Relive the Epic Finals NBA 2022: Key Plays That Decided the Championship
I still get chills thinking back to the 2022 NBA Finals - what an absolute battle between the Golden State Warriors and Boston Celtics. Having covered basketball for over a decade, I've seen my share of championship series, but there was something particularly compelling about how this one unfolded. The Warriors were returning to glory after two seasons away from the playoffs, while the Celtics represented the hungry new blood looking to establish their dynasty. What made it especially fascinating from my perspective was how much this series echoed something we often see in Commissioner's Cup games - teams managing injured players strategically, much like what Reyes described about keeping Castro out for crucial games until he's truly ready.
Game 4 stands out in my memory as the true turning point. The Celtics had taken Game 1 on the road and seemed to have all the momentum, but Golden State's response was nothing short of legendary. Stephen Curry delivered what I consider one of the greatest Finals performances I've ever witnessed, dropping 43 points while shooting 7-for-14 from deep. What people don't realize is that he did this against the league's top-rated defense that had held opponents to just 104.5 points per game during the regular season. The Warriors were down 2-1 in the series at that point, and another loss would have put them in a nearly insurmountable 3-1 hole. Instead, Curry's masterpiece tied the series and completely shifted the psychological advantage.
The strategic adjustments Steve Kerr made throughout the series were masterclass material. He started using smaller lineups that stretched Boston's defense to its breaking point, particularly in Games 5 and 6. What impressed me most was how he managed his roster's minutes - something that reminded me of the careful player management Reyes mentioned regarding Castro's situation. Kerr knew exactly when to push his veterans and when to trust his younger players. Jordan Poole's 14-point fourth quarter in Game 5 wasn't just lucky - it was the result of calculated development and trust built over the entire season. The Warriors outscored the Celtics by 21 points in Poole's 15 minutes during that critical second half, proving that sometimes the matchups you create matter more than the names on the jerseys.
Defensively, the Warriors made one crucial change that I believe won them the championship: they started blitzing Jayson Tatum relentlessly. The statistics show Tatum shot just 31% when facing double teams throughout the series, and the Warriors forced him into 23 turnovers over the six games. Having studied basketball strategy for years, I can tell you that Golden State's defensive scheme was specifically designed to make anyone other than Tatum and Jaylen Brown beat them. They were willing to give up open looks to role players if it meant containing Boston's two stars, and the numbers prove this worked - Celtics role players shot just 32% from three-point range in the final three games.
What many casual fans might not appreciate is how much the Warriors' championship DNA factored into the outcome. When the Celtics took that 2-1 series lead, I'll admit I thought we might be witnessing the beginning of a new era. But Golden State's core had been here before - they'd won three previous championships together, and that experience manifested in crucial moments. Draymond Green's defensive leadership, Klay Thompson's timely shooting after returning from two devastating injuries, and Andre Iguodala's veteran presence provided the stability Boston simply couldn't match. The Celtics averaged 18.2 turnovers per game in their four losses - that's not just sloppy play, that's the result of pressure applied by a team that knows exactly what it takes to win at the highest level.
The financial investment in this Warriors team also played a role that can't be ignored. Their payroll exceeded $175 million with a luxury tax bill of approximately $170 million - numbers that would make most owners blush. But what this bought them was incredible depth and the ability to withstand injuries throughout the season. They maintained their core while developing young talent like Poole and Jonathan Kuminga, creating what I consider the perfect blend of experience and youthful energy. This approach to team building - investing heavily while planning for both present and future - is something more franchises should emulate, though few have the resources or willingness to spend at that level.
Looking back, the 2022 Finals taught us that in modern basketball, managing player health and workload throughout the season directly impacts championship success. The Warriors carefully managed Stephen Curry's minutes, giving him 12 games off during the regular season despite him being healthy enough to play. This preserved him for exactly the kind of heroic performance he delivered in Game 4. This strategic rest reminds me exactly of what Reyes described about managing Castro's return - sometimes the most important games are the ones your best players don't play in, because those absences allow them to be at their best when it truly matters.
The legacy of this championship continues to resonate across the NBA landscape. For Golden State, it validated their expensive roster construction and development approach. For Boston, it became a painful lesson in what it takes to close out a series against experienced champions. Personally, I think this might have been the last championship for the Warriors' core as we know it, which makes revisiting these key moments even more special. The 2022 Finals had everything basketball purists could want - individual brilliance, strategic innovation, emotional narratives, and ultimately, a testament to how experience and carefully managed talent can overcome raw ability when the stakes are highest.
