2 min read • May 31, 2022
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The Celtics, coming off a grueling seven-game series against the No. 1 seed Miami Heat, are playing in their first Finals in 12 years and are chasing the franchise's 18th title.
The Warriors, meanwhile, took care of the Dallas Mavericks in five games to clinch their sixth Finals appearance in eight years. Thursday's game at Chase Center will be their first action since last Thursday's Game 5 win.
As is the case in any NBA season, both squads dealt with injury issues in the long season. However, the Warriors enter the Finals with a higher SIC team health score.
Boston Celtics - 90.3 Team SIC score
Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart has dealt with multiple ailments in the playoffs. The latest injury, a right ankle sprain, will likely continue to limit his mobility on the defensive end early in the series.
Robert Williams III is the other key injury to watch on the Celtics. He played in six of the seven games against the Heat, but the soreness in his left knee is liable to pop up at any time depending on his usage.
Another injury that might be troublesome for the Celtics is Jayson Tatum's lingering right shoulder ailment. He suffered a stinger in Game 5 and the symptoms appeared to linger in Game 6 as well.
As our team of Pro Basketball Docs noted at the time, lingering symptoms from a stinger can be a warning sign of a bigger issue.
It seems Tatum has avoided that for the time being, but that may not be the case for the entire Finals.
Golden State Warriors - 92.9 Team SIC Score
The return of defensive stalwart Gary Payton II helps remedy some of the Warriors injury woes at small forward, but Otto Porter Jr. and Andre Iguodala are still on the mend.
Porter suffered a left foot injury in Game 3 and has not seen the floor since. He suffered a fracture in the same left foot in 2019 and the severity of his current injury remains unclear.
He is reportedly making progress and will be slowly integrated back into practices ahead of Thursday's opener, but the Pro Basketball Docs are not convinced he is a lock to play early in the series.
Iguodala, the veteran defensive presence, has not played since April 24 while dealing with a cervical disk issue in his neck. He was able to practice Monday, but the 38-year-old will be used sparingly if available in the series.
The Warriors are slightly undersized with James Wiseman still recovering from multiple setbacks with his right knee, but the core players are healthy for the stretch run.
Steph Curry suffered a minor right ankle injury in Game 5, but his previous right ankle injuries ensured there was minimal new damage done. He never exited the game and will have a full week of rest by the time the series tips.
Check out how the teams match up for Game 1 below:
NBA Finals Series Odds
The Warriors, with the home court advantage, are -160 to win the series with the Celtics at +130, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
Curry is the favorite to win MVP, at +105, followed by Jayson Tatum at +180 and Jaylen Brown at +1000.
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