[Mick]

Who wins?  Celtics
How many games?  Six
Finals MVP?  Smart
Unsung hero?  Most of them.  Horford, Brown, White


I was listening to the talking heads before the game.  All five of them predicted the Warriors in either six or seven games.  Not one took the Celtics.

I take the Celtics for four reasons:
(1) They've won five of their last six against the Warriors (and now six of their last seven).
(2) The only teams that the Warriors have trouble with are physical teams, and the Celtics are a VERY physical team.
(3) The referees let physical play go, particularly the further they go in the playoffs. Foster, Fitzgerald and Davis are marginal refs, IMHO. Davis calls the second-fewest fouls in the NBA with the seventh-highest percentage against home teams.
(4) the Warriors are old.  They're the second oldest team in the NBA and their really young players...Moody, Wiseman, Kuminga...play very little.  The Celtics are 25.9, less than the league average.  Of the Celts' top 14 players by minutes played this season, just one was over 30.  Three of the Warriors' top five are over 30 and five of their Top 14 are over 30.  Nine are 28 or older on the W's, just five on the Celts are 28 or older.

[Mick]

Who wins?  Celtics
How many games?  Six
Finals MVP?  Smart
Unsung hero?  Most of them.  Horford, Brown, White


I was listening to the talking heads before the game.  All five of them predicted the Warriors in either six or seven games.  Not one took the Celtics.

I take the Celtics for four reasons:
(1) They've won five of their last six against the Warriors (and now six of their last seven).
(2) The only teams that the Warriors have trouble with are physical teams, and the Celtics are a VERY physical team.
(3) The referees let physical play go, particularly the further they go in the playoffs. Foster, Fitzgerald and Davis are marginal refs, IMHO. Davis calls the second-fewest fouls in the NBA with the seventh-highest percentage against home teams.
(4) the Warriors are old.  They're the second oldest team in the NBA and their really young players...Moody, Wiseman, Kuminga...play very little.  The Celtics are 25.9, less than the league average.  Of the Celts' top 14 players by minutes played this season, just one was over 30.  Three of the Warriors' top five are over 30 and five of their Top 14 are over 30.  Nine are 28 or older on the W's, just five on the Celts are 28 or older.