A dynasty reborn or an 18th banner? Experts’ picks for the Warriors-Celtics NBA Finals

Sports

Which team will be this year’s NBA champion?

The 2022 Finals features the league’s top two defenses throughout the regular season, but the Golden State WarriorsBoston Celtics clash will focus on some of the most dangerous offensive threats in the game.

Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, their Splash Brothers partnership whole again after Thompson missed more than two seasons with ACL and Achilles’ injuries, are making nearly eight 3-pointers per game during Golden State’s run to the Finals, while Boston’s dynamic duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown each have a 40-plus point performance on their 2022 postseason résumé.

This series also presents a host of lineup decisions for coaches Steve Kerr and Ime Udoka. Will the Warriors go heavy on smallball, with Draymond Green at center? Who will be the primary defenders on superstars like Curry and Tatum?

Which side will prevail? Our experts are making their predictions for the Finals winner and which player will be named Finals MVP.

MORE: What to know for the Finals | Schedule and news

NBA FINALS: WARRIORS-CELTICS


Kendra Andrews: Warriors in 7 | MVP: Stephen Curry

Jerry Bembry: Celtics in 6 | MVP: Jayson Tatum

Tim Bontemps: Celtics in 6 | MVP: Tatum

Nick DePaula: Warriors in 6 | MVP: Curry

Nick Friedell: Celtics in 6 | MVP: Tatum

Kirk Goldsberry: Warriors in 7 | MVP: Curry

Israel Gutierrez: Celtics in 6 | MVP: Jaylen Brown

Baxter Holmes: Warriors in 7 | MVP: Curry

Tim Legler: Warriors in 7 | MVP: Curry

Andrew Lopez: Warriors in 6 | MVP: Curry

Tim MacMahon: Warriors in 7 | MVP: Curry

Bobby Marks: Warriors in 5 | MVP: Klay Thompson

Dave McMenamin: Warriors in 7 | MVP: Curry

Kevin Pelton: Warriors in 7 | MVP: Curry

Omar Raja: Warriors in 7 | MVP: Curry

Jorge Sedano: Warriors in 7 | MVP: Curry

Ramona Shelburne: Warriors in 7 | MVP: Thompson

André Snellings: Celtics in 7 | MVP: Tatum

Marc J. Spears: Warriors in 7 | MVP: Curry

Ohm Youngmisuk: Warriors in 6 | MVP: Curry


Finals winner: Warriors 15, Celtics 5

Finals MVP: Stephen Curry 13, Jayson Tatum 4, Klay Thompson 2, Jaylen Brown 1

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