NBA Finals: One Game For Title And Legacy By Gabriel Obiti

The Golden State Warriors are one win away from an NBA title. That ring defines careers and improves legacies. The Boston Celtics are one win away from being one win away. This is it, win or go home. The Championship round has reached its Championship game.

Steph Curry has been amazing so far- notwithstanding his 0/9 poor shooting night in the last game- with averages of 30.6 points 5.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists in 5 games. A GSW win most likely gets him his first Final MVP trophy and elevates his standing in all-time legacy discussions. Trolls would have to find something else to talk about.

Meanwhile, Andrew Wiggins could never shake the narrative of being an inefficient scorer with bad effort on defense throughout his time at the Minnesota Timberwolves. Now in his 2nd season in Golden State and after his first All-star selection this season, he has been immense for the Warriors.

Taking on the most difficult matchup on defense, he has flourished as a point of attack defender against the very best in the league, while still providing off-the-dribble self-creation and elite rebounding- as seen in his game-high 26 points, 13 rebounds showing in Game 5, and 17 points, career-high 16 rebounds in Game 4. Both games were wins to turn the series.

If the Warriors win the title and Curry doesn’t get the MVP then Wiggins would. He’s been that good.

Klay Thompson would complete an amazing return after two major injuries kept him out since 2019 with a title. Himself, Draymond Green, Andre Igoudala, and Coach Steve Kerr would join Steph in winning the 4th title in continuation of their dynastic run from 2015.

Green would have another tool to shut naysayers up and prove that he can combine winning and podcasting (box scores be damned).

For the Celtics, having played in 4 Conference Finals in the last 5 years, winning this year’s Championship after the remarkable in-season turnaround gives the Jason Tatum and Jaylen Brown duo their first ring, and Marcus Smart proves himself a bonafide 3rd piece on a title team. Further validating the work of Brad Stevens, Ime Udoka, and the rest of the front office and coaching staff.

To get there, they’ll need another type of turnaround. It’s one they’ve done before having been 3-2 down against defending champs Milwaukee Bucks in the Conference Semifinal. Now they have to beat this Warriors team twice, something nobody has been able to do this postseason.

Of course, Boston Celtics themselves hadn’t lost two straight playoff games until the Warriors took the last two. Anyway, they don’t have to care about that for now, all they need is to win the next game in Boston and send this series to sudden death. One game, one win, and everything becomes different for everybody forever. Let’s go.