 100% scoring on both field goals and three-pointers.
Jordan Poole
Even though Poole was a clear candidate for MIP in the regular season, the playoffs have seemingly intimidated him, as his shooting percentages have decreased. Nevertheless, he still has time to return to being a fundamental piece for Golden State offensively. He gave us a hint of what he is capable of doing in Game 2, finally returning to high percentage shooting. This confidence boost will bring nothing but good things to the table.
3 point shooting
Despite both teams having high three-point percentages, the Warriors are the ones that must take full advantage of these shots. As we could see over the course of the postseason, an effective three–point percentage is crucial in taking a lead or recovering from a point deficit.
Game 3 will be paramount to deciding the future 2021-2022 NBA champion. Despite winning the last game, the team that must win at all cost are the Golden State Warriors since they are still at a disadvantage against the Celtics. On the other hand, while Boston now has the home-court advantage, they should not be overconfident, as the NBA Finals are nowhere near being predictable. What is your prediction for today’s match?
Text sources: www.nba.com, basketball-reference.com
