Live Thread: Cavs vs 76ers

The Sixers come to town on this gray Sunday afternoon. Jimmy Butler is listed as questionable for this one, and normally I’d think he’d sit out, but with Philly smarting from a thumping at the hands of the Pacers, and with only a game and a half separating second place from fifth place in the East, I wonder if they’ll take the chance. Though, judging by the way the Milwaukee rested players against Cleveland on two separate games in a week, it’s probably not that big of a gamble.

For Cleveland, Cedi Osman should get some respite, probably matching up with Wilson Chandler this afternoon, instead of an imposing power forward. Of course, they may move Cedi to Ben Simmons, and have Collin Sexton try his luck on Chandler or whoever starts in Butlers’ place. If Butler isn’t a go, expect to see T.J. McConnell, Furkan Korkmaz, or Shake Milton in the lineup, and a steady diet of Joel Embiid in the post.

It’s another tough matchup for Cleveland who are still without Love, Smith, Thompson, and Henson. Let’s hope David Nwaba sees an expanded role after a decent showing Friday. My bet is that Frye starts again to pull Embiid out of the paint and to protect Larry Nance from too many early fouls. Cleveland will need some Ante Zizic, though, just to lay some lumber on some dudes. Hopefully, Philly continues its habit of playing down to its competition, but given that the Cavs came into the Wells Fargo Center and surprisingly snapped their home winning streak almost four weeks, ago, I’m betting the Sixers are looking for some payback.

Let’s hope it’s a fun one. Go Cavs! (And go Vikings, and Patriots, and every other team that needs to beat someone ahead of the Browns in the playoff race!)