The Cleveland Cavaliers are staring at a tough test against a Philadelphia 76ers team that has started 8-1 and has already shown it can overwhelm opponents with pace, force, and a burst of offense when things start to tilt its way. Cleveland’s comeback from a 29-point hole on opening day showed what this group can do, but the margin for error against Philadelphia is slim.
For the Cavs, the first issue is getting Donovan Mitchell and James Harden working in sync. The two have not had the kind of rhythm this season that Cleveland needs, even if they were effective together in the postseason.
Harden has held the ball too often, while Mitchell hasn’t had enough time to make decisions. Against the Thunder, Mitchell’s 11 assists looked good on paper, but he wasn’t aggressive enough offensively until late.
That kind of balance simply won’t cut it.
Harden’s efficiency has to rise, too, and his workload is notable. He leads the team in minutes, which is a surprise, and Cleveland needs better production from its point guard.
If the Cavs are going to keep up with Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe, the offense has to be cleaner, smarter, and more connected. Harden put it plainly after the last OKC loss, as cited by Sam Amico of Hoops Wire:
“Consistency is key,” Harden said. “Wherever we can find that consistency throughout the course of the year, it’s going to help us win a lot of games.
We have shown steps of growth and flashes of being really really good. We’re just inconsistent.”
The second priority is protecting the paint. Philadelphia has been able to get downhill in a hurry, and that kind of pressure can snowball fast.
Cleveland saw that kind of force last time around, and the Sixers’ second-half numbers against the Cavs were staggering: 69 points, 17 assists, and just 2 turnovers. They also became the first team in the shot clock era to come back from a 20+ point deficit in their opponents season opener.
The Sixers have had their own issues from the perimeter at times, which makes the interior even more important for Cleveland. Peyton Watson and Evan Mobley have to make life difficult around the rim, because that is the best way to keep Philadelphia from turning the game into a track meet.
The Cavs did that in the second half against the Wizards last week, and it put them in position to win. They need that same kind of control again.
Then there’s the lineup problem, and it’s a big one. Cleveland still hasn’t forced teams to adjust to them for long stretches this season.
Even when the Thunder started Aday Mara in the second meeting, they went back to small by the second half. Too often, it has been the Cavs changing to fit the opponent instead of making the opponent react to them.
That gets to the Jarrett Allen question. Cleveland has two seven-footers, but they aren’t used together enough, and they don’t close games together.
Allen’s knee injury the other night obviously affected that game, but the issue goes beyond one night. Oklahoma City found its formula quickly with Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren.
The Wizards have gotten solid defense with Alex Sarr next to Anthony Davis. Cleveland, meanwhile, has not consistently used its frontcourt in a way that forces other teams to change.
The Cavs have already shown what that can look like when the frontcourt is clicking. In Milwaukee, Evan Mobley had 27 points, 3 3PM, and 11-16 FGM, while Jarrett Allen posted 25 points, 11 rebounds, and 12-16 FGM as Cleveland moved to 4-2 on the season.
If the Cavaliers can get the Mitchell-Harden pairing on the same page, hold up in the paint, and finally make teams adjust to their size, they’ll give themselves a real shot against the 8-1 Sixers.
In Other News...
Sixers Fans Have Seen This Before As Porzingis Saga Nears A Harsh End
Kristaps Porzingis is back in the kind of limbo that NBA fans know can turn messy fast. The Golden State Warriors are not paying his salary while he is sidelined by a health condition, and with the February 11 trade deadline approaching, his contract is still movable if the front office decides to act. For Philadelphia fans, the whole thing has an uncomfortable familiar feel, even if the details are not the same as the Ben Simmons standoff that once dominated the league conversation.
Porzingis has not asked out, but the uncertainty around his future is hard to ignore, especially with retirement reportedly part of the discussion. The Warriors can keep exploring trade options, yet the bigger question is whether there is still a path back to the floor at all. For Sixers followers, it is another reminder of how quickly a roster issue can shift from a basketball matter into something far more complicated. [Read more 🡒]
76ers Keep Rolling But One Lineup Issue Just Got Harder To Ignore
The 76ers kept their early-season surge going with a 112-106 win over the Pistons, pushing them to 8-1 and the best record in the NBA. Jaylen Brown delivered a season-high 30 points and seven rebounds, while Joel Embiid added 26 points and 15 rebounds as Philadelphia leaned on its top-end talent to close out another tight game.
Still, the rotation picture is starting to draw more attention as the wins pile up. Anfernee Simons had a limited impact with minimal playing time, and the way Philadelphia is handling that group will be worth watching as the schedule gets tougher and the margins get thinner. Even with the team rolling, the balance of minutes and roles is becoming harder to overlook. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks Frontcourt Suddenly Looks Unsettled At The Worst Time
The frontcourt picture around Atlanta has taken another hit at an awkward moment, with Dominick Barlow meeting with a specialist to evaluate his back injury and now projected to need another 10 to 12 days before he can get back to on-court work. For a team already trying to sort out its rotation, that kind of delay only adds to the uncertainty, especially with the schedule offering little time to settle things down.
For Philadelphia, the ripple effects are worth watching because Adem Bona is now dealing with a neck injury of his own and is listed as doubtful for the next game. The Sixers have been leaning on depth and flexibility in the middle, and any missed time from Bona only sharpens the focus on how these injury situations stack up across the league, from Jalen Johnsons questionable status in Atlanta to the other frontcourt returns and debuts popping up elsewhere. [Read more 🡒]