DENVER, CO - JANUARY 29: Al Horford (42) of the Boston Celtics blocks a shot by Emmanuel Mudiay (0) of the Denver Nuggets during the first half on Monday, January 29, 2018. The Denver Nuggets hosted the Boston Celtics at the Pepsi Center in Denver. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post via Getty Images)
X-Factors
Game 1 of the 2022 NBA Finals is tonight! The Golden State Warriors will be facing off against the Boston Celtics in this year’s Finals. This matchup will be a classic case of old-timers versus newcomers. The Golden State Warriors will be making their sixth appearance at the Finals in eight seasons. This is the Celtics’ first appearance since 2007-08, This season, the Celtics were led by Jayson Tatum, Jalen Brown, and Marcus Smart; Smart was the Defensive Player of the Year. Like every playoff series, each team will have an “x-factor” who will make or break the matchup. Let’s now look at what the x-factor is for these two NBA Finals teams. Check out the
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Boston’s X-Factor
Al Horford
Al Horford is as clever and creative as any player in the NBA. You won’t be intimidated if you take one look at Al Horford until you play against him. He’s not going to impress you with his athleticism or fill up the stat sheet every night. He is a better player because we see him making winning plays that don’t show up in the box score. And proving himself to be one the most effective team leaders in the league. Horford was also a crucial part of Boston’s number one ranked defense.
This series will be the focal point for savvy veterans. Boston has an advantage, as Golden State is too small unless they start Kevon Looney. Horford should still have the advantage. Draymond Green is the best defender, but his size is still a factor in low-post matches. The Celtics will likely call Horford’s number more often. He will still be as valuable a rebounder this postseason, with an average rebounding rate of 9.6 per match. Check out the top sports betting sites!
Golden State’s X-Factor
Jordan Poole
Jordan Poole is a revelation. Poole’s performance has awestruck the Golden State Warriors and the entire NBA. The Warriors had added an 18-point per game scorer to their roster just when you thought they couldn’t get more offensive firepower. Poole, a key catalyst in Golden State, looks like the next Splash Brother. He has been a great player in this postseason.
The Warriors will be looking for another great series from Jordan Poole. Jordan Poole will be there for Steph Curry if he has an off-game. He has a 39% three-point shooting percentage so far in the postseason. This improvement is a significant improvement on his 36.4 per cent shooting percentage in the postseason. Draymond Green and the Splash Brothers will impact this series, but Jordan Poole’s shooting will be a huge X-Factor for the Warriors.
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