Celtics-Warriors: Who Ya' Got?
Golden State and Boston are facing off in the NBA Finals for the first time since 1964
The 2022 NBA Finals appears to be one of the most intriguing basketball championships in years. They're also meeting for the first time in the championship in 58 years.
These two storied franchises will begin their best-of-seven series on Thursday night in San Francisco.
Golden State is favoured to win the championship. At Spreads.ca, that prospect is priced at 1.66, which means Boston returns 2.30 on a 1.00 unit investment.
Predictably, the Warriors are favoured in Game 1, though not by as many points as one might expect. Spreads.ca lists Golden State -3.5. The O/U is 212.5.
Boston has a fighting chance to win this series, but Golden State should enjoy an obvious advantage in Game 1. They're at home. They're healthier. They're more rested. And their unique playing style makes them a nightmare to prepare for in series openers.
Tip-off at the Chase Center is at 6:00 pm PST.
Key Data Point #1: The Warriors are 23-8-2 ATS in their last 33 home games vs. a team with a winning road record
Key Data Point #2: Golden State is a perfect 9-0 SU inside the Chase Center this postseason and owns a 40-10 overall record on the year in front of the Bay Area
Prediction (powered by Pointspreads.ca):
Let's look at recent history. The Celtics lost Game 1 vs. the Heat. They lost Game 1 vs. the Bucks. Were it not for a miraculous final possession, they would have lost Game 1 vs. the Nets. All evidence shows the Celtics to be notoriously slow starters. That's going to be a problem against an explosive and multi-dimensional Warriors team which may take a game or two to make adjustments.
Meanwhile, Golden State is 4-1 in Game 1 of the NBA Finals under coach Kerr, and they're undefeated in Game 1s during this postseason.
Accordingly, we recommend Golden State -3.5 for the game and -1.5 for the first half.
GAME 1 PREDICTION:
Golden State Warriors – 112
Boston Celtics – 105
NBA BOOSTS
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Celtics to win Game #1 moneyline and both teams to score over 211 points combined($50 max. bet)
WAS 4.58 NOW 5.00
S. Curry and J. Tatum: 5+ Threes Made Each
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WAS 7.50 NOW 8.00
