Potential play-in opponent: Portland Trail Blazers
Portland faces a rather difficult schedule down the stretch of playoff-type games with heavy implications.
Their huge win against the Lakers on Friday night not only gives them the tiebreaker by winning the season series, but it puts them a game ahead of the sputtering Lakers. Most importantly, this is a team on the rise at the moment.
Like the Warriors, their season was marred with injuries, and one MVP-level point guard kept them afloat. Unlike the Dubs, Portland is slowly becoming healthier and bringing guys like Jusuf Nurkić back into the flow of the game (a player who kills the Dubs).
Damian Lillard knows damn well he’s 0-10 against Steph Curry in playoff games and this matchup would represent his best shot to put himself on the board.
In a seven-game series, the ability of Draymond Green and the coaching staff to figure out matchups and stop their Dame-centric offense should win out.
In a one-game series, the hotter team with healthier bodies will have the advantage, making this another tough proposition to achieve the “win and you’re in” goal.