Top 3 players apart from Celtics’ Big 3 who could prove to be the X-Factor for Boston in NBA Finals vs Warriors
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Al Horford, Robert Williams III and Derrick White of Boston Celtics impacting the 2022 NBA Finals
Boston Celtics made it to their first NBA Finals after 2010 and clearly seems to be in right momentum to fetch the silverware. Their marquee personnel were consistent throughout the playoffs and had great support from the other scorers as well. Following 3 stars can help win them “this” modern-era Celtics 1st ever NBA Championship.
For iconic NBA franchises like Boston Celtics, 12 years away from NBA finals is a very huge deal. LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Eastern Conference made it hard for them to have a shot at the NBA Title. But this postseason all pieces fell in the right places and it made the “impossible” possible. They were challenged by many strong teams in the playoffs, but the Celtics’ 2022 playoff was way too impressive. Ime Udoka’s team made it into the finals defeating strong contenders in Brooklyn Nets, Milwaukee Bucks, and regular Season’s top seed Miami Heat.
All credit goes to their Big 3 – Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown, and Jayson Tatum. That being said, it was a strong team performance from all of their players. Bench Players stepped up to the occasion, starts contributed heavily in every game, and the coach, and the front office kept faith in the team keeping the core intact despite a poor start to the season.
But playing against one of the most dominating teams of this decade is not an easy task. Golden State Warriors have so many positives on their side, and their playoff experience could be a defining factor in the close games. Still, the young Boston Celtics team has gems other than Big-3, who can change the course of the game.
The following 3 Boston Celtics Stars can affect the outcome of the game
3. Derrick White
The addition of Derrick White to the top 3 players list might surprise many, but the former Spurs guard has the skill set and attribute required to play against the Warriors. He has been very effective with the Celtics team since moving from The Spurs.
The Spurs traded Derrick White to the Celtics at February’s NBA Trade Deadline for Josh Richardson, Romeo Langford, a 2022 first-round pick, and a 2028 first-round pick swap – proving how much Celtics value Derrick for the team.
White can be considered famine offensively throughout the postseason, but he’s a well-rounded player. A good perimeter defender can help tackle the Warriors’ offensive strong point. He’s also been much more aggressive on offense of late, averaging 14.3 points over Games 4 through 7 against Miami.
If White plays a bit aggressively in the series, it could swing a game or two in Boston Celtics’ favor.
2. Robert Williams III
Speaking of X-factors … Williams’ health is one of the biggest storylines right from the Eastern Conference championship game. Williams has been battling knee soreness throughout the postseason, however, and looked severely limited in Game 7 against Miami.
But his reading of the game and defensive ability are one of kind. He could be a very important player on the floor for the Celts as the Warriors have many shooters in their roaster, and while the defensive player of the season Smart is looking after the top shooter available on the floor, Williams can disrupt others.
When he’s right, “Time Lord” is an elite lob threat and shot-blocking menace who can also defend the 3-point line with his incredible reach. Also, he can trouble Looney only considerable size in the Warriors team.
1. Al Horford
Returning to the Celtics certainly worked well for Al Horford. The Celtics wouldn’t have made it to the finals without Horford. He’s shooting a remarkable 43.2 percent from 3-point range and is also effective in the paint. He leads the team in postseason blocks with 27.
He played excellent defense on Durant, Antetokounmpo, and Bam Adebayo – considerably the task worthy of series-defining. He has hit clutch shots whenever the Celtics have needed them. 35-year-old legs may look a bit tired but the game IQ and positioning are vital in the game. Interestingly the spaced-out NBA Finals schedule and putting firm feet near the rim could work in his favor.
Al Horford is the 4th highest scorer of the postseason and top rebounder for the Celtics. It could be interesting to see how Steve Kerr and Ime Udoka use their pieces in what could be important 7 games of the 2022 season.
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Kunal Chawda
(600 Articles Published)