Sixers Cavs Postgame Report

THREE SEEEED. THIRTEEN STRAIGHT!!

It wouldn’t be a Sixers game unless I lose 60 pounds via sweat. The Sixers came out of the gates FIRING on all cylinders, but the second half was all about LeBron James as he managed a meager 44 points, 35 points in the 2nd half alone.

Up three with just seconds left to play, the Cavs threw the ball nearly the length of the court to an open LeBron who was fouled (was he fouled?) shooting a three. Bron sunk the first to go down two, then rimmed the second free throw attempt, which prompted a purposeful miss that Larry Nance timed perfectly and nearly tipped in for the tie. But like LeBron’s second free throw attempt, the tip back rimmed out and Richaun Holmes secured the rebound for the win.

Some positive things:

Marco Belinelli stepped up big time off the bench and contributed a gigantic 23 points on 6-12 shooting from three-point range.

Ben Simmons obtained his 12th triple double of the season just minutes in to the 2nd half as the Rookie of the Year put up 27p/15r/13a along with 4 steals on 12-17 shooting from the field.

JJ Redick also stepped up to fill the scoring void left by Embiid as Redick dropped 28 in the winning effort.

Robert Covington, for most of the first half, was given the duties of guarding LeBron James and held him to just 9 first half points. Although he went just 2-6 from three and finished with only 11 points, he added 3 steals and 3 blocks while mainly being anchored to LeBron. (most of LeBron’s second half points were due to switches on to Marco or JJ (LeBron is scared of Cov and Ben #confirmed)).

Markelle Fultz got 12 minutes of run and put up 10p/3r/4a and looked more like him old self with some vicious spin moves and a contested jumper.

Richaun Holmes was an early spark plug off the bench as he had two electric dunks and a huge block on LeBron to ignite a fast break.

Some negative things:

Dario Saric looked very rusty coming off his injury as he posted a rare 3/3/3 stat line on just 1-9 shooting from the field.

The third quarter nightmares returned as the Cavs put up 43 points and clawed their way back in to it the game that the Sixers seemingly had control of.

Amir Johnson started off looking pretty nice with a quick 4 points but regressed big time in the second half, a half that included a missed dunk and horrible turnover late.

Jeff Green decided he’d be the nightly Sixers killer as he went 10-12 from the field, 5-6 from distance, and 8-8 from the line for 33 total points. Wasn’t expecting that.

All things said and done... The Sixers have now won 13 straight games, one away from tying a franchise record and the Philadelphia 76ers are in sole possesion of the three seed in the East, with just 3 games left to play- Mavs @ home on Sunday, Hawks in ATL on Tuesday, and Bucks @ home on Wednesday).

See you all on Sunday.