- Joined
- Oct 3, 2019
- Messages
- 10,159
- Reaction score
- 29,129
- Points
- 135
After losing to the Magic at home the Cavs take a fairly short hop to Philadelphia to play the Sixers. Both teams will be playing the second night of a back-to-back but only the Cavs had to travel. The Sixers, still without Joel Embiid, lost to the Knicks last night 110-96. The game is on ESPN.
Since Embiid went down the Sixers are 3-9, but one of those wins was at Cleveland on Feb. 12 by a 123-121 score. After the game Donovan Mitchell said the Cavs were overconfident and expected the Sixers to lay down. The Sixers started three guards (Maxey, Hield, Oubre), a 6’6” small forward (Martin), and a 6’9” forward (Reed). The small lineup worked as the Sixers shot 54.5% from the field and 42.3% on 3’s.
The Cavs were fine offensively, putting 121 points on the board, but the Sixers simply were outstanding at shooting the ball. Buddy Hield was 9-for-13 and Kelly Oubre 10-for-14 to lead the Sixers with 24 points each.
The Cavaliers need to make some defensive adjustments this time around. To be fair, the Sixers had just acquired Hield in a trade and he was playing only his third game. But now he’s played in four games with the Sixers and is averaging 22.2 points on 52.3% from the field and 45% on 3’s. Hield is an extremely talented shooter and you can’t let him get comfortable early or he will make you pay all night.
The Sixers are averaging 111.2 points in the 12 games since Embiid went down as opposed to 119.8 before, so the Cavs should have no excuse for not holding the Sixers to 111 points or less. I assume this time they won’t be complacent going into the game, especially since the game is in Philadelphia.
When these teams played 11 days ago the Sixers scored 58 points in the paint compared to 33 on 3-point shots, so the Cavs need to do a better job defending the rim. The Sixers shot nearly 60% on 2-point shots. The Cavs were called for two technicals for arguing calls - the Sixers made both of them and won by 2 points.
The Cavs need to come into this game with the idea that it will be a dogfight and their defense needs to make itself felt early, especially in contesting the 3’s by Hield, Oubre, and Maxey to prevent them from getting in a groove early. But they also need to do a better job of contesting 2-point shots and keeping the percentage of makes well under 60% this time.
Dean Wade missed the last game and LeVert had an off night, missing 5 of 6 from deep. Niang went 0-for-4 and failed to score in 18 minutes. Merrill played nine minutes and only got one shot off, which he missed. The Cavs need more from their bench this time. Their bench was humiliated last night by Orlando’s bench, getting outscored 63-24 in a 7-point loss.
Forwards Nick Batum and Tobias Harris are back after missing the last game between these teams. They’re both 6’8” so the Sixers will have more size and depth than the last game. Harris is averaging 17.7 ppg while Batum, who at age 35 doesn’t shoot much, is making an astonishing 46.7% from deep.
Tyrese Maxey is averaging 27 points a game since Embiid went down. Buddy Hield is averaging 20.6 in the five games he started since coming over from Indiana. Kelly Oubre was 10-for-14 against the Cavs ten days ago.
This game may hinge on whether Donovan Mitchell can play. As of this morning he’s still listed as questionable. For the Sixers Embiid is out and starting SG De’Anthony Melton is a game time decision. For the season the Sixers are a +11.3 when Melton is on the floor, which is the highest among the regular starters.
The Cavs are catching the Sixers at the right time with Embiid out, but that didn’t help them 11 days ago when they lost to them at home. Now they are on the road on the second night of a back-to-back and the Sixers have Batum and Harris back and possibly Melton as well. However, the Sixers lost by 14 points to the Knicks at home last night, and the Knicks are still missing Randle, Anunoby, and Robinson while Hartenstein failed to score in 11 minutes. This one won’t be easy, especially if Mitchell is still out.
The Cavs need to exploit the Sixers lack of size on the front line while doing a much better job defending the paint while not letting Hield and Maxey get a roll from the 3-point line. The Knicks held them to 96 points last night despite missing three starters, so it's certainly possible.
Since Embiid went down the Sixers are 3-9, but one of those wins was at Cleveland on Feb. 12 by a 123-121 score. After the game Donovan Mitchell said the Cavs were overconfident and expected the Sixers to lay down. The Sixers started three guards (Maxey, Hield, Oubre), a 6’6” small forward (Martin), and a 6’9” forward (Reed). The small lineup worked as the Sixers shot 54.5% from the field and 42.3% on 3’s.
The Cavs were fine offensively, putting 121 points on the board, but the Sixers simply were outstanding at shooting the ball. Buddy Hield was 9-for-13 and Kelly Oubre 10-for-14 to lead the Sixers with 24 points each.
The Cavaliers need to make some defensive adjustments this time around. To be fair, the Sixers had just acquired Hield in a trade and he was playing only his third game. But now he’s played in four games with the Sixers and is averaging 22.2 points on 52.3% from the field and 45% on 3’s. Hield is an extremely talented shooter and you can’t let him get comfortable early or he will make you pay all night.
The Sixers are averaging 111.2 points in the 12 games since Embiid went down as opposed to 119.8 before, so the Cavs should have no excuse for not holding the Sixers to 111 points or less. I assume this time they won’t be complacent going into the game, especially since the game is in Philadelphia.
When these teams played 11 days ago the Sixers scored 58 points in the paint compared to 33 on 3-point shots, so the Cavs need to do a better job defending the rim. The Sixers shot nearly 60% on 2-point shots. The Cavs were called for two technicals for arguing calls - the Sixers made both of them and won by 2 points.
The Cavs need to come into this game with the idea that it will be a dogfight and their defense needs to make itself felt early, especially in contesting the 3’s by Hield, Oubre, and Maxey to prevent them from getting in a groove early. But they also need to do a better job of contesting 2-point shots and keeping the percentage of makes well under 60% this time.
Dean Wade missed the last game and LeVert had an off night, missing 5 of 6 from deep. Niang went 0-for-4 and failed to score in 18 minutes. Merrill played nine minutes and only got one shot off, which he missed. The Cavs need more from their bench this time. Their bench was humiliated last night by Orlando’s bench, getting outscored 63-24 in a 7-point loss.
Forwards Nick Batum and Tobias Harris are back after missing the last game between these teams. They’re both 6’8” so the Sixers will have more size and depth than the last game. Harris is averaging 17.7 ppg while Batum, who at age 35 doesn’t shoot much, is making an astonishing 46.7% from deep.
Tyrese Maxey is averaging 27 points a game since Embiid went down. Buddy Hield is averaging 20.6 in the five games he started since coming over from Indiana. Kelly Oubre was 10-for-14 against the Cavs ten days ago.
This game may hinge on whether Donovan Mitchell can play. As of this morning he’s still listed as questionable. For the Sixers Embiid is out and starting SG De’Anthony Melton is a game time decision. For the season the Sixers are a +11.3 when Melton is on the floor, which is the highest among the regular starters.
The Cavs are catching the Sixers at the right time with Embiid out, but that didn’t help them 11 days ago when they lost to them at home. Now they are on the road on the second night of a back-to-back and the Sixers have Batum and Harris back and possibly Melton as well. However, the Sixers lost by 14 points to the Knicks at home last night, and the Knicks are still missing Randle, Anunoby, and Robinson while Hartenstein failed to score in 11 minutes. This one won’t be easy, especially if Mitchell is still out.
The Cavs need to exploit the Sixers lack of size on the front line while doing a much better job defending the paint while not letting Hield and Maxey get a roll from the 3-point line. The Knicks held them to 96 points last night despite missing three starters, so it's certainly possible.
Last edited:
