2023 Playoffs Preview: Round 1 - GSW @ POR

[Skip Bayless (Bball26 Analyst)]

#1 Portland Trail Blazers (25-4) vs. #8 Golden State Warriors (17-12)

Let's start with one of the best matchups of the week. Ty finished a truly impressive season strong with wins over the Timberwolves and Milwaukee Bucks the last couple weeks of the season. His reward for such a dominating regular season? Probably the strongest 8 seed in Bball26 history in the Golden State "We Believe" Warriors. Caleb had one of his toughest seasons to date, with multiple injuries throughout the year. That being said, the Warriors come into this matchup about as healthy as they've been all year. Will they be able to pull off a stunning upset a la the 06-07 "We Believe Warriors"?

The Warriors hold the games advantage 40 games to 38, but the key for this team as it's been all year is health. Nurkic, Hart, and Simmons are all questionable for Monday. The Warriors have a B2B middle of the week during a 3 game in 4 day stretch so there's also a risk that Steph Curry sits one of those 2. If healthy, the Warriors have the talent and star power to keep this one close, especially if Jokic sits any half of the B2B at the end of the week. Achiuwa and Boucher are key role players with high ceilings - if either of these guys go off for a 40-50 point game things will get really interesting for Caleb. And don't forget Fultz, who has looked good from this return from injury and has 4 games this week including 2 revenge games in Philly. Caleb has a real shot in this matchup.

Portland survived some late season injury scares to both Smart and Jokic. Smart likely won't return this week, but even if he does he only has 2 opportunities to play. We all know about the studs in Portland, but Ty has done a great job all year building quality depth for cheap. Delon Wright was one of the pickups of the offseason, Doedoe has averaged 37 FPG in the 2 games Luka has been out, and Gafford has played very well in KP's absence. That being said, in contrast to Caleb's role players, Portland's role players have a low floor and have put up their fair share of single digit fantasy point games this season. Tyler is comfortably the favorite this week, but there is definitely a path or 2 where he gets upset here.

Warriors X-factor: Health
Trail Blazers X-factor: Role players

Caleb's pick: Warriors
Tyler's pick: Trail Blazers
Sarge's pick: Trail Blazers
Skip's pick: Warriors

[Skip Bayless (Bball26 Analyst)]

The Portland Trail Blazers survive a scare from the Golden State Warriors 957.5-901

After day 1, things weren't looking good for the Blazers with the Warriors dropping over 200 FP, but the studs came to play this week and led the Blazers to victory. Damian Lillard (203.5) continued his recent hot streak while Nikola Jokic (209 points) continued to show why he's the best player in the league. Oh and I didn't mention Vucevic (146.5 points), who averaged over 48 FPPG. Golden State got all they could out of Steph (186.5 points), but couldn't find a consistent second threat throughout the week. The Jusuf Nurkic and Ben Simmons injuries didn't help either.

Player of the game: Nikola Jokic - 209 points, 69.67 FPPG

Caleb's pick: Warriors
Tyler's pick: Trail Blazers
Sarge's pick: Trail Blazers
Skip's pick: Warriors