NBA Hoops

Five 2022 NBA Finals storylines that will decide Celtics-Warriors

Steph Curry guarding Jayson Tatum

After seven weeks of postseason basketball, the NBA Finals are set, but Warriors-Celtics won’t begin until Thursday in San Francisco’s Chase Center. 

What’s another five days? Adam Silver’s tournament has been an endless journey with too many blowouts, too many injuries, too many “play-in’’ rounds. 

Even lead broadcaster Mike Breen didn’t make it all the way — sidelined by COVID that forced him to miss the Celtics’ 100-96 Game 7 road triumph Sunday over the Heat to cap the Eastern Conference finals. 

Partner Jeff Van Gundy is working with a hoarse throat. Mark Jackson sounded like he was going through the motions when the Celtics hung on to advance to their first Finals since 2010 and continue a quest for their 18th NBA championship. 

The main course is finally here with the Celtics’ brutish defense facing the Warriors’ finesse offense, which includes most of the championship core of Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson. 

And the Warriors have an unheralded defense, too. 

With Golden State back in the Finals for the sixth time in eight years after two playoff-free seasons, Curry chewing on his mouthpiece and Green chewing out referees and lawless behavior are back in prime time. 

Steph Curry guarding Jayson Tatum
Getty Images

TNT’s Stan Van Gundy told The Post during the first-round Celtics-Nets series that Boston has played the league’s best basketball since the All-Star break and was unappreciated. He’s been proven right, though the Warriors are -160 favorites on BetMGM

This Jayson Tatum-Jaylen Brown-Marcus Smart grinding green-clad group still isn’t being given proper credit. 

“If they win it, it’s the worst Celtics team to ever win it by far,’’ one coaching source said. “The league has a lot of good teams — no great teams.’’ 

Here are five storylines to watch in the series: 

Will the Celtics physical defense be allowed by refs…

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