Boston’s Marcus Smart and Golden State’s Andrew Wiggins are two players whose play could dramatically alter the course of the 2022 NBA Finals.
Q: Which Celtics or Warriors player (outside of this group of household names) could have the biggest impact on this championship series?
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Steve Aschburner: Marcus Smart. Where to start with the leader of the Boston floor and anchor of its defense? First, he was hampered in the Eastern Conference Finals and it showed, with his Kia Defensive Player of the Year specialty muted against the Miami Heat. Second, there will be no room or time for such relaxation against Golden State. The Warriors’ multi-guard offense requires Smart to eliminate one of these threats, and he’s been able to do so in the past: According to StatMuse, in the past five seasons, Stephen Curry, defended by Smart, has only 30 points in six games, with a total success rate of 37% (30% from three). The final is a completely different environment, but if Smart gets anything close to that, he will be Celtic’s most crucial by far.
Marc Medina: Andrew Wiggins. The Warriors’ championship orbit will always revolve around Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. But Wiggins’ presence could determine the extent to which the Warriors can either absorb one of their stars on a nightly basis or at least lighten their workload. Although the primary scoring responsibilities fall to Curry and Thompson, Wiggins has proven reliable as a complementary scorer both on the wing and in the post. Although Green quarterbacks defended the Warriors, Wiggins often defended the opponent’s leading scorer. Because Wiggins has excelled so far with that job description against Ja Morant and Luka Doncic, the Warriors have protected Thompson while he adjusts to his 2 1/2-year absence due to injuries.
Shaun Powell: Al Horford is such an unexpected surprise for the Celtics, a man forgotten in recent years when he was beleaguered in Philadelphia and cast aside in OKC. But now he has gotten younger with the Celtics and played so smart on both ends while providing stability and leadership. Even at his advanced age, he’s too agile and smart for any big man (except Draymond Green) that Golden State will throw at him. Horford has waited his whole life for this moment and we can see him seize the opportunity to play at the rim, hit open 3-pointers from the key and corner, and do what it takes to make the Celtics make it one series.
John Schumann: Robert Williams III may or may not have a huge role in the finale, as there are a few storylines (either his knee is limiting him or he’s getting sidelined on the ground) that he doesn’t play much of at the end of the series. But these two scenarios and more make Williams a very interesting player in this matchup. The questions begin with the Warriors’ first offensive possession of the opener.
Who will Williams keep? Maybe it’s Andrew Wiggins, so he wouldn’t have to be involved in a lot of checking actions and would have more freedom to move around and protect the rim? Can Golden State keep him away from the basket and – like Jimmy Butler a few times last round – succeed by having him defend in space? The Warriors are at their best offensively when they leverage their 3-point shooting to get layups and dunks. When they are at their best defensively, the Celtics have the ability to win both. And when they’re at their best defensively, Williams is on the floormoving well and blocking shots.
Michael C. Wright: It is probable Smart Marcus here. But what could complicate or affect his candidacy for that superlative is how the Celtics choose to deploy Kia Defensive Player of the Year (I expect a variety of looks). If you look at Golden State’s playoff opponents so far, Boston will be the first team the Warriors face in the playoffs that will change defensively with such frequency. This defensive ability/versatility can spoil the fluidity of Golden State’s high-powered offense. But remember, the Warriors have seen enough changes over the years to develop plenty of counters. If you’re in Boston, keeping Smart locked in on Stephen Curry all night (combined with a good helping of other tactics to keep the Warriors point guard off balance) is the best way to limit his effectiveness as a scorer and playmaker. never really stops Curry. But Smart has shown a penchant for mercilessly stalking and frustrating his backcourt counterpart with consistent tenacity. Smart’s efforts on this front could also serve as a galvanizing force for the Celtics defense as a whole.
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