It's shame that Elton Brand isn't a jerk like Chris Webber or Derrick Coleman, as he joins the Sixers' pantheon of overprice and underperforming late-career power forwards, a long-running void that's one of a number of reasons that Philadelphia has been unable to take it to the next level in the NBA, outside of the charmed 2000-01 season. To that contrary, Brand is one of the classier individuals in the league, a team player who also gives back to the community. None of that is a reason to give the team's most highly paid and best-known star more minutes, not when it would be at the expense of the young up-and-comer Marresse Speights.
Last night, the second-year Speights almost single-handedly saved the Sixers from a defeat to the NBA's worst team right now:
Speights, a 6-10 power forward who can play center as the need arises, is gobbling large chunks of the significant, clutch-time minutes that figured to go to Brand. He scored 19 points, eight of which came in the final period, including the decisive three-point play when he rebounded a Thaddeus Young miss and scored on the putback with 1 minute, 10 seconds remaining.
The good news is that new coach Eddie Jordan gets it:
"He's just got great swag," Jordan said of Speights. "His confidence is soaring."
Speights wasn't about to disagree. He apparently enjoys being a go-to guy.
"I just want to go out there and play as hard as I can," said Speights, who added a team-high nine rebounds. "But if the ball comes to me, yeah, I'm going to try to score."
I'd love to see the 76ers admit the obvious and give Speights a shot as a starter, even if it meant Brand was now coming off the bench, the role he seems more suited for. It's a shame for Brand -- whose spirit is willing but body is depleted -- and it's a shame for Philadelphia sports fan, who watched the Sixers take their one chance in this entire decade to improve the team through free agency...and blow it, badly. Elton Brand isn't the Sixers' only problem -- there's a shooting guard without much of an outside shot, a center who plays 82 games but shows up for about 41, and a....Willie Green. Why is he still on this team? But of all the moves the 76ers could make, reducing Brand's role is both the easiest...and the hardest.
But it's time -- to rebrand the Philadelphia 76ers.
Speights should start but not instead of Brand but instead Dalembert. Now I am going to go out and try to post something everyone can agree upon - or at least anybody who ever watched Sixers pre-game or post-game live - is Donyell Marshall the worst commentator in sports history?— bird11
LOL Bunch pretending to be a Philadelphia sports fan. - Hank Sperka— SteveMG
Comment removed.- bUNCH IS RIGH Bunch is right on target here- for once. The Clippers must be happy.....— Manny Trillo
- Exactly why are we still hitting the 2 guard without a jumper thing? Iguodala is shooting almost 50% from the floor and has a higher percentage from three then Kobe. Give it a rest— rswknight
- I think Jordan is jumping the gun to fast on reducing Brand's minutes. He is producing when he does play he just hasn't really been given an opportunity this entire season.— CBent1
- Willie Green is not a great player but he is a good off the bench player who made 2 big baskets in 4Q vs Nets, turned deficit to tie...don't totally diss the man.— JBP
- It all comes down to stefanski...the "expert" signing Brand instead of Josh Smith (for less $$), holding onto Green and Dalembert (why not give Christmas a shot?), and not exploring the Euro market (Primo??). Trading Korver for what?? NOT trading Andre last season when it was obvious he wasn't coming back. ?????— Shragez
- Stefanski has made one bad decision after the next. Three more years of Brand??? I can hardly believe it. If I was Ed Snider, I would fire Stefanski tonight.— Vituperator
Will Bunch, a senior writer at the Philadelphia Daily News, blogs about his obsessions, including national and local politics and world affairs, the media, pop music, the Philadelphia Phillies, soccer and other sports, not necessarily in that order.
E-mail Will by clicking here.
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