On April 2, the Golden State Warriors were getting crushed by the Utah Jazz, and seemed destined for their fifth-consecutive loss. At that point in the season, the Warriors had lost seven out of eight games, stretching back to a March 16 loss to the Boston Celtics where Steph Curry suffered a foot injury, ending his regular season. Though they seemed destined to make the postseason, the Warriors had yet to clinch a berth, and had been falling (you could say plunging) in the standings. Everything seemed to teeter on the verge of coming together, and on the verge of falling apart.  

But in the last half of the last quarter on April 2, the Warriors fought their way back against the Jazz, going on a 23-3 run to earn a triumphant, feel-good W that marked the start of a five-game winning streak to end the regular season. The Dubs would finish with the third-best record in the NBA to start their playoff run, and if they made the Finals, they'd have home-court advantage against any team in the east.

That Utah game seemed to be a turning point in every conceivable way. The Warriors clinched their playoff spot that night, but more importantly, their momentum began to roll, roll.

Will Golden State's inertia carry them all the way to the NBA mountaintop?

A Little History

In facing the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals, it will be a proper geographic West Coast vs. East Coast showdown, with both teams representing the more northern latitudes of their respective sides of the country, and representing significant dynasties and cities that share bonds in many ways. Will there be side bets between mayors? Will someone please troll Bostonians with the claim that San Francisco has the better clam chowda?  

It has been 58 years since the Golden State Warriors played the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals. In 1964, Wilt Chamberlain faced Bill Russell in the postseason for the first time — the Celtics won that series 4-1.

This week, a reporter asked Warriors' head coach Steve Kerr if there was a certain "aura" around the Celtics. "For sure — I think anybody with a subjective point of view would tell you that the Celtics and the Lakers are the two biggest brands in the game. There's just something about playing in Boston that feels special. Their fans love the game, there's a great energy. It's classic NBA stuff."

Warriors' majority owner Joe Lacob, a Massachusetts native, was a minority owner of the Celtics for four-and-a-half years, until about 2010. "Boston was very important, and those guys were very helpful," Lacob told the San Francisco Chronicle. "They're friends to this day... not too close friends, though — I'm very competitive about this, and I'm sure they are, too." (The Chronicle article is titled, "Joe Lacob wants to crush the Celtics, his childhood team.") At a press conference this week, Lacob mentioned iconic Lakers' owner Jerry Buss's 16 Finals appearances in 33 years. "We've now made six in 12 years," Lacob told the Chronicle. "I love the 50% rate. Whether we'll continue that, I don’t know."

Boston is tied with the Lakers for the most NBA Championships with 17. (Now feels like as good a time as any to remind everyone that L.A. was practically ordained to win it all this year.) The top three teams with the most appearances in the NBA Finals are: the Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers with 32, the Boston Celtics with 22, and the Philadelphia/San Francisco/Golden State Warriors with 12 appearances.

The Warriors and Celtics split their two-game series this season: The Warriors won in Boston in December 2021, the Celtics beat the Warriors in the aforementioned game in March, when Marcus Smart dove for a loose ball, resulting in Steph Curry's tweaked foot. In that game, the Celtics showed the stifling, "playoff-like" defense which defined the second-half of their season and has propelled them to the Finals.

"Despite the offensive strengths of each team, this series will be a defensive clinic on both sides," ESPN wrote. "This is the first Finals to feature the top two teams in defensive efficiency since 1996, when the Chicago Bulls defeated the Seattle SuperSonics."

Injury Report

The Warriors will have had a full week of rest before tip-off tomorrow night. "We gave the guys two-straight days off, which is almost unheard of not only in the playoffs, but in the regular season, too," Steve Kerr said a few days ago. After sweeping the Brooklyn Nets, Boston has played two ultra-physical, grind-out, seven-game series, first dethroning the defending-champion Milwaukee Bucks, and finally closing out the Miami Heat on Sunday.

While the Warriors (and most teams, I'm sure) keep news about injuries close to the vest, they've offered a few non-update updates about Gary Payton II, Otto Porter Jr., and Andre Iguodala. On Monday, Kerr said that those three players did not scrimmage, but all took part in practice, adding this upbeat but cryptic proviso: "So they're all progressing and doing pretty well, and we'll have an update again tomorrow and the next day. We'll just see where it all goes," Sports Illustrated reported.

Garry Payton II, who has been out since Game 2 against Memphis with a fractured elbow, is as close as you can come to putting X-factor on tap.

Yesterday, Draymond Green was asked what it would mean to have GP2 back in the lineup. "Gary's been a huge part of what we've done all year. It's adding another really, really, really, really, really good defender, and another body that we can throw at JT [Jason Tatum] and Jaylen Brown. Guys like that, you can't throw them the same look over and over again."

On his podcast, Green said, "The thing that keeps me up at night most about this series, honestly, is our health," referring specifically to Payton and Porter.

With Steph Curry's sudden regular-season-ending injury against the Celtics in March, one is reminded just how physical the game is, and how vulnerable even super-fit athletes are. (In Game 3 against Miami, Marcus Smart rolled his ankle, and immediately fell to the floor screaming in pain. Watching the gut-wrenching replay, it seemed obvious that his season was over, but he returned the same quarter, and has been playing well ever since.)

The other thing that keeps Draymond up at night: turnovers, which is something Golden State seemed to clean up as the Western Conference Finals progressed. "The Warriors will win the NBA Finals if we control our turnovers," Green said.

Underseasoned Predictions

There seems to be almost universal agreement among experts that the Finals will go at least six games, but more likely seven.

Steven A. Smith: "Put me down for seven games. Steph and the Warriors close it out at home, game seven in San Francisco.

Shannon Sharpe: "I believe the Celtics, this is a more favorable matchup for them because of the firepower that they posses. I'm gonna say the Celtics take it in seven."

Skip Bayless (responding to Sharpe): "I like your in-seven pick, but in the end, the Warriors are going to win a seventh game at home." (Take all of these predictions with whatever grains of salt you season your listening to experts with. In April, Bayless predicted a Memphis vs. Miami Final, while Sharpe called the Suns vs. Milwaukee. So, yeah.)

Charles Barkley: "The Dallas Mavericks."

Draft Kings, Covers.com, The Athletic, and Sportsnaut, predict the Warriors will win the Finals in six or seven games; The Sporting News, Fansided and Five Thirty Eight picked the Celtics, and also saw the series going the distance. Four out of seven CBS reporters picked the Warriors in six or seven.

Top Image: Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images

Related: Chase Center Announces It Will Open for Indoor Viewing of Away Games During NBA Finals

(By Joe Kukura)

Congratulations, all of you Boston expats out there. As of this morning, your Celtics are the NBA’s newly-crowned 2008 World Champions. You represent yourselves disproportionately well in Bay Area sports bars and events, yet there is sometimes a perception that we f*cking hate you. That may be, but with last night’s 131-92 demolition of the Lakers, you have acquired another trophy for your impressive collection and did to Kobe Bryant what the Eagle County, Colorado court system couldn’t do.

It appeared to get easier for your Celtics as the playoffs went on. You had your doubts when the Hawks (!) and LeBron each took you to the brink… but the Pistons were misfiring, Ray-Ray found his groove with the addition of that funky-ass arm warmer device, and you have established Kobe as the "greatest Jordan fraud of all time". It was a testament to that storied New England perseverance, and your persistence of faith has paid off grandly.

Oh, and one additional word of encouragement for you, Boston fans… 18-1!

Valentine's Day is only a few days away, and we here across the Gothamist network wanted to express would like to tell you, in the spirit of the holiday, just how much we love you, our readers. Don't let it get to your heads, though. There are plenty of things we love, you included. Just be glad you're not amongst the things we hate.

In New York, Gothamist isn't sure whether to love or hate a sorta-stroller-ban at a local Barnes & Noble. They do, however, hate the idea of a law that would fine people for crossing the street while listening to their iPod or talking on their phones (people ♥ gadgets!). Who doesn't love ideas for hangover coffee suggestions? They are especially needed after seeing pictures of Rudy Giuliani and his wife mack - it's nice they love each other, but Gothamist doens't think anyone needs to witness it. And Gothamist loves that Orthodox Jews need to incorporate Hebrew graffiti into their billboards so people won't get upset.

SFist saw their beloved mayor enter rehab, and they the opportunity to gossip about it. Of course, that doesn't stop local Facebook users from totally crushing on him. Meanwhile, they asked their readers which MUNI line they hated the most, and got a conclusive answer.

Phillyist loves its local Billy Bob Thornton, and cars. Also on its good side are pretty sunsets over the city. On its hate list right now, though, are law-flaunting smokers, and the hearts-and-flowers holiday itself.

Austinist is blissfully in love with the upcoming SXSW lineup, and more than a few bands playing in it. When not with their musical crushes, they're romancing giant bunnies and bloggers with a good bottle of vino. Of course, it's not all hearts and flowers for Austinist. They hate the lack of quality street food downtown. And, don't you hate it when you find glass in your soda bottles, too?

Shanghaiist positively hates that they're sinking into the ocean. And everyone seems to hate Chinese footballers. But lest you should worry that Shanghaiist is bitter, you should know how much they love sandwiches, technological innovation, and their city's top tourist destinations.

Meanwhile, Londonist doesn't hate anything. They're all about Valentine love for the guy who gives out free iPods, highly-skilled bees, being invited on private tours, their city in Lego, and giant snowmen.

Torontoist wasn't feeling as lovey-dovey as Londonist: they had plenty of hate to go around. Torontoist hates angry jewelry store owners who harass local TV celebrities,
"independent" teenaged girls, and punk kids messing with change on the subway. But they weren't without some love, for its local basketball team (whom they want them taken off notice by Stephen Colbert), and for continuing to solve the Bridezilla mystery, and for cute misspellings.

Bostonist is hating the Celtics' losing streak. But they totally love screwing around with said team's logo and the new hit song 99 luftbaloons 99 Mooninites.

LAist wasn't really about love or hate this week. They were more about the ambivalence, especially toward the Colts' reactions to that Snickers commercial and John Waters. They do, however, know where to send you if you're lookin' for love, yourself.

Seattlest totally loved this pro-breeding story, fist fights of the past and present, and ironic content matching. Of course, they kinda hate Canada (kind of) and the local buildings that everyone else seems to love.

Chicagoist gave its readers some love, and got some love from local TV. And then they got some hate on a somehow-controversial post. The honeymoon, apparently, is over.

Parisist reports that Parisians who love the NFL have options—if they are willing to watch a game that kicks off at midnight, that Parisians who love each other can leave Valentines messages on electronic traffic signs, and that Parisians who love indie bands with awesome dance numbers were able to catch OK Go! live in concert. No hate in Paris, though. It is the City of Love and all...

Compiled and edited by Jillian Ashley Blair Ivey.

Hey, here's a couple of news flashes for you: on Wednesday night the Warriors won, on the road, by holding a fourth-quarter lead.

That's right, the team's road losing streak of eight games is over after a less-than-convincing 96-95 escape in Boston. Baron Davis carried the Warriors with 31 points and 8 assists, but the Warriors did everything they could to give the game back; it was really an assist from Celtics coach Doc Rivers that gave the Warriors the game. With 24 seconds remaining, timeouts in hand, down by one point, and with the ball, Rivers elected not to call a timeout. Instead, the Celtics ran the only play in their playbook: give it to Paul Pierce and hope for the best. Pierce is a great player, but everybody in the building knew he was going to get the ball, including the five Warriors on the court. They surrounded him and forced a jump ball with just 0.6 seconds left. Game over baby.

So that puts a tiny band-aid on the 1-3 road trip and slightly daubs the road bleeding this year (2-9), but it does nothing to address the Warriors number one problem: REBOUNDING!

It could be a whole new ball game for the Warriors if they'd quit with the little-man's complex and play some size to get rebounds. Graphic from Atarimuseum.com.

This team is getting killed on the boards and it's making every game against every opponent an uphill battle. The Warriors are 24th in the league in rebounding, pulling down a paltry 39.6 boards a game. With opponents averaging 46.3 rebounds per game (rpg), their rebounding differential is by far the worst in the league at -6.7. It's so bad, the next closest team to them in rebounding differential is the Milwaukee Bucks at -5.1. (Side note, the Bucks outribbied the Warriors by 10 boards and won the game when the two teams met earlier this month.) Last year, the Warriors were fifth in the league in boards, collecting 42.3 rpg. They still had an operating deficit, but it was only -2.2 rpg

It gets worse. In losses, the War's are getting out-glassed by almost 8 rips a game; in wins, by nearly 6 per. In December, opponents have averaged 8 boards more per game. Against the Houston Rockets on December 14 in the O-rena, a game they won at the buzzer, the Warriors were outboarded 53-33. Do you think if maybe they had a couple of extra possessions in that game by virtue of a few more rebounds, they mightn't have had to rely on a last-second jumper for the win? Ya' think? On their current road trip, the team has been outrebounded 200-162 and has not grabbed more rebounds than their opponents in a game yet. A 1-3 road trip and 4-7 record for the month are no coincidence.

We may have started a mild regional anxiety attack last week when we scooped the talking heads by speculating that Phil Jackson and the Lakers were secretly in the running for Ron Artest

Or maybe it's the mild downturn the War-wilts are wallowing through right now.

Whatever the reason, it seems that the information superhighway is alive with chatter about how and why the War-tongs should work a deal to bring Artest to Oakland. (Also here,
here, here, here, and most worrisomely, here.) One online opinion poll found that 91 percent of respondents think the team should acquire Artest.

Everybody needs to just take a time out, unclench a bit, breathe, and slow things down. Yes, the War-riors have lost five of their last seven, including last night's frustrating loss to the Celtics, but this is no reason to panic.

Hey, you know, mama said there'd be stretches like this. It happens to every team. A couple of tough drops to top-shelf teams, a long road trip, a back-to-back, consecutive losses. Next thing you know, you're staring down the barrel of a bonafide slump.

The key is to stop the run, not stoke the fires of apprehension by bandying about the name of the league's current most notorious player.

Have we forgotten the lessons of Chris Webber and Latrell Sprewell? The Detroit Pistons (contemporary, not vintage) and the San Antonio Spurs have proven that good guys can finish first. This team doesn't need Artest's edginess to gain a competitive advantage. What it needs is power in the low post.

Here are five reasons why Artest is not right for this team.

The Truthmaker Contributing