It had been long enough that the sight of Elton Brand on the 76ers' practice floor took a few minutes of adjustment.

But there he was, testing that sore shoulder against Reggie Evans, which is like testing a sore foot by racing DeSean Jackson: Finding tougher competition would be difficult.

"We have Reggie Evans on our team, so of course I got hit," Brand said with a laugh after yesterday's practice at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.

For the first time since Dec. 17, when he dislocated his right shoulder in a game against the Milwaukee Bucks, Brand engaged in contact drills. He was limited to the half court. Brand said he would participate in both half- and full-court scrimmaging during today's practice.

"I was encouraged," said Sixers coach Tony DiLeo. "I didn't see him shy away at all."

DiLeo said the decision about Brand's return to the lineup would be made by the doctors, the Sixers' medical staff, and Brand himself.

Added DiLeo: "If there's no setback with the shoulder, it'll be when he feels comfortable. If our medical staff gives the OK and Elton feels good, he can play."

Brand said returning for tomorrow's home game against the Portland Trail Blazers "might be out." But, if today's full practice finishes without incident, and the shoulder feels strong, he should return to the lineup should very soon.

"You still think about it at first, boxing out Reggie. . . . I have to test the arm out a little bit," Brand said.

He admitted the shoulder was "not 100 percent," but said it was doing pretty well.

"The team is playing well, so that's a lift off my shoulders," Brand said.

Winning, as well as Brand's presence, brought a certain levity to yesterday's practice. The Sixers have won four straight, including Sunday afternoon's 109-94 road victory over the Atlanta Hawks. Their record is 17-20; they are now a half-game behind the Milwaukee Bucks for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, despite the early-season twists and turns.

But this stretch of improved play sparks questions about how Brand's return to the lineup might affect what has become an efficiently operating Sixers rotation: swingman Andre Iguodala is playing well at small forward, Thaddeus Young has filled in nicely at power forward, rookie Marreese Speights is producing in the frontcourt.

"Guys are just coming together, good morale, good chemistry," said DiLeo, who would not answer whether Brand's return to the lineup would also mean a return to the starting lineup.

Brand said this concerned him little. He said he had spoken with DiLeo.

"I'm about winning, 'Let's get this thing right,' " Brand said. "I'm going to do whatever I have to do. ... Mentally, I have no ego. If we're winning, I'm happy."