The Athletic NBA Daily – “Cavs Dominate Sixers”

Date: January 15, 2026
Hosts: Dave DuFour, Zena Keita
Guest: Tony Jones

Overview

This episode of The Athletic NBA Daily spotlights a dominant Cleveland Cavaliers victory over the Philadelphia 76ers, dives into the Cavs' resurgence, and scrutinizes Philly's physical and tactical shortcomings—particularly in a game where Joel Embiid looked off his best. The show also reviews the Kings’ and Nuggets’ winning ways and looks ahead to potential playoff implications for both Cleveland and Philadelphia.

Key Discussion Points

Cleveland Cavs Blow Out the Sixers (01:44–04:16, 11:28–29:50)

• Cleveland’s Reemergence:
  Dave and Zena note that after questioning the Cavs’ energy and toughness all season, they finally looked sharp—especially on defense and attacking the paint.

  • Dave: “They really, I thought, put on a clinic…the way they were getting into the paint and scoring against the Sixers. This is more of what we expected…” (02:40)

• Darius Garland’s Impact and Injury:
  Garland contributed 20 points and 7 assists (+10 in 23 mins), but left early with a foot injury, raising concerns about Cleveland’s depth moving forward.

• Three-Point Barrage:
  Cleveland shot 20/46 from deep, leveraging offensive spacing to break down Philly’s defense (04:16).

  • Dave: “You’re not going to lose a ton of games shooting like that.” (04:16)

• Kings and Nuggets Recap:

  • Sacramento Kings: Won third straight, defeating quality opponents but facing questions about Karl-Anthony Towns’ engagement. “That’s not a basketball game, that’s a workout,” Zena jokes about his low-impact statline (05:00).
  • Denver Nuggets: Impressive 6–3 record sans Jokic, with Jamal Murray and Peyton Watson stepping up.
    • Zena: “Jamal Murray has stepped up in every game since Nikola Jokic has been gone...[he’s] taking on the leadership position that we know him capable to be...” (07:56–09:13)

In-Depth: Why Did the Sixers Collapse?

With Tony Jones
(11:28–29:50)

Context & Immediate Game Takeaways

• Scheduling & Fatigue Factors:
  Tony notes this was Philly’s third game in four nights, plus their first home game after a long road trip.

  • Tony: “...even under that context...it doesn’t excuse exactly what happened tonight...They didn’t show up, they didn’t have any legs, they didn’t have any energy...They just didn’t have it tonight.” (11:51–13:42)

• Effort and Defensive Physicality:
  Sixers uncharacteristically lacked effort—surprising for a team defined this year by resilience without Embiid.

  • Tony: “That’s why they’ve been able to survive with no Joel Embiid. But tonight it was a stinker.” (12:47)

• Embiid’s Struggles:
  He looked noticeably slow and out of sync: four turnovers in the first eight minutes, frustrated by Cavs’ twin towers Mobley and Allen.

  • Zena: “Joel Embiid looked really groggy…Evan Mobley, Jared Allen really made it hard for him to score…” (13:42)

Tactical Analysis

• Cleveland’s Defensive Strategy:
  Clever pick-and-roll coverages and crowding the Embiid-Maxey two-man game took Philly out of their offensive rhythm.

  • Tony: “Cleveland did a really good job with their pick and roll coverages and crowding that two-man game between Embiid and Maxey and they just didn’t let those guys dictate what the offense was going to be.” (14:55)

• Sixers’ Offensive Issues:
  Cleveland forced Dominic Barlow and VJ Edgecombe to become shooters, crowding the stars and daring Philly’s role players to beat them—a calculated risk that paid off.

• Cavs’ Spacing and Role Player Contributions:
  Mobley and Allen’s presence opened up the court; Cleveland’s guards (Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland) attacked mismatches and drilled open threes.

  • Tony: “Paint touch, drive…Tyson in the corner three. Sam in the corner three. Or Donovan’s pulling up for three…” (22:57)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Donovan Mitchell’s Killing Blow:

  • Tony: “It was demoralizing that Donovan Mitchell came out in the third quarter and just cooked everybody.” (20:51)

• On Tyrese Maxey’s Heavy Load:

  • Dave: “...he is averaging a touch under 40 minutes a night, which is pretty absurd. My back hurts just thinking about it.” (28:30)

• On Embiid’s Mentality:

  • Tony: “You see a lot of guys mentally check out when they aren’t themselves, when, you know, the realization is, oh my God, I’m actually washed… Joel’s clearly not there.” (18:57)

Coaching Points and Adjustments Suggested

• Strategy for Philly:
  Tony suggests deploying Kelly Oubre more, using increased switching to avoid pitting Embiid directly against Allen as a screener—reducing defensive vulnerability and maximizing Embiid as a helper rather than constant PnR target. (25:16–26:40)

• Sixers Defensive Breakdowns:
  Philly’s lack of adjustment to Cleveland’s drive-and-kick kept letting the Cavs hit open threes and eat in the paint.

  • Zena: “...the Mobley was throwing over the Sixers defense over and over, getting that pick, the high, low action with Jared Allen…” (21:40)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Cavs-Sixers Game Breakdown: 01:44 – 04:16, 11:28 – 29:50
• Jazz, Kings, and Nuggets Recaps: 02:16 – 09:13
• Guest Tony Jones Joins: 11:28
• Sixers’ Fatigue & Defensive Woes: 12:00 – 14:55
• Cavs’ Defensive Game Plan: 14:30 – 17:40
• Role Players & Tyrese Maxey Spotlight: 17:40 – 21:12, 27:15 – 28:43
• Coaching Strategies & Adjustments: 25:16 – 27:15

Tone & Style Highlights

• Casual and Candid: The hosts are frank, sometimes irreverent. Zena refers to low-impact performances as “a workout, not a basketball game.” Tony is analytical but relatable, self-deprecating (“I’m a Marriott guy!” at 25:14).
• Basketball Nerd Appeal: Heavy on X’s and O’s, but still accessible, using analogies like “paint touch, drive, kick” and referencing defending “point of attack.”
• Chemistry: Lively banter—especially as the hosts tease Tony as “Coach Jones” for his tactical thoughts.

Conclusion

This episode is a sharp, insightful breakdown of why the Sixers got blown out, why Cleveland finally looked like contenders, and what factors—from scheduling to defensive schemes—mattered most in the blowout. The discussions are peppered with notable stats, memorable one-liners, and “mini-clinics” in on-court tactics, making it highly engaging for both casual and hardcore NBA fans alike.

Notable Quotes

• “They really, I thought, put on a clinic…the way they were getting into the paint and scoring against the Sixers. This is more of what we expected…”
  – Dave DuFour (02:40)

• “They didn’t show up, they didn’t have any legs, they didn’t have any energy...They just didn’t have it tonight.”
  – Tony Jones (13:10)

• “Jamal Murray has stepped up in every game since Nikola Jokic has been gone.”
  – Zena Keda (07:56)

• “Paint touch, drive…Tyson in the corner three. Sam in the corner three. Or Donovan’s pulling up for three…”
  – Tony Jones (22:57)

For full tactical insight and behind-the-scenes commentary, listeners are pointed to Tony Jones’s recent feature on Joel Embiid at The Athletic.