2022 NBA Finals Cetics vs Warriors odds and predictions: who is the favorite to win game 5?
With the series now tied at 2-2, Game 5 could prove crucial in determining who will ultimately be crowned champions. Here’s our look at the the numbers you need to know before tip off.
Join us for a look at the predictions and odds for the pivotal Game 5 between the Warriors and the Celtics
What do the odds look like for Warriors vs Celtics Game 5?
On Monday night the 2022 NBA Finals will be back in San Francisco at the Chase Center for Game 5 of the series between the Golden State Warriors and Boston Celtics. With the teams now tied at 2-2 after a sensational performance from Steph Curry in that saw the Warriors take Game 4 in Boston, things are about to get very interesting. With tip off set for 9:00 p.m. ET., the Golden State Warriors are listed as the 3.5 point home favorite with the total number of points scored expected to be 212 in the latest odds. Where betting trends are concerned the Warriors are at -170, while the Boston Celtics are at +145.
What can we expect from the Boston Celtics?
Across the series so far Boston has proven they are a dual threat. On the one hand the Celtics are averaging 26.8 assists per game, which when paired with 71.3% of field goals against the Warriors is nothing short of staggering. That’s before we even mention the fact that Boston is also shooting 42.4% from 3-point range and have crashed the boards to claim 29.7% of available offensive rebounds. If we look at the postseason in totality, Boston has generated 23.3 free throw attempts per game and converted more than 80% of them.
Then there is Boston’s defense. The Celtics have proven to be a very stingy team, only giving up 16.3 free throw attempts per game to the Warriors, while blocking 6.5 shots per game in the 2022 NBA Finals. The normally lethal shooting of Golden State has been held to a meager 44.9% from the field, which needless to say is well below their season average. In general Boston has limited opponents to 43.6% shooting from the field and 33.3% from 3-point distance in the postseason. This is all to say that we can expect the Celtics to stick to the game plan that has seen them get this far: versatility in offense and intensity in defense. It is a formula that has garnered success and there is no reason to stop now.
How about them Golden State Warriors?
What makes these Finals so intriguing is that we’ve been essentially given a showcase in how to play defense by the two teams who boast the best defenses in the league. Golden State, like Boston has given up very little on the defensive end these Finals. It might seem strange to say given that Celtics have been shooting above their norm from 3-point distance, but the Celtics are scoring only 1.1 points per possession in this series. The Warriors have most definitely limited Boston in the field with the Celtics posting a below par 45.7% on two-point attempts. There is also another area to pay attention to and that’s the steals department. The Warriors have averaged 10.0 steals per game, which has only fed into their offensive flow in transition.
With a 10-1 record at home during the 2022 NBA Playoffs, it’s pretty clear that the Chase Center is a safe space for the Warriors. Interestingly, across those 11 games, the Warriors maintained a scoring rate of 1.19 points per possession, which put simply means the Golden State’s offensive production has been stellar in the playoffs. Indeed, their rating of 115.1 just cements the point. Collectively they have posted a 59.4% during the entire playoffs and that’s without mentioning their work off the glass. The Warriors have had a 28.5% offensive rebound rate in the playoffs with an average of 14.7 second chance points per game. Expect more of the same from Steph Curry and Co. when Monday night’s Game 5 arrives.