Philadelphia 76ers vs Cleveland Cavaliers Analysis and Betting Preview
SportsMemo NBA handicapper JM Sports gives his prediction on tonight’s Philadelphia 76ers vs Cleveland Cavaliers showdown on Saturday, February 12. At the time of posting, the home 76ers have opened as an 3.5-point home favorite over the road Cavaliers, with the total sitting at 206 points.
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Saturday, February 12 | NBA Betting Notes |
---|---|
Point Spread: | Philadelphia 76ers -3.5 vs Cleveland Cavaliers |
Total: | 206 Points |
Game Time: | 7:40pm ET / 4:40pm PT |
Arena: | Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA |
TV: | NBC Sports Philadelphia |
Philadelphia 76ers vs Cleveland Cavaliers Preview
This season’s trade deadline was an exciting ones, with what seems like, an endless amount of big names being shifted around the league, including CJ McCullom, Kristaps Porzingis, Domantas Sabonis, Spencer Dinwiddie, Tyrese Haliburton, Marvin Bagley and plenty more.
Well, that plenty of more definitely includes the two teams in today’s match-up between Cleveland and Philadelphia. Cleveland sits at #2 in the conference, a game and a half ahead of Philadelphia, and both these teams made some changes at the deadline to secure their position in the playoffs.
Cleveland added Caris Levert who has already made an impact in his two games with the Cavaliers, while Philadelphia made a big deal to send Ben Simmons and Seth Curry for James Harden and Paul Millsap, the biggest blockbuster swap of the deadline.
Cleveland Rocks on Defense
Cleveland is 35-21 on the year, and I have said it before and I will say it again, I don’t think many people expected Cleveland to be in the position they are in, while they had obvious potential, fighting for the #1 overall spot in the conference is impressive for this young team.
Now they add another star guard in Levert to help in the absences due to injuries, that looks like he could be an important piece of the puzzle in the future for this young team, and he already has an established connection with Jarrett Allen.
Cleveland has won four straight games (now 5-2 in the last two weeks) and they have held four of their last six opponents under 41.5% shooting. Defense has been an absolute staple for this team, if defense can win championships, there is always a chance with the way Cleveland is playing.
This season they are allowing 102.1 PPG, the best average in the entire league, holding teams over 7 points below their season average.
While they offense has definitely been exciting, it hasn’t been one of the highest scoring offenses, ranking #23 in the league in PPG, but in just the last two games, with the addition of Levert, Cleveland has put up 105+ points in back to back games.
Even going over 100 in back to back games for Cleveland is something that has happened less then half the season, but they are 22-9 this year off two straight games of 100+ points, while going 15-6 after two straight games with 105 points or more and 10-3 after two straight wins where they put up at least 105 points.
Cleveland also shot over 53% in their last game and they are 11-3 in the last 14 games following a 53%+ shooting effort, which includes a 7-2 record on the road.
The Cavs are off a win against Indiana last night, but Philadelphia is coming in with no rest as well, and while neither team has been truly better without rest, Cleveland is 21-11 when both teams are on equal rest.
They are also 13-2 on the money line when playing 8 or more games in 14 days, which proves that rest isn’t a necessity with the depth of this Cleveland team.
Big Changes in Philadelphia
Philadelphia added a key piece in James Harden and may have finally resolved the issue that was Ben Simmons. Although, the main piece they got in return isn’t ready to go yet, and now this Philadelphia team will be playing without the players they gave up in the deal, and without the biggest piece they got in return.
The 76ers are currently 33-22 this season and they sit in the #5 spot in the Eastern Conference standings, but they are just 2.5 games behind the top seed in this tight race for the top spot.
They are 15-12 on their home court this season, while being 12-8 as a home favorite. The record stems from a problem that is similar to the Cavs. As I mentioned, Cleveland’s offense hasn’t been the highest scoring, but their defense has compensated, Philadelphia is in a similar boat, but the compensation hasn’t worked as well, hence the worse record than the Cavs.
Although, Philadelphia may not have the same quality defense as Cleveland, but they are definitely close, allowing the 6th least points per game to the opponent this season and they understand how to force a multitude of turnovers, coming in #14 in steals per game, but #4 in blocks per game.
Philly is coming off a double digit win against Oklahoma City, where they allowed just 87 points on 38.9% shooting, but Philadelphia found themselves shooting under 40% as well in that game and putting up 100 points on the dot, the defense definitely stepped up the plate yesterday, shooting under 40% in a win speaks to that.
This season a home team has won seven straight games off a win where both teams shot under 40%, 8-2 after a win where they shot under 40%, 13-3 after a game where both teams shot under 40% regardless of the outcome, and a team that is a favorite is 10-2 this season off a win where they shot below that 40% marker.
The favorite also holds an advantage this season on the money line when two teams (who average 104-108 PPG) face off after the favorite allowed 95 or less points in the previous game is 54-8 on the money line! While a home favorite is 31-2 after a combined score of 195 or less in a game between two teams that average 104-108 points on average.
Philadelphia 76ers vs Cleveland Cavaliers Prediction
We may have to wait a little bit longer to see Harden hit the floor with Embiid, but that doesn’t mean this game isn’t going to be a good one.
Philadelphia still has some weapons and tricks under their sleeve and they are always capable of stealing a win, especially if Cleveland is without Darius Garland tonight (listed as questionable).
Although, Philadelphia is under .500 without rest, the home team does hold an advantage this season going 17-11 in a game where both teams are playing without rest.
They are 18-6 this year against the spread against teams over .500, and 15-3 against the spread after covering four (or five) of their last six games. They are the 2nd best team in the league against the spread this year, and they have covered over 70% of their games as a road underdog.
Without some of important pieces for Philadelphia, with players departing and new players not available, I am taking Cleveland with the points.
Prediction: Cavaliers +3.5
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Philadelphia 76ers vs Cleveland Cavaliers Notes from GoldSheet
Both teams coming off straight up wins in narrow point spread decisions last night, with Cleveland rallying in the 4th quarter against a revamped Indiana side with ex-Pacer and recent trade arrival in Cleveland Caris LeVert punk his old team.
He connected on 10 of 19 shots for 22 pts while Rajon Rondo netted 17 off the bench including a pair of FTs for the final points in the game in the final seconds to seal the Cleveland cover laying 6 pts. in a 120-113 victory.
Philadelphia couldn’t quite get the money laying 13½ at home against point
spread overachiever Oklahoma City, allowing the Thunder to close to within six with 2:20 remaining and that non-cover brings them to 10-16 against the points at home this season (and they’re 0-2 at home when unrested).
The Sixers are just 5-10 against the number last 4 seasons against the Cavs and have lost 3 of last 4 SU, and C Joel Embiid is nursing a sore wrist which affected his shooting last night.
Cleveland’s cover against Indiana moves the Cavs to the 2nd best point spread record in the NBA. The Sixers addition of James Harden will probably take time and remember his Nets side is the worst point spread team in the league and he has to share some responsibility for that.
NBA Stat Sheet
Each day, WagerTalk handicapper Ralph Michaels puts together his NBA Stat Sheet, which offers a head-to-head comparison for how teams are performing in a number of key areas heading into a game. Check out Saturday’s sheet, with notes on tonight’s Philadelphia 76ers vs Cleveland Cavaliers contest.
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