Game Recap: Philadelphia 76ers Vs Cleveland Cavaliers

Game Recap: Philadelphia 76ers Vs Cleveland Cavaliers

The October 8th match-up featured worst team of the 2015-2016 NBA season facing the best team of last season.

While the game was originally expected to see the debut of Australian sensation and top 2016 NBA Draft Ben Simmons , the top draft pick failed to face friend, mentor, and basketball training partner Lebron James.  However the fans had hoped, the injury to Ben Simmons‘ foot as the 76ers entered the preseason derailed that opportunity. Instead, NBA fans settled for the debut of Joel Embiid and Dario Saric to square off with their teammates against the defending NBA Champions.

The Philadelphia 76ers limped into Cleveland for the game.  Not only did the team just endure a marathon double overtime loss to the Washington Wizards two days previously, but the team continues to struggle to keep bodies healthy enough for preseason competition.

Including Simmons, the 76ers held out six players from the matchup.  Adding Joel Embiid and Gerald Henderson‘s minutes restrictions, leaves just 12 of 20 players to take the court with unrestricted minutes for head coach Brett Brown.

To no surprise, Brown continues to tap the same five players as designated starters for the third preseason game:

As we had anticipated, Joel Embiid delivered on offense tonight. He led all 76ers at halftime with 12 points, including a textbook three-pointer from the key.   His presence on defense was sold in the first half as well.

But his performance continues to tease, as he spent all his 13 minutes in the first half.  The Cavaliers first half was entirely Kyrie Irving, Lebron James, Channing Fryer, Iman Shumpert, and Chris Andersen.  Kevin Love was held to just two points in the first half to finish out the Cavaliers scoring.

In the second half, the Cavaliers began to pull away as the 76ers bench appeared sluggish. And by the end of the third quarter, the Cavs assumed a commanding lead 83-76. That lead ballooned to double digits in the fourth quarter on Jordan McRae‘s hot handed 18 points.  But the lethargic three-point shooting of the 76ers finally came alive mid-way in the fourth quarter, allowing the 76ers to close to within one. The game was decided at 17 seconds left in the game when the Cavaliers kept Sergio Rodriguez at the arc and he missed from the distance.  Rodriguez had a chance to score as time ran out, but failed from distance as the game ended.

Players of the Game

The Philadelphia 76ers rookie Joel Embiid continues to impress more with each passing game. Against the Cavaliers, he finally burst into double digit scoring – scoring twelve points, one block, and four rebounds.

Richaun Holmes continues to make full use of his playing minutes, and certainly has earned my vote for a roster spot. His 19 points on 77.8 percent shooting from the floor set an exclamation point on his preseason so far. He has already exhibited fearlessness in his shooting and driving to the basket.

Sergio Rodriguez, despite failing to land the game winner, did end up with 15 points on 35.7 percent shooting from the floor, and did dish out eight assists.  As he grows in comfort with this team, his performance should continue to improve.

Looking Ahead

As the team tries to regroup two straight and difficult losses, the Philadelphia 76ers will face the Memphis Grizzlies at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on Tuesday, October 11th. Meanwhile, the Cleveland Cavaliers, now 2-0, go on to face the Atlanta Hawks on the road Monday, October 10th.

Next: Revisiting Philadelphia 76ers Dario Saric Trade

While the Philadelphia 76ers continue to creep through preseason, the flashes from Joel Embiid continue to electrify the excitement for this team in the season.  Combined with Embiid, Richaun Holmes surge this preseason has started to give the impression that the Philadelphia 76ers could compete well sans either Jahlil Okafor or Nerlens Noel.