Podziemski Out for Warriors-Lakers: Week 1 Survivor Pick

Podziemski ruled out for the opener

Brandin Podziemski won't play in Golden State's season opener at the Lakers. The guard's absence thins the Warriors' backcourt depth right out of the gate, and it comes in a game where the Lakers already sit as 6.5-point home favorites when the two meet.

What it means for your Week 1 survivor pick

Losing a rotation guard before a road opener against a favored opponent only widens the gap. The structured data has the Lakers favored by 6.5 at home, and a short-handed Golden State backcourt pushes the lean further toward L.A. — making the Lakers the side to consider here, not the Warriors.

If you'd rather sidestep a one-game, injury-clouded spot entirely, Week 1 gives you room to look elsewhere. The Lakers also draw the Clippers and then visit Utah later in the week, while Golden State turns around to host Memphis and head to Phoenix. Weigh which matchup best fits your NBA knockout pool strategy before you lock anything in, and check the rest of the slate in our NBA survivor picks before committing a team you can't use twice.