Sixers could use a brand new Elton over the next two games
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Sixers could use a brand new Elton over the next two games
John Mitchell, Inquirer Staff Writer
Today’s game with the Celtics is gigantic for the Sixers in terms of taking total control of this series against a battered, bruised and frayed Boston team.
Sixers fans shouldn’t buy into the hype that the rest of the nation is about this series – the Sixers can definitely win it and move on to the Eastern Conference finals against, dare we say, uh, Indiana.
Despite the close nature of the last two games in Boston, it’s evident that the Sixers basically lost Game 1 more than the Celtics won it. In short, they should be playing with a commanding 2-0 lead.
Know what needs to happen today in Game 3 and again in Game 4? Elton Brand needs to stand and deliver.
Brand is the guy that Philly fans are always talking about amnestying this summer. Well, guess what. The Sixers might very well do that (especially if they can acquire a power forward like, say, Kris Humphries in free agency), but right now, on this the 16th day of May with the hated Celtics set to invade Wells Fargo Center, that’s an irrelevant conversation.
If Brand shows up in the next few games, everything becomes easier for every Sixer out there at the offensive end. For starters, it gives the Celtics a new wrinkle to concern themselves with, especially since by now they figure that rookie Lavoy Allen poses a bigger threat than the former number one pick in the 1999 draft.
I think that Brand will be playing with extra-added incentive tonight. He’s a prideful guy who has averaged 18.3 points and 9.4 rebounds. However, through two games against the Celtics he’s averaging just 5.5 points and 2.5 boards.
If Brand can get it rolling tonight, the Sixers will be that much closer to reaching the Eastern Conference finals, where, I think, they’d face the Indiana Pacers.
That’s right, the Pacers. After watching LeBron James brutalize the rim with those three late free throws, I’m officially off the three-time MVP’s bandwagon. He’s got to win me back. He seems to have that Donovan McNabb gene. You know, the one that says when the pressure is on let me throw this ball either in the dirt or at someone standing on the sidelines.
The biggest difference between LeBron and McNabb is that McNabb had great talent, not elite. LeBron is otherworldly and still can’t get it done. Shame.
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Contact staff writer John N. Mitchell at jmitchell@philly.com. Follow him on Twitter @JmitchInquirer
Brand needs to focus on rebounding and strong post defense and guard the rim. He's the closest thing to an enforcer that we have. Yes I wan him to knock down tat elbow jump shot but any offensive production from him is just gravy as faras I'm concerned— tudobem- He's hurt and old, and KG is eating him for lunch. Unless he stumbles upon some magic beans for dinner, I'm hoping for big-time minutes from Lavoy who deserves to be out there
- It's delusional to think LeBron isn't the best player in the NBA. However, there is a certain weirdness to his fourth-quarter deflations. The only reason Indiana has a chance is because Bosh went down; yes, Miami is left with two stellar players and a faceless bunch of Joe Schmoes, but they still move past Indiana. There's no question.— Krilt
- BRAND IS A GHOST,STEALING MONEY WORSE THAN SCOTT WILLIAMS,MATT GEIGER OR CHRIS WEBBER EVER DID. HE SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF HIS EFFORTS AS HE IS CONTENT TO LET THE YOUNG GUNS PICK UP HIS SLACK.ITS ABOUT TIME HE GOT THEIR BACK.— jzjazzy
- My allegiance to Brand was a result of both of us attending Duke at the same time. I was in a graduate program while he was studying for his undergraduate degree. With all this being said, the 76ers are not getting their money worth from Elton Brand. He is a good person and a good player, but he is not worth the 17 million a year that he is receiving. It's time to get rid of him if this is possible.— rev
John Mitchell is in his second 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.
