The final game has been set up, after a riveting contest during the Final stages, and we can only expect this game to be bigger and better than all of those combined. As a pre-match hype we have decided to call-out each team’s best players.
The list is based on stats and performances. Moreover, they are also ranked from the very best to the least best, there are no bad players in this top 10. Play-off stats are given in Brackets.
So, hold onto your opinions, because here we go again:
1. Jayson Tatum, forward, Boston Celtics (27.1 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 5.9 APG, 45% shooting, 37% 3-point)
Tatum, who is still only 24, has made a name for himself as one of the NBA’s most gifted young players. His reputation exceeds expectation thanks to this is his 26-point outburst in Game 7 of the Easteren Conference Finals.
It’s unexpected, given that there were some doubts early in the regular season about whether a Celtics team led by Tatum could contend for a championship. That’s no longer a question after allowing 20 or more points in 15 of their last 18 playoff games. Tatum is the top individual player on both sides heading into the 2022 NBA Finals.
2. Stephen Curry, guard, Golden State Warriors (25.9 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 6.2 APG, 45% field goal, 38% 3-point)
Curry had a solid all-around game despite struggling to shoot the ball in Golden State’s Game 5 win over the Mavericks (5-of-17 from the field). In 35 minutes, he had nine assists and a plus-11 rating. Curry enters the 2022 NBA Finals as the first Western Conference Finals MVP in NBA history. He averaged over 24 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game, while shooting 44 percent from beyond the arc. When he was on the court, Golden State was plus-45, and when he was off, they were minus one. The three-time champion has tweaked his approach to include better defensive play and a more developed perimeter game. This will have an impact on the NBA Finals in 2022.
3. Jaylen Brown, guard, Boston Celtics (22.9 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 3.4 APG, 48% shooting, 39% 3-point)
In the 2022 NBA Finals, Brown will face Warriors two-guard Klay Thompson, who will be a plus-level matchup for him. He has the advantage in terms of stature and athleticism. When it comes to the 25-year-old winger, though, there are concerns with consistency.
This was exemplified in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals versus Miami. Brown’s 12 points came on 5-of-20 shooting. That was only one game after he scored 40 points in a playoff game for the first time in his career. If Boston expects to win the NBA title, Brown will need to be more consistent.
4. Draymond Green, forward, Golden State Warriors (8.7 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 6.3 APG, 54% shooting)
In the Western Conference Finals, the struggling Green was outstanding. In Game 5 against Dallas, he scored 17 points on 6-of-7 shooting. Green grabbed six rebounds and dished up nine assists in the same game.
What role did Green play in the Warriors’ journey to the NBA Finals in 2022? Through 16 playoff games, the Warriors have a plus-97 in his minutes. On offence, he’s adopting a scoring mindset as well. That might make Golden State an unbeatable force in the championship round, especially on a team with so many scorers.
5. Klay Thompson, guard, Golden State Warriors (19.8 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 2.4 APG, 46% shooting, 40% 3-point)
Thompson may have been told that Thursday’s series-clinching game against the Mavericks was actually a Game 6 because he came to play big. Thompson was on fire after laboring in the first four games of the series (29 percent shooting from distance).
Thompson, one of the best long-range shooters in NBA history, made 8-of-16 three-point attempts. He had a total of 32 points. Thompson scored 30 points in a Game 6 win over the Grizzlies in Round 2 to make it his second straight playoff closeout effort.
6. Marcus Smart, guard, Boston Celtics (14.9 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 6.3 APG, 40% shooting, 33% 3-point)
Smart, Boston’s longest-tenured player, has been a pillar of the franchise since being selected first overall in the 2014 NBA Draft. While Smart continues to struggle at shooting the ball, his defence will be crucial in determining who wins the NBA Finals in 2022.
The reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year will face a Stephen Curry who is prone to turnovers. His on-field prowess has the potential to have a major influence. Smart’s scoring abilities (24 points in Game 7 versus Miami) will also be a key factor in this game.
7. Jordan Poole, guard, Golden State Warriors (18.4 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 4.5 APG, 53% shooting, 39% 3-point)
The 22-year-old Poole made headlines previously in the playoffs when he put on a show against the Denver Nuggets in the first round. Over the first three games, he scored 28.7 points per game. Poole’s scoring ability has been crucial for the Warriors, despite some troubles against Memphis in the second round and Dallas in the conference finals.
In the Warriors’ Game 5 victory against Dallas, he made 6-of-8 shots. Against the Mavericks, he also made 40 percent of his three-point attempts and 64 percent of his shots. Poole can make another statement with a great performance in the Finals, given his propensity to go off at any time.
8. Andrew Wiggins, forward, Golden State Warriors (15.8 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 48% shooting, 35% 3-point)
In the Western Conference Finals, Wiggins’ two-way ability was crucial in keeping Luka Doncic at bay. It’s something the star of the Dallas Mavericks mentioned during the series.
On both ends, Wiggins’ presence was felt. With him on the court, Golden State ended plus-55. Despite having to defend Doncic, he still put up good numbers on the opposite end of the court. In Game 5, he scored 18 points on 7-of-16 shooting. In the 2022 NBA Finals, Wiggins’ ability to guard Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum could be crucial.
9. Kevon Looney, center, Golden State Warriors (6.0 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 2.0 APG, 67% shooting)
Don’t be deceived by Looney’s mediocre statistics. He didn’t get much time in the first round against Denver, but he began to see action in the Warriors’ second-round series against Memphis (22 rebounds in Game 6).
With that in mind, the former UCLA first-round pick stepped up his game in the Western Conference Finals. In the series-clinching Game 5 triumph, Looney scored 10 points, pulled 18 rebounds, and dished out four assists. He also had a fantastic Game 2 performance, scoring 21 points. In the 2022 NBA Finals, Looney is expected to be a big X-factor.
10. Al Horford, center, Boston Celtics (10.2 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 3.4 APG, 47% shooting, 34% 3-point)
Horford’s postseason success is one of the main reasons Boston will reach the NBA Finals in 2022. During the Eastern Conference Playoffs, he put on some outstanding efforts. This includes a 30-point performance against the Milwaukee Bucks in the conference semifinals.
It will be interesting to see in what role he plays versus Golden State. He has the ability to play on the wing and on the perimeter. Kevon Looney, the Warriors’ centre, isn’t in the same boat. Is this a benefit to Boston? Perhaps. The only concern is Looney’s ability to rebound (more on that next).
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