A tale of two teams: Celtics and Warriors head to NBA Finals

By Ryan Pullido
Eagle News Service

(Eagle News) — The stage for the NBA Finals is set. Out of 16 teams, two teams remain to battle for the NBA Championship. Two teams with much to prove. On one hand, a championship-caliber team whose last few years have been derailed due to injuries. Now back in the NBA Finals, they are out to prove that they do not need a “mercenary” to become champions once again. On the other hand, a franchise that hasn’t tasted an championship since 2008. A star looking to prove that the new generation is here. A franchise on the cusp of proving that they are the greatest franchise in all of the NBA. These are the stories following the two teams battling in the NBA Finals.

MIAMI, FL – MAY 29: The Boston Celtics pose for a photo with the Bob Cousy Eastern Conference Championship Trophy after Game 7 of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Finals on May 29, 2022 at the FTX Arena in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Brian Babineau / NBAE / Getty Images / Getty Images via AFP)

The Boston Celtics and their revenge tour

The Boston Celtics haven’t had a Finals appearance since the last decade. The last time the Boston Celtics appeared in the NBA Finals was back in 2010 when the Big Three of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen were still part of the roster. Despite this, the Celtics still remained a Playoff Contender team only missing the Playoffs in the 2013-2014 season. Out of the last 12 seasons, they were eliminated in the First Round four times and were eliminated from the Conference Finals four times. Ironically, their last three eliminations were from teams they faced in this year’s Playoffs: the Brooklyn Nets, the Milwaukee Bucks and the Miami Heat.

In the 2020-2021 Playoffs, the Boston Celtics were eliminated by the Brooklyn Nets in the first round of their series. This also brought the infamous video of Kyrie Irving stomping Lucky the Leprechaun. This year, the Celtics once again met with the Brooklyn Nets determined to avenge their loss from last year. The Celtics showed their defensive prowess by sweeping the Brooklyn Nets.

In the 2018-2019 Playoffs, the Boston Celtics were eliminated by the Milwaukee Bucks in the Semi-Conference Finals. In a grueling seven-game series, the Celtics managed to put away the Bucks and advance to the Conference Finals where they met the Miami Heat once again.

In the 2019-2020 Playoffs, otherwise known as the Bubble Season, the Boston Celtics fell to the Miami Heat after Jimmy Butler’s heroics put over the Heat in Game Six. However, this year a more confident and united Celtics put away the Heat in Game Seven. With all their past obstacles behind them, the Celtics now have a chance to capture their first championship in over 14 years. This would also put the Celtics above the Los Angeles Lakers in most championships a franchise holds with 18 championships.

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – MAY 26: The Golden State Warriors hold the Western Conference Champion trophy after the 120-110 win against the Dallas Mavericks in Game Five of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Western Conference Finals at Chase Center on May 26, 2022 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

The Warriors and their chance to reclaim glory

For the Warriors, their road to the NBA Finals was not as tough as the Celtics. They were able to put away the Denver Nuggets in the first round in Game 5. The Memphis Grizzlies put up a fight in the second round winning two games, but succumbing to the Warriors in Game 6. In dominant fashion, the Warriors eliminated the Dallas Mavericks in Game 5 to advance to the NBA Finals.

The past two years haven’t been kind to the Warriors franchise either. In Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals, Klay Thompson suffered a catastrophic knee injury that put him out for over a year. Thompson would tear his ACL after colliding with Danny Green in an attempted dunk. Thompson was set to make his return in the 2020-2021 season but would rupture his right Achilles tendon sidelining him once again for the season. Thompson would finally make his long-awaited return on January 9 against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Thompson wasn’t the only one that dealt with injuries during the two-year drought. Their franchise star, and one-half of the Splash Brothers, Stephen Curry would also become injured in the 2019-2020 season. During the fourth game of the season, Curry would injure his left hand and would be sidelined for a portion of the season. Curry did not return until early March, leaving Green and the rest of the team to step up their game. Unfortunately for the Warriors, Green would also miss time on the court to heal up on his nagging injuries leaving the rookies and the rest of the team to step up their game.

(Eagle News Service)