As the NBA Finals fast approach, many developments have been happening around the league, including hiring some new coaches. The latest news is the hiring of Luke Walton as an assistant coach for the Cleveland Cavaliers, as was announced by team president Koby Altman and head coach J.B. Bickerstaff on Tuesday.
Walton has more than ten years of coaching experience in the league and was most recently the head coach of the Sacramento Kings from 2019 to 2021. Before that, he was at the helm of the Los Angeles Lakers and is credited with improving the team’s record in each of his four seasons. He also held an assistant coach position with the Golden State Warriors for two seasons, including during their championship run in 2015.
Thursday is the start of the NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and Golden State Warriors, with Game 1 set in San Francisco. This promises to be a great series for fans and bettors.
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T&C APPLY | NJ, PA, IN, CO, NJ, MI, IA, LA, MS, OH ONLY Join NowWarriors Favored To Win Series Over Celtics
The most significant difference between the two teams in this year’s NBA Finals is experience, which is the main reason the Warriors are slight favorites to win the series. When this Golden State team, with Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, won its first championship in 2015, the Celtics’ Marcus Smart was a rookie. In addition, Jason Tatum was a high school junior and Jaylen Brown had just graduated and was yet to play his first college game at Cal-Berkeley.
Boston has spent a lot of time dealing with losing in the playoffs since 2015. They reached the postseason each year and lost four times in the Eastern Conference finals. This team is still young, with most key players in their 20s, while Golden State is a battle-tested team of veterans whose best players are in their 30s.
Golden State appeared in five straight finals from 2015 to 2019, winning three championships, and now has six titles in their history. This will be the team’s 12th finals appearance. As a team, the Celtics have won 17 NBA Championships, which is tied with the Los Angeles for the most all-time but haven’t made a finals appearance since 2010, when they lost to those same Lakers. Their last title was in 2008, with this being their 22nd appearance in the championship series.
The Warriors will win Game 1 on their home court to take the early series lead.
