2023 Playoffs Preview: Round 1 - PHI @ ORL

[Skip Bayless (Bball26 Analyst)]

#4 Orlando Magic (20-9) vs. #5 Philadelphia 76ers (19-10)

The best for last...this should be a really fun matchup. First of all, 2 great personalities in discord. Muffin King and Toast. If both teams were completely healthy, the Magic should win handily, but as usual with this Orlando team they have injuries to key guys like Jimmy Butler, KPJ, Hamidou Diallo, and Anthony Gill. Butler is already questionable for Tuesday. In addition, the Sixers best players have some really juicy matchups this week, adding more intrigue that this could be a possible early upset in the playoffs.

Peltz couldn't have asked for much more to start the playoffs with a 4 game Sabonis week against the T-Wolves, Spurs, Pacers, and Pelicans. I mean, holy shit. He could legitimately drop 200 points with ease and potentially more. Trae Young's status for tonight is important as he's questionable to start a 4 game week. Giddey only has 3 games, but 2 of those are against the Rockets. The games/matchups advantage is tilted in Peltz's favor this round, but he's going to need Sabonis to really dominate to have a shot.

Sarge has to start the playoffs with a 2 game Tatum week, injuries to KPJ, Gill and Diallo, and Butler questionable on a 3 game week. Not ideal. Siakam has been pretty inconsistent as of late, but Sarge is really going to need Pascal to turn it on this week to match a potential Sabonis explosion. If the Magic can survive this week, they have to be really confident going into the rest of the playoffs, but this is going to be a tough test with so many things working against them.

76ers X-factor: 200 FP week (minimum) from Sabonis
Magic X-factor: Pascal Siakam

Caleb's pick: Magic
Tyler's pick: Magic
Sarge's pick: Magic
Skip's pick: 76ers

[Skip Bayless (Bball26 Analyst)]

Orlando Magic fall to the Philadelphia 76ers, 522 to 789.5

2 games of Tatum (84 points) coupled with underwhelming performances from Siakam (95.5 points) and Jimmy Butler (88 points) proved to be too much for the Magic to overcome as they were overwhelmed by Sabonis (173 points) and Giddey (130 points). As mentioned in the preview, the Sixers needed Sabonis to dominate during his 4 games to have a shot and he did exactly that. You have to feel for the Magic to have multiple stars come up short during such a pivotal week, but we knew coming in that this was going to be a tough test for Orlando with the schedule disadvantage and injuries.

The Sixers move on and will face the Cavaliers (WOW) in round 2

Player of the game: Domantas Sabonis - 173 points, 43.25 FPPG

Caleb's pick: Magic
Tyler's pick: Magic
Sarge's pick: Magic
Skip's pick: 76ers