Final: Warriors 123, Celtics 107 - Tatum, Celtics offense, fall apart

Game 27: Celtics (-25) at Golden State Warriors, 8:30 p.m., Chase Center, ABC

Injuries: 

Boston: Danilo Gallinari, Robert Williams, Al Horford (health and safety protocols), 

Golden State: Andre Iguodala (hip), Andrew Wiggins (adductor)

Warriors probable starters: Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevon Looney, Draymond Green, JaMychal Green

Refs: Scott Foster (#48), Jacyn Goble (#68), Leon Wood (#40)

A little something about this game: Missing Wiggins is a big deal for the Warriors, but the Celtics being without Horford might cancel it out. Each of these guys would be covering key players on the other team (Wiggins on Jayson Tatum, Horford on Green). This might come down to a battle of depth, which is where Boston tends to shine. At 13-13, the Warriors are struggling a bit this season, but they're 11-2 at home. 

How Boston wins: This might just come down to a battle of 3-pointers. They are the two top teams in the NBA in 3-pointers attempted and made. The Celtics, however, are the only team in the NBA shooting 40% on those. I might as well build this into the template of my previews, because ball-movement and open 3-pointers are the crux of this historically great offense. 

The bench 3-point shooting might be where this game is won. Sam Hauser and Grant Williams could be the keys to winning here, as the Warriors bench has been their weak point. Keep the ball moving and force their younger players to make decisions. The more they have to make, the more likely they’ll make the wrong one.

How Golden State wins: Steph Curry is obviously the head of this snake, and if he can get going early, this could be a long night. He shoots 38.8% in losses, which is still good, but he’s at 46.5% in wins, and 45% at home. If we see Curry shimmying, this could be a loss. 

Boston has struggled against two things this season: pick-and-rolls, and switching defense. Golden State can hit the Celtics with a heavy dose of both. 

Things I’m looking for:

- Malcolm Brogdon stepping up: If things go well for the Celtics, there's a good chance I’ll be writing about how Brogdon was the piece Boston didn’t have in the Finals. The Warriors bench has been so erratic that they’ve decided to run Green with them a lot more to get them focused. Brogdon can undo that with his dribble penetration and kick-outs. If Hauser and Williams are the bench snipers, you can bet Brogdon is the one finding them, or getting the hockey assist. 

- Jaylen Brown’s revenge: Green’s post Finals victory lap included some pointed jabs at Brown. 

“When Jaylen Brown went in the media and said I tried to pull his shorts down, I knew I took his heart,” Green said on JJ Redick’s “Old Man And The Three” podcast. “Not that I’ll have it next year. I’ll have to regain it next time we play, but I knew for the rest of that series, I had him.” 

Brown undoubtedly heard what Green had to say. Now the question is, what does he do about it? And how does he try to do whatever he’s going to do?

Brown can easily walk into the Chase Center and drop 35 on the Warriors because he’s playing at that level right now. However, if he gets caught up in the one-on-one battle with Green, he could do more harm than good. Boston’s strength is in moving the ball and bending defenses until they give up the open shots. Sure, Brown can whip off some iso moves because he’s that good, but if he doesn’t play within himself and lets Green into his head, this could be a way for the Warriors to pull off a win. 

- Keep Looney off the boards: I don’t want to trigger people with this one, but we all have that memory of Looney feasting on offensive rebounds in the Finals. Let’s not see that again. 

- Trust: Don’t get baited into too much iso. Give the ball up early, relocate, set a screen, and get the ball back. Too much iso means too many turnovers, and turning the ball over against the Warriors will put Boston in the same position Phoenix was in a couple nights ago.

Want something to tide you over until the game? Here's the latest Locked On Celtics podcast with me and Tom Westerholm. 

Follow along below or in the comments during the game, chime in, and let’s have fun.