The talent has always been there. That's why he's the #1 pick. He wasn't a bad player in Minny, just disappointing that he didn't have the "it" to be the alpha. Now he is playing on a good team and it frees him up to do what he can do.
Winning cures all. The problem is, even with Curry scoring like Jordan, I don't think the Warriors will win the series if Dray, Klay, Wiggins, Poole all continue to play below average offensively. Unless Boston cools off from three .424% ( which is carrying their offense) I'm slightly favoring the Celtics. Last night Boston shot 10-13 on uncontested/wide open 3s | Warriors 3-17. For the series Boston is 32-60 (53%) on wide open threes | Warriors 21-61 (33%). League avg during the regular season is 38% on wide open threes. For Boston its 37%. For GSW it's 39%. https://www.nba.com/stats/teams/shots-closest-defender/?Season=2021-22&SeasonType=Playoffs&CloseDefDistRange=6+ Feet - Wide Open&PerMode=Totals&PORound=4
For Golden State to win, the following things probably have to happen: 1. Stephen Curry is great (this is nearly non-negotiable, though there's the outside possibility that the Warriors win a game on defense, strangling the Boston offense and winning something like 92-88...they can get to 92 points without a great Curry game, but this is not something to count on) 2. Draymond Green has to at least make smart decisions as a handler and passer on offense and get back the DPotY version of himself that he was at in the regular season before his injury and for much of the postseason 3. Klay Thompson probably needs at least one big game, where he shoots efficiently and knocks down 5-7 threes. He's been good for one big game per series this year 4. Jordan Poole doesn't have to be 30-point-Poole, but he probably has to be efficient-15-point-Poole. If he can at least pick his spots and generate efficient low-volume offense, that'll really help open up his teammates It's a fairly long list, but all of those things are extremely reasonable, if not probable individually. The question is whether Golden State can pull off the parlay. If Boston had home court for the remaining three-game series, I'd probably lean no, but with Golden State having the home court advantage, I'll lean yes. I also think Golden State has better coaching and more big game maturity, so that should help with (2) and (4). But I think (out on a limb, I know) this is going to be an intensely close series. Probably 7 games, but either team can win on the road so it could end in 6.
Curry's game four performance was epic. Hall of fame material. However, I still think the Celtics are the better "team." They need to win on Monday, because I don't see GS winning two in a row. Win on Monday then finish it at home. Obviously, it would be very hard to win game seven on GS's home court.
I’ve always felt is that regardless of the teams, if you have the best player in a series then you will always give yourself a chance. I think that’s how Lebron beat the Warriors and also why Luka’s Mavs were able to beat the Suns. As long as Curry is the best player, then the Warriors have a chance. But I’m hoping the Celtics can pull it out. The rest of the Warriors aren’t looking so hot aside from Wiggins
Due to public backlash and the media covering Draymond being way too Draymond, I feel like he really toned it down in games 3 and 4 - and I think it was because he was in a hostile environment. Since 2 out of the next 3 are in SF, Draymond is going to go back to being bully Draymond because he now has the crowd on his side. Tatum has to be better. He can't be relegated to a CP3 role nor put up an 8/23 or an 8/19 statline, again. Celtics can't win consistently like that.
More and More I am thinking that winners of a series only have to keep every game close and then win the last game Esp in the Championship I suspect they make it to game 7 . . . . Then the Refs will be more fair and even until then . . they will alternate bias Rocket River
Given Boston's track record these playoffs I fully expect them to win game 5 at this point, and the series.
