After a wildly entertaining NBA season, we have finally arrived at the NBA Finals. The Golden State Warriors hope to capture their fourth championship since 2015, while the Boston Celtics look to secure their first title since 2008.

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Prior to Game 1, this Celtics squad was new to the Finals, as no one on the Boston roster had played in an NBA Championship game. According to ESPN Stats & Information research, Golden State’s 123 games of Finals experience to Boston’s zero games was the largest gap since the Chicago Bulls (134) vs. the Utah Jazz (0) in 1997.

Read More: Why Celtics-Warriors could be an epic series

But Boston’s inexperience on the NBA’s biggest stage proved to be a moot point.

For most of the contest, Golden State appeared to be in complete control as Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson recorded historic milestones, but the final 12 minutes were a different story.

After trailing by 12 points to start the fourth quarter, Boston went on a run largely driven by Derrick White and Al Horford to take the lead.

In his first ever Finals appearance, Horford led the team with 26 points while Jaylen Brown and White added point totals of 24 and 21, respectively.

With the 120-108 win, Boston became the first team in NBA Finals history to win a game by double digits after trailing by double digits entering the final frame.

The Celtics outscored the Warriors 40-16 in the fourth quarter and ended the game on a 20-5 run that caught the attention of several stars, including longtime New England Patriots receiver Julian Edelman, Kevin Durant and Alex Caruso.

Klay makes history

It’s a sign of how dangerous the Warriors are from beyond the arc that Klay Thompson passed LeBron James for second on the all-time playoff 3-pointer list in the second quarter … and No. 1 is his teammate Steph Curry.

Jay-Z takes in the action

Musician, Roc Nation Sports founder and noted Brooklyn Nets fan Jay-Z pulled up to the Chase Center for Game 1.

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

After the game, he congratulated Jayson Tatum on the comeback victory.

Chef Curry cooks

Stephen Curry kicked off the series’ strong start in the first quarter. His six 3-pointers in the first frame are a Finals record for the most in a quarter.

Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson couldn’t help but marvel at Curry’s impressive feat.

Ja Morant was also among the stars to note his hot start.

Spike’s in the house

Famed director Spike Lee can usually be spotted courtside at New York Knicks games, but tonight he’s at the Chase Center for Game 1.

Eye-catching outfits

Before the game tipped off, the fashion choices by a few players certainly turned some heads. Take Jayson Tatum for example, as he rocked a multi-patterned suit jacket on the pregame runway. His teammate Jaylen Brown donned a leather coat with some graphic jeans.

Food and drinks

The Warriors went all-out for refreshments at the Chase Center for Game 1. Fans could get chicken waffle cones, souvenir cups for beer or other drinks, Moet & Chandon champagne, black sturgeon caviar and a stone-fruit old fashioned cocktail. There were oyster bars and popcorn bars in some boxes.

Warriors/Chase CenterWarriors/Chase CenterWarriors/Chase Center

Setting the scene

Both squads chose to roll with gold in the series opener.

Boston used the color in complementary fashion by adding a Finals emblem on its jerseys. Meanwhile, Golden State stayed true to its “Gold Blooded” postseason theme with T-shirts.

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SAN FRANCISCO — Commissioner Adam Silver said the NBA is considering switching the voting process for All-NBA selections each season from the current position-based system to one where voters select the 15 best players regardless of position. Silver said it is something he plans to address with the National Basketball Players Association.

“In terms of determinations for All-NBA, I think a fair amount of consideration is going into whether [the media] should just be picking top players than be picking by position,” Silver said at a news conference ahead of Game 1 of the NBA Finals. “I think we are a league that has moved increasingly toward position-less basketball, and the current system may result in some inequities based on the happenstance of what your position is.

“So that is something we’re looking at. It’s something that we will discuss with the Players Association because it has an impact on incentives and players contracts, and it has, you know, deep meaning for their legacy as well. So we will look at those things.”

The topic of whether the ballot should continue to be determined by positions has picked up steam over the past two years, as two centers — Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets and Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers — finished 1-2 in the league’s voting for its Most Valuable Player award.

But because of the current system, only one of them has the ability to be a first team All-NBA player, while the other — in this case, Embiid both last season and this one — would have to be a second-team selection.

Silver also said there will be more discussions about whether contract bonuses will be tied to media awards voting, but also added that both sides have agreed that it is the best of a series of imperfect options.

“In terms of the ultimate selection process and, to your point that in some cases can have a direct financial impact on a player’s contract, right now we agreed with the Players Association to use those designations to trigger certain bonuses in players’ contracts, frankly because we couldn’t come up with a better way that would feel objective to everyone involved,” Silver said.

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Throughout his roughly 30-minute session with reporters, Silver touched on a number of topics:

o Both the NBA and NBPA have the ability to opt out of the current collective bargaining agreement in December ahead of it expiring next summer. It was a similar situation the last time the deal was up in 2017, with both sides agreeing to a new deal in December 2016 before the opt-out date arrived.

Silver said it was his hope a similar blueprint would be followed this time around, but said it was a bit too early to say that would be the case, given in part his still getting to know the newly appointed executive director of the NBPA, Tamika Tremaglio.

“I think we all know that for any negotiation, seemingly collective bargaining in particular, deadlines are really helpful to get people to push their best offers across the table,” Silver said.

Silver also added that all of the discussions both sides have had over the past two-and-a-half years over everything that’s gone on because of the COVID-19 pandemic has led to them talking more than ever before, which helped increase his belief of a deal being agreed to amicably once again.

o Silver said the idea of a midseason tournament remains on the table, though is not yet finalized, as more discussions with the NBPA are required. In addition, when asked about players dealing with wear-and-tear on their bodies over the course of an 82-game season Silver said he’d potentially be open to discussions of shortening the season — but only if it could be proven to help mitigate injuries.

“As I have said before, what we don’t see is increased numbers of injuries as the season goes on. It’s not as if because of fatigue over the course of a season, you see more injuries,” Silver said. “We do see a connection between actual fatigue, for example, from back-to-backs or three in a row. We think that potentially can lead to more injuries.”

o As he has in the past, Silver shot down the idea of expansion happening in the near-term, though he did again reiterate it is something that the league is going to do again at some point. He went on to say one potential issue is the dilution of talent as a result of expansion.

“Even sort of adding another 30 players or so that are roughly comparable, there still are only so many of the truly top-tier super talents to go around,” Silver said. “That is something on the mind of the other teams as we think about expansion.”

o Silver said the NBA has lost “hundreds of millions” because of its strained relationship with China, and said that is an acceptable cost of doing business when it comes to protecting free speech of the league’s players, coaches and workers.

“We accept that, and I said that at the time when we said we stand behind our players and team executives, their right to free expression, whether about issues in the United States or issues any place in the world, if those are the consequences, that’s what I mean that our values travel with us,” Silver said. “Others, as you know, since then have spoken out about their views around China and other places in the world, and if the consequences are that we’re taken off the air or we lose money, we accept that.”

Silver also said he continues to believe engaging with China is not inconsistent with the league’s values in light of alleged human-rights violations taking place within the country.

o When asked about women being far away from being a head coach, Silver said it remains a work in progress. He said Becky Hammon’s move to the WNBA as coach of the Las Vegas Aces shouldn’t be seen as a negative thing.

“But I’ve said it before, and I should have said earlier, there is no reason that women shouldn’t be head coaches and more of them shouldn’t be assistant coaches in the NBA,” Silver said. “There’s no reason why there shouldn’t be more women officials. We have made progress in both those areas around the league now. There are a lot more female assistants at our teams, but we do have to break through that glass ceiling.”

Silver also said the NBA increasing its number of black coaches to 15 with the hiring of Darvin Ham by the Los Angeles Lakers last month is a product of the league continuing to emphasize the need for diversity.

o When asked whether a positive test for COVID-19 next year would mean a player would be unable to play, Silver said that recommendation would come from medical personnel, and that it was too early to say, adding that the NBA is only a small part of the world in terms of learning how to live with the virus moving forward.

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After a wildly entertaining NBA season, we have finally arrived at the NBA Finals. The Golden State Warriors hope to capture their fourth championship since 2015, while the Boston Celtics look to secure their first title since 2008.

1 Related

Prior to Game 1, this Celtics squad was new to the Finals, as no one on the Boston roster had played in an NBA Championship game. According to ESPN Stats & Information research, Golden State’s 123 games of Finals experience to Boston’s zero games was the largest gap since the Chicago Bulls (134) vs. the Utah Jazz (0) in 1997.

Read More: Why Celtics-Warriors could be an epic series

Given that this is the Finals, Chase Center is rocking for the series opener — including celebrities showing up to take in the action and players donning exceptional pregame fits.

Here’s a look at some of the best sights and sounds from Game 1 in San Francisco:

Klay makes history

It’s a sign of how dangerous the Warriors are from beyond the arc that Klay Thompson passed LeBron James for second on the all-time playoff 3-pointer list in the second quarter … and No. 1 is his teammate Steph Curry.

Jay-Z takes in the action

Musician, Roc Nation Sports founder and noted Brooklyn Nets fan Jay-Z pulled up to the Chase Center for Game 1.

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Chef Curry cooks

Stephen Curry‘s campaign for a Finals MVP trophy got off to a strong start in the first quarter. His six 3-pointers in the first frame are a Finals record for the most in a quarter.

Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson couldn’t help but marvel at Curry’s impressive feat.

Ja Morant was also among the stars to note his hot start.

Spike’s in the house

Famed director Spike Lee can usually be spotted courtside at New York Knicks games, but tonight he’s at the Chase Center for Game 1.

Eye-catching outfits

Before the game tipped off, the fashion choices by a few players certainly turned some heads. Take Jayson Tatum for example, as he rocked a multi-patterned suit jacket on the pregame runway. His teammate Jaylen Brown donned a leather coat with some graphic jeans.

Food and drinks

The Warriors went all-out for refreshments at the Chase Center for Game 1. Fans could get chicken waffle cones, souvenir cups for beer or other drinks, Moet & Chandon champagne, black sturgeon caviar and a stone-fruit old fashioned cocktail. There were oyster bars and popcorn bars in some boxes.

Warriors/Chase CenterWarriors/Chase CenterWarriors/Chase Center

Setting the scene

Both squads chose to roll with gold in the series opener.

Boston used the color in complementary fashion by adding a Finals emblem on its jerseys. Meanwhile, Golden State stayed true to its “Gold Blooded” postseason theme with T-shirts.

Read More

After a wildly entertaining NBA season, we have finally arrived at the NBA Finals. The Golden State Warriors hope to capture their fourth championship since 2015, while the Boston Celtics look to secure their first title since 2008.

1 Related

Prior to Game 1, this Celtics squad was new to the Finals, as no one on the Boston roster had played in an NBA Championship game. According to ESPN Stats & Information research, Golden State’s 123 games of Finals experience to Boston’s zero games was the largest gap since the Chicago Bulls (134) vs. the Utah Jazz (0) in 1997.

Read More: Why Celtics-Warriors could be an epic series

Given that this is the Finals, Chase Center is rocking for the series opener — including celebrities showing up to take in the action and players donning exceptional pregame fits.

Here’s a look at some of the best sights and sounds from Game 1 in San Francisco:

Klay makes history

It’s a sign of how dangerous the Warriors are from beyond the arc that Klay Thompson passed LeBron James for second on the all-time playoff 3-pointer list in the second quarter … and No. 1 is his teammate Steph Curry.

Jay-Z takes in the action

Musician, Roc Nation Sports founder and noted Brooklyn Nets fan Jay-Z pulled up to the Chase Center for Game 1.

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Chef Curry cooks

Stephen Curry‘s campaign for a Finals MVP trophy got off to a strong start in the first quarter. His six 3-pointers in the first frame are a Finals record for the most in a quarter.

Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson couldn’t help but marvel at Curry’s impressive feat.

Ja Morant was also among the stars to note his hot start.

Spike’s in the house

Famed director Spike Lee can usually be spotted courtside at New York Knicks games, but tonight he’s at the Chase Center for Game 1.

Eye-catching outfits

Before the game tipped off, the fashion choices by a few players certainly turned some heads. Take Jayson Tatum for example, as he rocked a multi-patterned suit jacket on the pregame runway. His teammate Jaylen Brown donned a leather coat with some graphic jeans.

Food and drinks

The Warriors went all-out for refreshments at the Chase Center for Game 1. Fans could get chicken waffle cones, souvenir cups for beer or other drinks, Moet & Chandon champagne, black sturgeon caviar and a stone-fruit old fashioned cocktail. There were oyster bars and popcorn bars in some boxes.

Warriors/Chase CenterWarriors/Chase CenterWarriors/Chase Center

Setting the scene

Both squads chose to roll with gold in the series opener.

Boston used the color in complementary fashion by adding a Finals emblem on its jerseys. Meanwhile, Golden State stayed true to its “Gold Blooded” postseason theme with T-shirts.

Read More

1 Related

After a wildly entertaining NBA season, we have finally arrived at the NBA Finals. The Golden State Warriors hope to capture their fourth championship since 2015, while the Boston Celtics look to secure their first title since 2008.

This Celtics squad is new to the Finals, as no one on the Boston roster has played in a championship round entering Thursday night’s Game 1 (9 ET on ABC). According to ESPN Stats & Information research, Golden State’s 123 games of Finals experience to Boston’s zero games is the largest gap since the Chicago Bulls (134) vs. the Utah Jazz (0) in 1997.

Read More: Why Celtics-Warriors could be an epic series

Given that this is the Finals, one can expect a rocking Chase Center for the series opener. There’s also the possibility of celebrities showing up courtside to take in the action and exceptional pregame fits from the players. Plus, fan reactions and maybe even some social media trolling could arise throughout the contest.

Here’s a look at some of the best sights and sounds from Game 1 in San Francisco:

Food and drinks at Game 1

The Warriors went all-out for refreshments at the Chase Center for Game 1. Fans could get chicken waffle cones, souvenir cups for beer or other drinks, Moet and Chandon champagne, black sturgeon caviar, a stonefruit Old Fashioned cocktail, along with oyster bars and popcorn bars in some boxes.

Tom VanHaarenTom VanHaaren

Setting the scene

Both squads chose to roll with gold in the series opener.

Boston used the color in complementary fashion by adding a Finals emblem on its jerseys Meanwhile, Golden State stayed true to its “Gold Blooded” postseason theme with t-shirts.

Read More

SAN FRANCISCO — The Golden State Warriors will have Andre Iguodala, Otto Porter Jr. and Gary Payton II available for Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics on Thursday night.

Iguodala has not played this postseason after missing 30 of the last 36 regular-season games because of leg and neck injuries. Porter missed the last game and a half of the Western Conference finals against the Dallas Mavericks due to left foot soreness. And Payton has been out since breaking his elbow on a controversial foul by the Memphis Grizzlies‘ Dillon Brooks in Game 2 of the second round of the playoffs.

“We did a little bit of scrimmaging yesterday, and all three guys felt good this morning,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said ahead of the Finals opener. “We’ll see how it plays out. I think a lot of our decisions, especially here in Game 1, you’ve got to feel how the game is going, try to decide what combinations we need out there. But it’s great to have all three guys back, and I think all three can contribute for sure.”

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Draymond Green has talked about Payton’s ability to provide the Warriors with another hard-nosed defender once he is back. Porter has provided valuable contributions throughout the postseason, and teammates have talked about Iguodala’s invaluable observations and advice from the sidelines.

“He’s the same Andre,” Stephen Curry said. “He’s just in a different capacity where he knows he can help us, since he’s had a tough go with the injuries. If he’s not available on the court, he’s been amazing at just being a voice, a presence for the young guys, not just in the locker room, during practice, but obviously you’ve seen him up and demonstrative during games on the sidelines.

“He’s always been like that, but obviously when you’re playing you’re a little bit more focused on what you have to do in-between the lines. But he’s also such a great guy and great leader that he’s aware of if he’s not out there, he can still have an impact.”

Read More

1 Related

After a wildly entertaining NBA season, we have finally arrived at the NBA Finals. The Golden State Warriors hope to capture their fourth championship since 2015, while the Boston Celtics look to secure their first title since 2008.

This Celtics squad is new to the Finals, as no one on the Boston roster has played in a championship round entering Thursday night’s Game 1 (9 ET on ABC). According to ESPN Stats & Information research, Golden State’s 123 games of Finals experience to Boston’s zero games is the largest gap since the Chicago Bulls (134) vs. the Utah Jazz (0) in 1997.

Read More: Why Celtics-Warriors could be an epic series

Given that this is the Finals, one can expect a rocking Chase Center for the series opener. There’s also the possibility of celebrities showing up courtside to take in the action and exceptional pregame fits from the players. Plus, fan reactions and maybe even some social media trolling could arise throughout the contest.

Here’s a look at some of the best sights and sounds from Game 1 in San Francisco:

Food and drinks at Game 1

The Warriors went all-out for refreshments at the Chase Center for Game 1. Fans could get chicken waffle cones, souvenir cups for beer or other drinks, Moet and Chandon champagne, black sturgeon caviar, a stonefruit Old Fashioned cocktail, along with oyster bars and popcorn bars in some boxes.

Tom VanHaarenTom VanHaaren

Setting the scene

Both squads chose to roll with gold in the series opener.

Boston used the color in complementary fashion by adding a Finals emblem on its jerseys Meanwhile, Golden State stayed true to its “Gold Blooded” postseason theme with t-shirts.

Read More

The Boston Celtics are back in the NBA Finals for the first time since 2010, facing the Golden State Warriors. But long before Thursday’s Game 1 (9 p.m. ET on ESPN), one fan decided to get a tattoo celebrating something that he felt was just a matter of time: Boston Celtics, 2022 world champions.

A huge Celtics fan, Jack Bienvenue, 18, of Wellfleet, Massachusetts, got a tattoo of a championship banner his team hasn’t even won yet. Asked about how he decided to get the ink, Bienvenue points to the bounce back the Celtics had over the second half of the season.

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“It was March 21st, the exact day. We were on a winning streak of 10 games I guess. We were rolling a bit,” Bienvenue said. “It seemed like we were finally getting the pieces together. We were finally putting the puzzle together, and I thought it seemed like (a title) was destined to happen. That this team would make a historical run to the finals, which they have, and just gotta finish the job. We got four more to win.”

Bienvenue’s friends were shocked at the ink on his left arm.

“Everyone was like, …’this guy is crazy,” Bienvenue said. “Of course, I thought it was a little crazy myself. It was definitely a shock to most of my friends.

“It was kind of a spontaneous idea, too. I didn’t even have the whole thing planned out. I was already thinking about doing something for a Boston tattoo. I knew this artist and I wanted to do it, then a just called him and said ‘I had a great idea for a tattoo, I’ll be right there after school. So I drove there. It didn’t even take me a little to convince him to put it in my arm.”

Golden State is the favorite to win the series.

It will be only the second time the Warriors and Celtics have met in the NBA Finals. The last time was the 1964 finals when Golden State was called the San Francisco Warriors and led by Wilt Chamberlain. On the other side, Boston was led by Bill Russell and coming off five titles in a row. The Celtics won that series, 4-1.

The Boston Celtics and Golden State Warriors are set to meet with the NBA championship on the line. You can catch all the action on ABC and the ESPN app.

Game 1: Thursday, 9 p.m. ET at GS
Game 2: Sunday, 8 p.m. ET at GS
Game 3: Wednesday, 9 p.m. ET at BOS
Game 4: June 10, 9 p.m. ET at BOS
Game 5: June 13, 9 p.m. ET at GS*
Game 6: June 16, 9 p.m. ET at BOS*
Game 7: June 19, 8 p.m. ET at GS*

*If necessary

Bienvenue, of course, believes that the Celtics will win this season, but not easily.

“I’ll say Celtics in 7 (games). It’s not going any less than 6 games,” he said. “It’s going to be a very fun series to watch, very competitive. Steph Curry wants to keep his legacy and Jason Tatum wants to kind of get his to start. It will be a battle for sure.”

Lucas Cunha contributed to this report.

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1 Related

After a wildly entertaining NBA season, we have finally arrived at the NBA Finals. The Golden State Warriors hope to capture their fourth championship since 2015, while the Boston Celtics look to secure their first title since 2008.

This Celtics squad is new to the Finals, as no one on the Boston roster has played in a championship round entering Thursday night’s Game 1 (9 ET on ABC). According to ESPN Stats & Information research, Golden State’s 123 games of Finals experience to Boston’s zero games is the largest gap since the Chicago Bulls (134) vs. the Utah Jazz (0) in 1997.

Read More: Why Celtics-Warriors could be an epic series

Given that this is the Finals, one can expect a rocking Chase Center for the series opener. There’s also the possibility of celebrities showing up courtside to take in the action and exceptional pregame fits from the players. Plus, fan reactions and maybe even some social media trolling could arise throughout the contest.

Here’s a look at some of the best sights and sounds from Game 1 in San Francisco:

Food and drinks at Game 1

The Warriors went all-out for refreshments at the Chase Center for Game 1. Fans could get chicken waffle cones, souvenir cups for beer or other drinks, Moet and Chandon champagne, black sturgeon caviar, a stonefruit Old Fashioned cocktail, along with oyster bars and popcorn bars in some boxes.

Tom VanHaarenTom VanHaaren

Setting the scene

Both squads chose to roll with gold in the series opener.

Boston used the color in complementary fashion by adding a Finals emblem on its jerseys Meanwhile, Golden State stayed true to its “Gold Blooded” postseason theme with t-shirts.

Read More