Cleveland gets its first crack at the Emirates NBA Cup group stage on Friday with a heavyweight test waiting right away: the Philadelphia 76ers, the team sitting atop the NBA standings with just one loss through nine games.
It’s the second meeting between these teams this season, and the first one still stings for the Cavs. That was Cleveland’s opener, when it coughed up a 29-point lead in Philadelphia and fell 114-106.
Now the Cavaliers return home at 4-4, carrying back-to-back losses to Oklahoma City and a growing injury list that could make this a rough night. The matchup is already demanding enough. Add in the uncertainty around several key players, and Cleveland is staring at a difficult assignment.
Philadelphia, meanwhile, has looked far more seamless than many expected after bringing in Jaylen Brown and LeBron James to join Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. There were obvious questions about how all those names would fit together - spacing, ball movement, defensive chemistry - but so far the answer has been clear: it works.
Maxey has been the engine. He leads the 76ers at 28.0 points per game and can score from just about anywhere in the offense, whether it’s in the half court, in pick-and-roll, off the ball or in transition. Brown and Embiid have both been hovering around 20 points per game, with Philly leaning early on Embiid in the post and using that gravity to free Brown on cuts to the elbow and the restricted area.
Then there’s LeBron James, who at 41 has settled into a utility role that has fit Philadelphia well. He’s averaging 15.7 points, 7.4 rebounds and 7.4 assists, and while the jumper has not been there - he’s shooting 26% from three and 64% at the line - he has still been valuable as a connector and playmaker.
What has really separated the 76ers early, though, is the defense. They own the second-best defensive rating in the league, and that’s been a big reason they’ve been able to create separation in tight games. The buy-in has been there across the roster, from the stars to the role players.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and former Cavalier Dean Wade have both contributed on that end, with Wade’s perimeter defense standing out in particular. The box score won’t always pop for him, but the impact has been obvious.
Second-year guard VJ Edgecombe is still settling in, but he has simplified his game and made his athleticism count in a different way. Instead of just highlighting himself with transition finishes, he’s become one of the better rebounding guards in the league, pulling down 7.0 boards a night.
Cleveland’s challenge is made tougher by the health situation. The Cavs have been missing essentially all of their wings over the past week, with neither Peyton Watson nor Jaylon Tyson available. Against Oklahoma City, Jarrett Allen and Tyrese Proctor were also dealing with injuries, and both could be in question again Friday.
That puts even more on Donovan Mitchell, who needs to come out with force if Cleveland is going to have a shot. Evan Mobley also has to stay clear of foul trouble against Embiid, especially if Allen can’t go. If the injuries pile up the way they appear to be trending, Thomas Bryant, Mario Hezonja and Tristan Enaruna may all be asked to help handle the Embiid assignment.
If Allen and the wings are out, Kenny Atkinson could be forced into a look with Mario Hezonja at the four, Sam Merrill at small forward and rookie guard Meleek Thomas continuing to see the floor. Merrill brings big-game experience, while Thomas has already shown he isn’t afraid of the moment.
It should be a lively scene in Cleveland, with LeBron James back in town and plenty of curiosity around how the crowd reacts to him - and to Dean Wade as well. For the Cavaliers, it’s a chance to steady things. For Philadelphia, it’s another opportunity to show that this star-heavy group is already operating like a team that knows exactly what it wants to be.
Philadelphia 76ers - Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Jaylen Brown, LeBron James, Joel Embiid
Cleveland Cavaliers - James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Sam Merrill, Mario Hezonja, Evan Mobley
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