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 Warriors–Boston 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