Sizing Up the Sixers (4-12):Up five points with four minutes to go – that's how close the 76ers came to knocking off the defending NBA champions the last time the two teams met. As much as the young Sixers, just five games into their new season, gave LeBron James and Co. everything they had, the Cleveland Cavaliers, thanks to timely 3-pointers, ultimately prevailed November 5th, 102-101. While a sellout crowd of 20,497 at The Center might have exited the building that night with an initial twinge of disappointment, the big picture impression that the Sixers left behind was a positive one. The performance, three weeks later, can still be counted as one of their better showings this year. Reflecting on the match-up, Brett Brown was proud that the Sixers showed no back down on their home floor versus last season's title winners. “Sometimes, at the start of years, you can catch teams off guard,” Brown said Saturday, talking after the Sixers' brief, one-hour workout at their training complex in Camden, New Jersey. “Everybody starts a little bit differently. They're a team that continues to heat up. I'm sure we're going to see a far different team than we saw that early in the season. But, we look forward to it.”We'll address in a moment all of the impressive things that Cleveland has done as of late. But, keeping the focus on the clubs' first confrontation a little bit longer, there were several factors that gave the Sixers a shot at pulling off the upset.For starters, they had an efficient offensive outing, converting 46.0 percent of their field goals, and connecting on 14 3-pointers. Additionally, the team was effective in the paint, where it outscored the Cavaliers by eight.On top of that, the Sixers were sound defensively. The Cavs' 40.7 shooting percentage that day remains their second-poorest of the season, and the game marks one of fives times this campaign that Cleveland was held under 105 points.Specifically, the Sixers managed to bottle up Kyrie Irving. The sixth-year point guard is averaging a career-best 23.8 points per game this season, and is one of the league's most dangerous players in isolation. He's tallied at least 20 points in 30 of the Cavaliers' past 35 contests. One of the outliers, though, was the Sixers holding him to eight points earlier this month.”I'm sure we played some pretty good defense,” said Gerald Henderson, who was tasked with serving as Irving's primary defender. “Individual defense, you have to , because he's such a good ball handler and can create shots himself well.”Irving went 3 for 17 from the field versus the Sixers, and 0 for 5 from the outside. He had a couple open looks, but most of the time, his shots were contested by the combination of Henderson, Joel Embiid, and Nik Stauskas. “You just know going in that they've got good players,” Henderson said Saturday. “Obviously, their Big 3, per se, are very capable scorers. You just lock into their tendencies, and then as a team, you try to do your best, and push them into your help. We just got to be there for each other.” The trio to which Henderson was referring consists of Irving, James, and Kevin Love. To no surprise, the contingent represents the Cavaliers' highest offensive-rated trio this season. James is averaging 23.5 points and 9.5 assists per game, while Love appears to have recaptured his vintage form, posting 22.1 points and 10.7 rebounds per tilt. “They've got a bunch of firepower at a bunch of different positions,” said Brown.The Cavs will take the floor Sunday coming off a torrid week. They erupted for 137 points in a win over Portland Wednesday, and 128 points in a 38-point triumph against Dallas Friday. Three-point production fueled these two scoring outbursts, with Cleveland becoming the first team in NBA history to sink 20 or more treys in consecutive regular season games. To hang with the Cavaliers Sunday, Embiid knows a complete, collective effort will be required.”It's going to take all 48 minutes,” said the big man, who will return to action after sitting out Friday's loss to Chicago. “Guys coming off the bench, guys on the floor, making sure you play hard all 48 minutes, and just compete.” Sizing Up the Cavaliers (12-2):Winners of three games in a row, Cleveland boasts the best record in the Eastern Conference, and second-best mark in the NBA. The Cavaliers have won three times less than the Golden State Warriors, but have played three fewer games. Also worth noting is that the Cavs' 12-2 start this season is the strongest in the franchise's 47-year history. LeBron James, with his 9.5 helpers per game, currently ranks as the third-most prolific facilitator in the league. He's on pace to set career-highs not just in assists per game, but rebounds per game as well, averaging 8.2 boards. Kevin Love, meanwhile, is back to netting 20.0-plus points per game, a first since he departed Minnesota for Cleveland. Against the Trail Blazers on Wednesday, the three-time All-Star set a league record with 34 first-quarter points, which stands as the second-highest scoring frame by an individual player in NBA history.The Cavaliers pace the NBA in 3-point efficiency, generating a league-best 13.9 threes per 100 possessions, and an NBA-high 40.0 3-point shooting percentage. Series History:Cleveland has rattled off seven straight regular season wins against the Sixers. Four out of the past six meetings, however, have been determined by seven points or less, including the Sixers' November 5th 102-101 loss to the Cavaliers.The Sixers produced a pair of 20-point scorers versus the Cavs earlier this month. Joel Embiid supplied 22 points (along with six rebounds and four blocks), while Ersan Ilyasova came off the bench for 21. Jahlil Okafor was impactful in a reserve role, too, turning in 14 points, five rebounds, and three swats.Follow Along:
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