The Sixer Sense
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Philadelphia 76ers Preview: 5 Things to Watch For Against Cleveland Cavaliers

By Kevin Kolodziej

Jan 10, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) at the foul line against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center. The Cleveland Cavaliers won 95-85. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 10, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) at the foul line against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center. The Cleveland Cavaliers won 95-85. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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4 – Can the Sixers contain Kyrie Irving?

Fresh off hitting one of the biggest 3-pointers in NBA Finals history, Cavs point guard Kyrie Irving is having a tremendous season.

Over Cleveland’s first five games, Irving is averaging a career-high (and team-best) 26 points to go along with 4.4 assists and 3.6 rebounds per contest. Irving has better handles than any other player in the entire league and lightning-quick speed that will keep Sergio Rodriguez, T.J. McConnell, Gerald Henderson and whoever else tries to guard him off balance all night.

From the Cavs’ most recent game, a 128-122 win over the Celtics on Thursday night, here’s Example A:

Simply put, the sixth-year, former first-overall pick out of Duke is going to be a problem for Philadelphia’s guards.

And Brett Brown’s going to have to get creative with his defensive-sets if he wants to contain Irving.