NBA Finals 2022: Hot Takes and Top Storylines Warriors vs. Celtics Game 4
The Boston Celtics won the first game on each home floor during the 2022 NBA Finals.
Boston held serve at home in Game 3 to recapture the series edge over the Golden State Warriors.
Golden State responded to its Game 1 loss with some defensive adjustments that allowed it to even the series before it left for Boston.
Steve Kerr's Warriors need to follow a similar theme to get back into the series in Game 4 on Friday night.
The primary response to Game 3's loss should be to figure out what Draymond Green can do on the offensive end of the court.
Green fouled out in Game 3 to the delight of the Boston crowd. He finished with two points, four rebounds and three assists.
Golden State received an increase in production from Klay Thompson, who erupted for 25 points, but the supporting cast around him and Stephen Curry was not good enough.
Boston had five players reach double figures, and three of them eclipsed the 20-point mark. Ime Udoka's side even had two other players chip in eight and seven points.
The Celtics have had the better scoring depth throughout the series, and if that shows again in Game 4, they could take a 3-1 advantage back to San Francisco.
Golden State Needs More Out of Draymond Green
Golden State needing more from Draymond Green is probably the biggest understatement of the NBA Finals.
Green finished Game 3 with more personal fouls than points. That can't happen in a road game in which the Warriors need Green to chip in across all facets of the game.
The Warriors are back in the position they were in after Game 1. They had to make defensive adjustments to ensure that Boston would not go off from three-point range for a second straight game.
For Game 4, Steve Kerr needs to get more from Green, or replace him in the rotation with someone else.
The Warriors went small with Otto Porter Jr. in the "center role" for parts of Game 3. They could use a similar approach with Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins and either Jordan Poole or Gary Payton II.
Payton would add more defense to the unit on the floor, while Poole's presence might help the Warriors turn the game into a track meet and take one of Boston's big men off the floor.
Golden State's changes must focus on how to rebound better. Boston won the rebounding battle 47-31 in Game 3. An improved game from Green can help make up that deficit, as could better defense and boxing out on the offensive end.
The Warriors' adjustments for Game 4 must revolve around Green, either with him on the floor or not.
Golden State can't afford to have another Game 3 performance out of the veteran forward. He could improve and be better on the boards, or Kerr may be forced to use Poole, Payton and Porter more off the bench.
Boston Continues To Flex Scoring Depth
Boston has the better scoring depth than Golden State.
That was made apparent in Game 1, when Al Horford and Derrick White carried the team while Jayson Tatum dished out 13 assists.
Tatum has been better in the scoring department since then, but so has the rest of the supporting cast.
Marcus Smart broke out for 24 points in Game 3 to counter the emergence of Thompson on the Golden State side of the floor.
Grant Williams and White combined for 17 points off the bench, which was one point better than Poole and Porter contributed for Golden State.
Tatum, Smart and Jaylen Brown all had over 20 points, and Horford chipped in 11 points out of the starting lineup. Robert Williams had eight points and 10 rebounds. Green and Kevon Looney had eight points between them.
Boston can absorb a better performance from Green if Horford chips in more points, or if Williams gets close to a double-double again.
The Celtics can't expect 24 points out of Smart again, but they can bank on around 15 points each from him and Horford to keep up with what the Warriors throw at them.
White and Williams could also add more off the bench, especially from the three-point line, where both players have excelled throughout the postseason.
Boston's seven-man rotation can outscore Golden State's top seven no matter which way you spread out the points, and that is what makes it dangerous at home to take a 3-1 lead.
