Posted: Wednesday, January 21, 2009, 9:08 PM | 3 comments |
 

Brand to come off the bench
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It seems as if Saturday is, finally, the day for Elton Brand's return. I only say "finally" because it seems Brand has been a game-time decision for a while now. Okay, actually, he has been a game-time decision for a while: For the last three games.

The 76ers have kept him sidelined an extra week or thereabouts to allow that dislocated right shoulder to receive the "optimal" recovery time, which is around 6 weeks.

Today, the Sixers held an "optional" practice at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. Brand participated. Tomorrow, the Sixers will return to regular practice, where Brand is expected to scrimmage full-court, 5-on-5 for the first time since his injury on Dec. 17 against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Brand has been practicing since early last week. Today, though, Sixers coach Tony DiLeo said tomorrow would be the first time Brand would be full-court, 5-on-5. Interesting. We know he's been playing 1-on-1, 2-on-2, 3-on-3, and 5-on-5 ... half-court. I was surprised to find out this would be his first time scrimmaging full-court. They have definitely been protecting that shoulder and making sure it's fully healed.

About Saturday, which is against the New York Knicks at the Wachovia Center, DiLeo said he was "planning" on having Brand. He also said Brand would come off the bench in "short stints" of four, five, maybe six minutes. Brand said he understood this role coming off the bench. He said he understands that run-and-gun has led to this turnaround (from 13-20 to 20-21). He said he's all about winning.

In case we've forgotten -- it has been a while -- Brand was leading the team in scoring at the time of his injury; he was averaging 15.9 points and 9.8 rebounds a game.

--Kate

p.s. A funny quote from Lou Williams today about yesterday's happenings in Washington: “It was kind of interesting to me because growing up it was kind of a joke to African-American people to have a black president. But then out of nowhere it’s like all of a sudden we have one. It was surreal to watch, just to look at the moment. The reaction from my peers, my best friends, people I grew up with was, ‘Is this really happening?”

Later Williams said, “I think the joke was Bill Clinton was the closest we were ever going to get to having a black president.”
 
Yes, we've heard this Clinton joke before. But does it get old? I think not.
Posted by Kate Fagan @ 9:08 PM  Permalink | 3 comments
3
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:24 AM, 01/22/2009
    This will be a new start for EB. Tony has reinforced that this team's identity is defense, rebound then run. Everyone on the team now knows that and the winning has reinforced that strategy. Brand will be fitting in to the team versus the team adjusting to Brand. That is how it should have been, and now will be. EB will be great!
    — JBP
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:46 PM, 01/22/2009
    slow and steady will get it done for EB...just needs to fit into the phlow and get his wind back.
    — osuphan
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:19 PM, 01/22/2009
    Good idea to have him come off the bench and to get his wind back...but I don't know how that allows him to start to blend in. Thad has been playing a good part of the 1st. Lou is an early sub for Green. So if DiLeo sticks to his regular rotation from the past weeks, when Brand does comes in for Thad, he will likely be running initially with Lou, Sammie (or Ratliff/Reggie/Marresse if in foul trouble), and both of the Andres. But DiLeo has been pulling one of the Andres at a time to get early rest for the 2nd, so then Ivey's in and maybe Thad pops back out, all while Brand is still on the floor. My point is this: Brand is a STARTER and until he plays consistent minutes with ALL of the Starters on the floor, we can't really gauge if he is truly going to blend in and flow with the high octane game (and I think he will blend in nicely once he gets his wind back).
    — Fo Fo Fo


3 comments
About John Mitchell
John Mitchell is in his first year covering the 76ers for the Inquirer after joining the paper in November 2011. He covered the Washington Wizards for the Washington Times from 1998 to 2008. He's also worked at the Philadelphia Tribune, the Wilmington News Journal, Courier-Post, Trenton Times and Elmira Star-Gazette.

Born and raised in West Philadelphia - not too far from Will Smith - he graduated from Overbrook High School the same year the 76ers won their last championship. He's a proud graduate of Howard University and the proud father of two sons, Jared and Jordan.

ABOUT MARC NARDUCCI

Marc Narducci has served in a variety of roles with the Inquirer since beginning in 1983. He has covered the 76ers as a backup and a beat writer. In addition, Narducci has covered everything from the Super Bowl to the World Series and a lot in between. Narducci also has a true passion for South Jersey scholastic sports, which he has covered for many years.

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