Warriors look to closeout Finals even with the Celtics favored
Going into Game 6 of the NBA Finals, the Boston Celtics are favored at home by four points and rightfully so. They’ll be playing in front of a ruckus Celtics crowd that knows no matter what, it’s the last game in TD Garden this season. However, things are aligning perfectly for the Golden State Warriors to come in and silence that ruckus crowd.
“Game 6 Klay”
It’s been six years since the “Game 6 Klay” mantra was born and he’s ready for his next act. Since 2016, Thompson has played in seven Game 6’s and is averaging just over 28 points while shooting a ridiculous 54% from three in those games.
Now that’s a lot to ask of a player who missed the last two seasons due to a torn ACL and achilles, but Thompson isn’t the type of player to dwell on that. We’ve seen it before, Thompson will let it fly from anywhere, just look back at Game 6 highlights from the 2016 Western Conference finals.
He’s had his fair share of ebbs and flows during these playoffs, but when the Warriors have needed him the most “Game 6 Klay” has put on his cape and given the Warriors exactly what they need in order to win.
Curry’s Bounceback Performances
Curry is the clear-cut favorite at -360 odds to win his first Finals MVP if the Warriors secure a Game 6 or Game 7 win, but he’s coming off his worst playoff performance this season. In a Game 5 win for the Warriors, Curry shot 7-for-22 from the field and went 0-for-9 from downtown.
However, the good thing for Curry and the Warriors is that he tends to play his best basketball after scoring 20 points or less. In the three games where that’s occurred this postseason, Curry has scored at least 29 points the very next game.
Boston’s crowd is going to give the Warriors and Curry everything they have and that might be the one thing that leads to a historic performance from Curry.
“Maple Jordan”
Let’s add to the Warriors’ list of players’ mantras. Who would have thought that just a few years ago that Andrew Wiggins would be in this position? He’s been the Warriors’ second-best player in the Finals, averaging 18.4 points and 9.4 rebounds while providing the Warriors with some of their best defense.
Wiggins has always had the potential to be the player he currently is, but when he was with the Minnesota Timberwolves, there weren’t that many players who could push him like he needed to be. He had a couple of years with Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett and All-Star Jimmy Butler, but he didn’t form into this player until he was traded to the Warriors.
With the culture and the environment that the Warriors have created over the last decade, it has allowed players to come in and be the best version of themselves. Wiggins’ stats may not be on par with his Timberwolves’ days, but he has turned into a more impactful player for the Warriors.
