The 2022 NBA playoffs have not failed to live up to the expectations with plenty of jaw-dropping performances, shock upsets and nail-biting finishes. As the dust settled on an incredible slate of conference semi-finals, the four teams battling it out for the 2022 NBA Title are the Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors, and Dallas Mavericks.
Ahead of the start of the conference finals, here is an in-depth look at each of the four teams gunning for the championship in 2022.
BOSTON CELTICS
Regular season performance: 2nd in Eastern Conference (51-31)
Best player in playoffs: Jayson Tatum (28.8 points per game)
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The Boston Celtics have been the best team in the NBA since the turn of the year and are incredibly deserving of their spot in the conference finals after having had the toughest route through the playoffs. Ime Udoka’s team swept Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and the Brooklyn Nets 4-0 in the first round of the playoffs before battling past the defending champions Milwaukee Bucks in seven games in round two.
Led by the defensive player of the year, Marcus Smart, the Boston Celtics continue to play elite defence. The Celtics were the best defensive team in the regular season – conceding just 104.5 points per game – and have continued that performance into the post-season, as seen in their incredible game seven against Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks. The only main question for the C’s heading into the finals is who can be their tertiary scorers behind Tatum and Brown and whether they will have enough half-court offence to crack the hard-nosed Miami defence.
MIAMI HEAT
Regular season performance: 1st in Eastern Conference (53-29)
Best player in playoffs: Jimmy Buttler (28.7 points per game)
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The Miami Heat comfortably blew past the Atlanta Hawks and the Philadelphia 76ers in the first two rounds of the playoffs and have all the tools needed to make their second NBA finals in three seasons. Jimmy Buttler has been one of the top three players in the post-season, scoring nearly 30 points per game on incredible efficiencies while returning to his best on the defensive end. Buttler has also been well-complemented by the terrific cast around him, with Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, Victor Oladipo, PJ Tucker and Max Strus providing the Heat with some incredible depth and defensive versatility.
The Heat were the best three-point shooting team in the NBA in the regular season, making 37.9% of their attempts from beyond the arc, and continuing that trend in the finals against the league’s best defence will be an pivotal factor in deciding who comes out of the East.
Predictions: Boston Celtics in seven
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
Regular season performance: 3rd in Western Conference (53-29)
Best player in playoffs: Stephen Curry (26.9 points per game)
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After a brief hiatus, the Golden State Warriors have returned to the Western Conference finals in 2022, and the Dubs will be looking to extend their dynasty this season by winning their fourth title in eight seasons. Although the Warriors have shown some cracks and weaknesses throughout the first two rounds of the playoffs against the Nuggets and Grizzlies, they have also shown the championship experience and resilience needed to make a deep post-season run.
The three-guard lineup of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Jordan Poole have given opposition defences plenty to think about in the playoffs, while Draymond Green has cemented his status as the league’s best defender with his stellar performances against Nikola Jokic and Jaren Jackson Jr. The Warriors have also won all six of their home games this post-season by a combined 87 points and will have home-court advantage against their Mavericks in the Finals.
DALLAS MAVERICKS
Regular season performance: 4th in Eastern Conference (52-30)
Best player in playoffs: Luka Doncic (31.5 points per game)
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The biggest surprise of the 2022 NBA playoffs has been the Mavericks, and with Luka Doncic raising his level and playing some of the best playoff basketball we have seen since 2019-Kawhi Leonard or peak LeBron James, Dallas have reached their first conference finals in over a decade.
The Slovenian superstar has been the best player in these playoffs, averaging an incredible 31.5 points, 10 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game and leading the team past the 64-win Phoenix Suns in the second round. Doncic scored an incredible 35 points in 30 minutes to clinch game seven in Phoenix, as the Mavericks torched the Suns 123-90 in one of the most shocking NBA results in recent memory. Although the Mavericks don’t have a second star next to Luka, head coach Jason Kidd has them playing elite defence while role-players such as Jalen Brunson, Spencer Dinwiddie, Finney-Smith and Maxi Kleber have stepped up to the plate.
Predictions: Golden State in six
[Featured Image Credit: Luka Doncic]
Shivaan Shah