The Philadelphia 76ers and Cleveland Cavaliers meet again Friday night, and this time the matchup carries NBA Cup Group Stage weight. Philadelphia already owns a win over Cleveland this season after a comeback victory in the first meeting, and the Sixers enter at 1-0 in cup play. For Cleveland, it will be its first cup game of the year.
If this one turns into a battle of starting units, Philadelphia has the edge where it usually matters most: scoring. The Sixers’ first five is putting up 88.9 points per game, second-best in the NBA behind only the Los Angeles Lakers. Their offensive rating sits at 79.5, which ranks fourth league-wide.
Cleveland’s starters are no pushover on that end. They’re averaging 82.8 points per game, good for ninth in the league, with a 74.1 offensive rating that checks in 13th. But Philadelphia’s group has been the more productive unit overall.
The Cavaliers do have the cleaner shooting profile. Their starters are knocking down 9.0 threes per game, which lands them in the top 10, while Philadelphia sits 25th at 7.2. Cleveland is also hitting 38 percent from deep compared to 32 percent for the Sixers, and the Cavs hold the edge in both true shooting percentage and effective field goal percentage.
Where Philadelphia really separates itself is with the ball moving. The Sixers’ starting lineup is averaging 22.8 assists per game, the best mark in the NBA. Every starter is contributing there too, with each one averaging at least three assists per game this season.
Cleveland leans more on a couple of players, James Harden and Donovan Mitchell, to create scoring chances for others.
Defense has been Philadelphia’s calling card early, and LeBron James put it plainly after the Sixers beat Detroit on Wednesday night: "Our defense is going to be our identity," James said following Philadelphia's victory over Detroit on Wednesday night. "We have a lot of scoring.
Obviously, we know that from individuals, but we're still figuring that side of the floor out on the offense side. But defensively, that's where we're going to make our mark.
It's the point of attack. It's us communicating, it's us helping one another."
The two starting groups are tied in defensive rating at 74.2, but Philadelphia has been more disruptive, forcing more steals per game. The Sixers also lead the league in defensive rebounds per game at 25.8.
So when the starters hit the floor Friday, the Sixers bring the more complete package. Cleveland has the shooting edge, but Philadelphia’s first five has been the more dangerous unit on both ends, and it is expected to be at full strength.
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For players fighting to stay in the pro pipeline, those few weeks can matter as much as any box score. The Blue Coats trio spoke about their time around the 76ers and the transition that followed, and the quotes in the piece make clear how quickly a camp invite can turn into a lesson they carry with them into the next stop. [Read more 🡒]