Month: November 2022

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NBA 101

How does the NBA Draft work?

The NBA Draft is an annual event at which all 30 NBA teams pick a young and emerging player – either from college, or high school professional player (usually from Europe) to join their team.

The Number 1 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft was Paolo Banchero, a 6’10” forward of Italian origin, who was picked by the Orlando Magic.

The projected number 1 for the class of 2023 NBA Draft is Victor Wembanyama, a top-tier 18-year old player from France who stand 7’3″ tall.

Click to jump to section:

How old is the NBA draft?

How are the Players selected – the NBA Draft Lottery

NBA Draft Rounds & Picks

The Draft Order & Lottery

The 2023 NBA Draft Class (projected picks)

How old is the NBA draft?

The NBA Draft started in 1947.

Since then 8,214 NBA players have been drafted by NBA teams.

The NBA draft usually takes place in June, right after the NBA Finals and at the start of the NBA offseason.

How are the Players selected – the NBA Draft Lottery

Eligibility

Players become eligible for the NBADraft when they fulfill one of the below criteria:

  • Have completed at least four years in college
  • Have completed at least one year in college and declare for the Draft by giving up their college basketball eligibility
  • Are a player that has played internationally (Non-US league) – either professionally or as an amateur.

NBA Draft Rounds & Picks

The NBA Draft has two rounds – First Round and second round.

From 1947 to 1988, the Draft had multiple rounds, with teams picking players for up to 21 rounds, like they did in the 1960 Draft.

However, since 1989, the NBA decided to restrict the Draft to just two rounds with up to 60 players being selected over two rounds.

Each NBA team usually has two picks – one in the first round of the Draft and one in the second round.

Teams often trade draft picks away to acquire star players, so it is not uncommon for an NBA team to have more than two picks in a particular Draft.

In the 2022 Draft, four teams – Cleveland, San Antonio, Oklahoma City, and Minnesota – had four picks each.

Draft Order & Lottery

The NBA Draft order is determined using a lottery system.

The system uses ping-pong balls numbered 1 to 14, drawn four at a time.

There are 1001 four-number combinations using the numbers 1-14.

These combinations are distributed amongst the 14 non-playoffs teams to give each of them a chance at landing the No. 1 pick.

The teams with the three worst records from the previous season get an equal chance, i.e. 14%, to win the first pick in the Draft; while the remaining 11 teams get odds in decreasing order.

For the 2022 NBA draft, the odds looked like this:

TeamRecordWin%Lottery
Probability
HOU20-620.24414.0%
ORL22-600.26814.0%
DET23-590.2814.0%
OKC24-580.29312.5%
IND25-570.30510.5%
POR27-550.3299.0%
SAC30-520.3667.5%
LAL33-490.4026.0%
SAS34-480.4154.5%
WAS35-470.4273.0%
NYK37-450.4512.0%
LAC
(to OKC)		42-400.5121.5%
CHA43-390.5241.0%
CLE44-380.5370.5%

The balls numbered 1-14 are then spun by a person in a lottery machine.

A person whose is facing away from the machine has a timer and tells the person spinning to stop.

The number that rolls out is the first number. This is repeated four time to get the first four-number combination. The team with this four-number combination gets the first pick.

This entire process is repeated four times to determine the first four picks.

After that, i.e. picks 5-14 are picked in inverse order of their regular season record in the previous season. That means, a team with the worst record that has not got one of the top four picks, picks at number 5; the team with the next worst record picks at number 6, and this goes on till 14.

What happens with the picks remaining in Round 1, and then Round 2?

Picks 15-30, and then Round 2, are determined using the records.

Assuming no picks are traded, then the team with the best record in the previous season picks number 30 in Round 1.

Similarly, the team with the worst record picks number 1 in Round 2, and then so on.

The 2023 NBA Draft Class (projected picks)

#1 Oklahoma City Thunder: Victor Wembanyama
Metropolitans 92 (France/ International)
19 | Forward | 7’2″ | 229 lbs

Wembanyama, a 7-foot-2 forward was brilliant against the NBA G League Ignite team in an exhibition game in October. A lock for the first pick in the first round, when he does suit up, the league would not have seen his combination of build, physique and skillset. He has a well-developed game around the perimeter game and can play against and cover all five positions. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski believes he is “the greatest prospect in NBA Draft history.”. It is no secret that NBA Teams have been following Wembanyama’s story and awaiting this draft for a few seasons now. Now that he is draft eligible, that wait is over.

#2 Indiana Pacers: Scoot Henderson
G League Ignite
19 | Guard | 6’2″ | 195 lbs

G League Ignite squad’s most prominent star Henderson has become draft eligible this season and could top the first round. Scoot Henderson is already being compared to the Grizzlies Ja Morant for his ability to light up a stat sheet and his explosive athletic ability. At 17 he averaged 14.7 points, 4.9 assists and 4.7 rebounds in the G League. Thus far, nothing indicates that he isn’t a lock at pick number 2 behind Wembanyama in the 2023 NBA Draft.

#3 San Antonio Spurs: Amen Thompson
Overtime Elite
20 | Guard | 6’7″ | 207 lbs

Amen and Ausar – the Thompson twins were a huge win for the Overtime Elite Program. There is sufficient reason to believe that Amen’s (Unlike Ausar’s) size – he is listed at 6-foot-7 – and his ability to handle and distribute the ball are enough for teams to take him at No. 3.

#4 Utah Jazz: Nick Smith
Arkansas Razorbacks
19 (Freshman) | Guard | 6’4″ | 185 lbs

A guard believed to have the best two-way game in the top-10, Smith is a gifted athlete who can play off the ball and create for himself. Arkansas will help coaches and scouts determine where he fits in the grand scheme of an NBA offense and defense. For now they believe he could easily make a swithc between point guard and shooting guard depending on who he teams up with.

#5 Houston Rockets: Dariq Whitehead
Duke Blue Devils
19 (Freshman) | Guard | 6’6″ | 190 lbs

A Montverde Academy alumnus, Dariq Whitehead is following his seniors, many of whom were top NBA Draft picks. He counts the likes of Cade Cunningham, Scottie Barnes and Moses Moody as teammates and mentors. At 6-foot-6, Whitehead will be the latest in line for famous NBA players that have played a season at Duke before jumping to the NBA.

#6 Orlando Magic: Cameron Whitmore
Villanova Wildcats
19 (Freshman) | Forward | 6’6″ | 200 lbs

Whitmore brings explosive athletic ability, and seems like he has a body frame ready to play in the NBA. At the time of writing this Whitmore was nursing an injury so scouts would do well to take that into consideration. His playing time indicates that he will be ready in time for the tryouts come early-2023

#7 Detroit Pistons: Keyonte George
Baylor Bears
19 (Freshman) | Guard | 6’4″ | 185 lbs

Keyonte George will light up the scoreboards at Baylor. At 6-foot-4, he can score against nearly any type of defender, and can get the ball at the bottom of the net. Scouts are particularly impressed with his skillset – believed to be advanced enough to make it to the next level – the NBA.

#8 Sacramento Kings: Ausar Thompson
Overtime Elite
20 | Guard/Forward | 6’7″ | 210 lbs

The other half of Overtime Elite’s Thompson twins, Ausar needs the ball to be given to him in transiion or in the half court. Once the ball is securely in his hands though, few on this list can hold him from finishing at the rim with a varirety of creative moves.

#9 Washington Wizards: Dillon Mitchell
Texas Longhorns
19 (Freshman) | Forward | 6’8″ | 200 lbs

Dillon Mitchell was a virtual unknown over the past couple of years – now he is a top-10 prospect to round off the top-10 list behind Victor Wembanyama. This speaks volumes of his character and work ethic – both huge plus points to NBA scouts and teams. Add that to his ability to leap out of the building, and his elite-level defensive minded approach to the game, and he’s an asset for NBA teams. The year in college will only help his case to move up the top-10.

Remaining picks – from #10 to #30

#10 Charlotte Hornets: Cason Wallace
School: Kentucky Wildcats
Guard | 6’4″ | 185 lbs

#11 New York Knicks: Dereck Lively II
School: Duke Blue Devils
Center | 7’1″ | 230

#12 Portland Trail Blazers: Jarace Walker
School: Houston Cougars
Forward | 6’8″ | 230

#13 Orlando Magic (from Bulls): Kel’el Ware
School: Oregon Ducks
Center | 6’11” | 210

#14 New Orleans Pelicans: Terquavion Smith
School: NC State Wolfpack
Guard | 6’4″ | 165

#15 Atlanta Hawks: Brandon Miller
School: Alabama Crimson Tide
Forward | 6’8″ | 200

#16 Toronto Raptors: GG Jackson
School: South Carolina
Forward/Center | 6’9″ | 210

#17 Utah Jazz (via Timberwolves): Anthony Black
School: Arkansas Razorbacks
Guard | 6’7″ | 198

#18 Indiana Pacers (via Cavaliers): Kyle Filipowski
School: Duke Blue Devils
Forward/Center | 7’0″ | 230

#19 New York Knicks (via Mavericks): Julian Phillips
School: Tennessee
Forward | 6’8″ | 200

#20 Memphis Grizzlies: Amari Bailey
School: UCLA Bruins
Guard | 6’5″ | 185

#21 Charlotte Hornets (via Nuggets): Gradey Dick
School: Kansas Jayhawks
Forward | 7’1″ | 230

#22 Los Angeles Lakers: Chris Livingston, SF
School: Kentucky Wildcats
Guard/Forward | 6’6″ | 200

#23 Miami Heat: J.J. Starling
School: Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Guard | 6’4″ | 200

#24 Brooklyn Nets (via 76ers): Mike Miles Jr.
School: TCU Horned Frogs
Guard | 5’11” | 150

#25 Phoenix Suns: Nikola Djurisic
Mega Basket (Serbia, International)
Guard/Forward | 6’8″ | 214

#26 Utah Jazz (via Nets): Rayan Rupert
New Zealand Breakers (New Zealand, International)
Guard | 6’7″ | 191

#27 Houston Rockets (via Bucks): Leonard Miller
G League Ignite
Forward | 6’10” | 211

#28 Los Angeles Clippers: Marcus Sasser
School: Houston Cougars
Guard | 6’2″ | 170

#29 Golden State Warriors: Sidy Cissoko
G League Ignite
Guard/Forward | 6’7″ | 217

#30 Indiana Pacers (via Celtics): Harrison Ingram
School: Stanford Cardinals
Forward | 6’7″ | 230

Basketballbaba.com is a free-to-read resource on the NBA. You may consider showing your appreciation by buying something from Baba’s store. It is a combination of affiliate links to basketball books and gear, and also some exclusive BasketballBaba merchandise. for every purchase you make, 5% of the profits go towards the Dribble Academy Foundation.

Categories
NBA Player Comparisons

Does Joel Embiid have a better NBA legacy than Dwight Howard?

Hey what’s up…Basketball Baba here with Basketball Chronicles.

And today I am going to be comparing the legacies of Joel Embiid and Dwight Howard.

I know, I know…you are probably wondering – wait, Embiid has a legacy?

Well, apparently a few people believe he does.

And that’s what sparked the idea for this video.

I was having a conversation with a gentleman I met a few days ago

He claims he has been watching the NBA for more than two decades now, and I took that as a sign of his deep knowledge and, more importantly, his perspective on the NBA.

He was firmly of the opinion that Embiid has a better legacy than Howard.

When I disagreed, he said a few things – three of which stood out to me.

Click to jump to section

One, he said Embiid cared more about the game.

Does Embiid care more about the game?

Two, he said Embiid was a better player.

Is Embiid a better player?

And three, he said Embiid has done more in his career thus far.

Has Embiid done more in his career?

Before I address his points, I want to add here that originally, the word legacy meant a sum of money or inheritance left behind by a person for his or her survivors.

But the word has evolved to mean the sum total of a person’s life, especially their achievements and accomplishments.

In that context, what we are discussing here is whether Embiid has better or more achievements and accomplishments than Howard.

So back to the points the gentleman made.

Who cares more, Embiid or Howard?

The gentleman’s first point was that Embiid cares more about the game than Howard.

Other than Embiid and Howard themselves, there is no way anyone can objectively quantify if they care for the game.

Care is a big word we fans throw around.

Truth is we do not know.

We have some eye tests at best – 

Many believed Shaq did not care.

He showed up out of shape for multiple seasons with the Lakers. 

But he worked himself into shape during the season and won them three titles in three seasons.

It’s the same with Barkley. 

It was a running joke that he could not resist a good buffet.

But he put up a guaranteed 25, 10 and 4 every night.

Then there is “fat” Harden

Whether fat or not, he is still the most prolific scorer in the NBA.

So right off the bat there is no way to objectively quantify care – so that point is out.

Better player? Embiid or Howard?

I am willing to acknowledge that Embiid could, pound for pound, skill for skill and number for number be the better player.

He is clearly a better shooter and scorer.

He is a good rebounder.

He is a decent passer for a center.

And is effective on defense.

I am willing to sit and even agree that he is a better basketball player than Howard.

But the debate isn’t about who is the better player.

It is about who has the better legacy.

The Better Legacy – Embiid or Howard?

And in that regard, with all due respect to my contemporary, Howard is miles ahead of Embiid.

The gentleman’s third point was, Embiid has done a lot in his short career.

He is a 5-time all-star.

He has made four all-NBA second teams.

He also has a scoring title from his 2022 campaign.

But Howard’s accomplishments dwarf Embiid’s.

Let me break it down.

First, Howard is a three time Defensive player of the year.

Since the award was instituted in 1983, Only four players in the history of the NBA have won the award at least three times – Ben Wallace, Dikembe Mutombo, Rudy Gobert and of course Howard.

That’s a solid list, but I can see why someone can try and trivialize this argument.

But there are two reasons why Howard stands out on that list.

One – he is the only one among the four to win all three awards consecutively.

But two – and more importantly – he was the best player on all those teams – something none of the other players could boast off

Howard is one of only three NBA players to have won the defensive player award at least twice AND score at least 20 points in two of those seasons.

The other players were Hakeem Olajuwon and Alonzo Mourning.

That is elite company!

Second, he is an 8-time All-Star

I won’t dwell too much into this but suffice to say he was a popular player.

This though, is something I believe a healthy Embiid will easily beat over the course of his career.

Third, he has led the NBA in rebounding five times.

Only four other players have led the NBA in rebounding at least five times: Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Moses Malone, and Dennis Rodman.

If that isn’t the who’s who of rebounding, I am not sure what the conversation is about anymore.

He will finish his career in the top-20 of all time rebounders – both regular season and playoffs.

Oh yeah – did I mention that Chamberlain, Russell and Howard are the only three players to have at least five seasons where they led the NBA in rebounding during the playoffs?

And contrary to popular belief – two of those Howard seasons came with Houston – not Orlando.

Fourth – Howard has made 8 All-NBA teams, five of them were first team ballots – from 2008 to 2012

In fact, he was so dominant during that stretch, that he finished in the top five in MVP voting in four of those five seasons.

Embiid’s stats can catch up here – he is clearly a valuable asset to the Sixers and is a big part of their success.

But making five straight All-NBA First teams is going to be a task – even for a player as valuable and as gifted as Embiid.

Finally, though, and this is the clincher argument, assuming that there is still someone who disagrees, Howard has been to the NBA Finals.

Before I break down that season from Howards perspective, it is important to see the roster he took to the Finals, and who they beat along the way.

34-year-old Anthony Johnson

Rookie Courtney Lee

29-year-old Hedo Turkoglu

29-year-old Rashard Lewis

32-year-old Rafer Alston 

And, Mickael Pietrus

In the playoffs they beat – 

A peak Igoudala and a young Sixers team in six games.

Reigning NBA champions the Boston Celtics in seven games – although they were missing Kevin Garnett due to injury

And a 24-year old, LeBron James – the regular season MVP who averaged 38 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists in the series.

And now let’s see the season from Howard’s perspective.

Led the NBA in rebounding, and offensive rebounding.

Led the NBA in blocks.

Led the NBA in field goal percentage for all players that averaged at least 18 points a game.

Only player to average 20 points, 10 rebounds, 2 blocks and 1 steal.

Finished fourth in MVP voting behind James, Kobe Bryant, and Dwyane Wade.

Defensive Player of the Year.

All team 1st NBA.

NBA finalist.

There are NBA players who have not hit these milestones across their entire careers, let alone doing all this in one season.

Now, there is a common argument that Howard fell off his peak after his stint in Orlando.

That he lost interest and he was and continued to be a shelf of the player he once was.

This argument has zero basis in truth.

Zero.

Let us quickly look at his journey after Orlando.

He averaged 17 points and led the NBA in rebounding with the Los Angeles Lakers despite battling injuries, and playing under the shadow of Kobe Bryant.

I am willing to concede that Howard was a bit like a fish out of water here.

But consider the circumstances.

He came into the league as an 18 year old high school player.

Then played with either erratic stars such as Steve Francis, or older stars such as Grant Hill or Vince Carter – both of whom were injury prone and past 30.

This was the first time Howard was playing with a superstar near or just off his peak – arguably one of the five greatest NBA players of all time.

He was expected to be the sidekick to one of the most intense players to ever play in the NBA.

I am not defending Howards performance – he could have done better. He should have done better.

But was he shabby, or did he drop off? Barely.

Then in Houston he found his groove again.

He averaged 16 points and 12 rebounds in his three seasons there while, somehow shooting a blistering 60% from the field.

In fact he was clearly the second best option on the team.

Against the Portland Trailblazers in Round 1 of the 2014 NBA playoffs – He averaged a career high 26 points per game!

This despite having a scoring genius like Harden on the team.

He even helped the team advance to the 2015 NB Western Conference Semifinals against the eventual champions the Golden State Warriors.

He put up a vintage 18 points, 16 rebounds, and 4 blocks performance in a Game 6 elimination game.

Again, I ask.

Were his number down? Marginally.

Was he effective? Extremely.

Was he shabby or off his peak? Barely.

Now, once he left Houston is when he started to really taper.

Keep aside his redemption season with the Charlotte Hornets, where as a 32 year old, he dropped 32 points and pulled down 30 rebounds in a single game – becoming the oldest player other than Chamberlain to have that stat line in a game.

Howard is now entering his 19th season in the NBA.

There are only three active players who have played longer – Udonis Haslem, Carmelo Anthony and of course LeBron James.

And in all likelihood, Howard will also play and complete two decades as an NBA player.

Embiid is a very very good player. And if he stays healthy I believe that he will finish his career with a better legacy than Howard.

But at least for the next ten years or until Embiid wins a championship – whichever comes first – even he has concede that Dwight Howard has a better legacy than him.

Basketballbaba.com is a free-to-read resource on the NBA. You may consider showing your appreciation by buying something from Baba’s store. It is a combination of affiliate links to basketball books and gear, and also some exclusive BasketballBaba merchandise. for every purchase you make, 5% of the profits go towards the Dribble Academy Foundation.

Categories
NBA 101

Who are the 2022 NBA Champions?

The Golden State Warriors are NBA Champions 2022.

The 2022 NBA Finals were won by NBA Champions, the Golden State Warriors. They defeated the Boston Celtics in six games.

They were led by NBA point guard Stephen Curry who won the 2022 NBA Finals MVP Award for the first time in his career. Curry was also helped along by Draymond Green and Klay Thompson, both of whom played with Curry in the 2015, 2017 and 2018 NBA Championship teams.

The Golden State Warriors won four NBA championships in eight years, and their seventh NBA championship in franchise history.

Click to jump to section

How did the Golden State Warriors get to the 2022 NBA Finals?

How did the Boston Celtics get to the 2022 NBA Finals?

Stephen Curry’s 2022 NBA Finals MVP Performance

2022 NBA Finals Leaders

Game 1

Game 2

Game 3

Game 4

Game 5

Game 6

How did the Golden State Warriors get to the 2022 NBA Finals?

The Golden State Warriors finished the 2022 NBA Regular Season with 53 wins and 29 losses. This got them the third seed in the NBA Western Conference.

Championship favorites, the Los Angeles Lakers finished with the 11th seed.

In the first round, Golden State Warriors defeated the Denver Nuggets in five games.

Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

In Round 2 (2022 NBA Western Conference Semifinals), they defeated the Memphis Grizzlies in six games.

In Round 3 (2022 NBA Western Conference Finals), they defeated the Dallas Mavericks in five games.

How did the Boston Celtics get to the 2022 NBA Finals?

The Boston Celtics finished the 2022 NBA Regular Season with 51 wins and 31 losses. This got them the second seed in the NBA Eastern Conference.

In the first round, the Celtics swept the Brooklyn Nets in four games.

In Round 2 (2022 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals), they defeated the Milwaukee Bucks in seven games.

Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)

In Round 3 (2022 NBA Eastern Conference Finals), they defeated the Miami Heat in six games.

Stephen Curry’s 2022 NBA Finals MVP Performance

Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)

Legacy

American basketball player Wardell Stephen Curry is a point guard for the Golden State Warriors in the NBA’s Western Conference.

Born on February 14th 1988, Curry is viewed widely by NBA players as being among the greatest shooters in NBA history. He has always been a part of four-time NBA Champions, the Golden State Warriors.

Curry is widely viewed as an outstanding basketball player. Many believe he has revolutionized basketball – especially shooting – and has encouraged players of all levels to become better shooters.

Some analysts have dubbed Curry to be the Michael Jordan of the three-point era.

2022 NBA Season

In the 2022 NBA Regular Season, Curry finished top-10 in points scored with 25.5 points per game, and shot 43.7% from the field, 38% from the three point line, 92.3% from the free throw line. He also averaged 6.3 assists and 5.2 rebounds per game.

In the 2022 NBA Playoffs Curry finished fifth in points scored with 27.4 points per game, and shot 45.9% from the field, 39.7% from the three point line, and 82.9% from the free throw line. He also averaged 5.9 assists and 5.2 rebounds per game.

In the 2022 NBA Finals Curry finished first in points scored with 31.2 points per game, and shot 48.2% from the field, 43.7% from the three point line, and 85.7% from the free throw line. He also averaged 6.0 assists and 5.0 rebounds per game.

2022 NBA Finals Leaders

Golden State Warriors Andrew Wiggins (22) (Photo by Greg Nelson/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)

Golden State Warriors
Points: Stephen Curry – 31.2 ppg
Rebounds: Andrew Wiggins – 8.8 rpg
Assists: Draymond Green – 6.2 apg
Steals: Curry – 2.0 spg
Blocks: Wiggins – 1.5 bpg

Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown #7 (Photo By Nancy Lane/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images)

Boston Celtics
Points: Jaylen Brown – 23.5 ppg
Rebounds: Al Horford – 8.5 rpg
Assists: Jayson Tatum – 7.0 apg
Steals: Marcus Smart – 1.5 spg
Blocks: Robert Williams – 2.8 bpg

2022 NBA Finals Game 1 – Boston Celtics 120 – Warriors 108

The Celtics stunned the NBA world by winning Game 1 of the 2022 NBA Finals in San Francisco.

Many expected the Warriors to dominate the series, especially since the Celtics were coming off a hard-fought seven game series against the Miami Heat.

The Golden State Warriors, however, were surprised at the way the Celtics played. Curry led all players with 34 points. But it was the play of Al Horford, who led the Celtics with 26 points, that was the biggest surprise of the game.

The Celtics dominated the fourth quarter, outscoring the Golden State Warriors 40-16, and shot a blistering 51.2% from the three point line.

2022 NBA Finals Game 2 – Warriors 107, Boston Celtics 88

The Golden State Warriors came back blazing in Game 2 of the 2022 NBA Finals. They defended well, and held the Celtics to their lowest total in the 2022 NBA Playoffs.

The Celtics were particularly after they scored just 14 points, while the Golden State Warriors scored 35 points in the same period.

Curry once again led Golden State with 29 points, but it was the play of Golden State’s Kevon Looney that stood out. Looney had 12 points and 7 rebounds along with 3 steals in just over 21 minutes of play for the Golden State Warriors.

Tatum had 28 points for the Celtics, but the team had 18 turnovers in the game.

2022 NBA Finals Game 3: Boston Celtics 116 – Warriors 100

Back home for the first NBA Finals game since 2010, the Celtics were looking to make a statement. Especially since they had won Game 1 of the 2022 NBA Finals at San Francisco.

They did not disappoint their fans.

They came out firing away in the first quarter, scoring 33 points to the Golden State’s 22. They held the Golden State Warriors to just 20% from the three point line, and outrebounded them 16-8.

Tatum, Brown and Smart combined for 77 points, 22 rebounds and 19 assists. For the Golden State Warriors, Curry had 31 points, while Klay Thompson had 25 points.

2022 NBA Finals Game 4: Warriors 107 – Boston Celtics 97

Golden State needed to win Game 4 in order to avoid going down 1-3 to the Boston Celtics. They dug deep into their championship pedigree and pulled off a win.

The game started off neck to neck with the score at 54-49 at the half. The Golden State Warriors were down.

It was over the next two quarters that they turned up the heat and took charge of the game.

Led by Stephen Curry’s 24 second half points, the Warriors rallied to to level the 2022 NBA Finals at 2-2 each.

Curry led all scorers with 43 points for the Golden State Warriors. Tatum and Brown combined for 44 points for the Boston Celtics.

2022 NBA Finals Game 5: Warriors 104, Boston Celtics 94

This was the best defensive game in the 2022 NBA Finals.

With just ten points separating the two teams in the final score – this was also probably the closest game of the 2022 NBA Finals.

Boston started the game slow, being held to just 16 points in the first quarter by the Golden State Warriors throttling defense.

They did outscore the Golden State Warriors in the third quarter 35-24. This stunned the Warriors a bit as the third quarter is usually their best quarter.

However, Golden State’s Andrew Wiggins exploded for 10 points in the fourth quarter, helping the Warriors close out the game and take home win number 3 in the 2022 NBA Finals.

2022 NBA Finals Game 6: Warriors 103 – Boston Celtics 90

The Warriors started and finished this game like the NBA Champions they were.

The Warriors’ Draymond Green had a great game with 12 points, 12 rebounds and 8 assists.

Curry was once again spectacular finishing the game with 34 points, tying the Celtics’ Jaylen Brown as leading scorers for the game.

Celtics’ Tatum was held to just 13 points, while the Warriors’ Andrew Wiggins finished with 18 points.