Another View Of Brand
Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan and power forward Carlos Boozer weigh in on the struggles of the 76ers' Elton Brand.
Another View Of Brand
Eddie Jordan, in his first season as the coach of the 76ers, views Elton Brand as ''one of 13'' on the roster. Reporters, observers and various scouts view Brand as something much more than that. He was signed two summers ago as the most heralded unrestricted free agtent in the NBA. He is working on a five-year contract worth $79.8 million. And he is struggling mightily. He hasn't played in five of the last six fourth quarters. He sat out the final 16 minutes of Friday night's 112-90 loss to the short-handed (9 men available) Utah Jazz. Who knows how much, or how well, he might play tonight in Chicago, the city in which his pro career began?
We know what we see. He came out aggressively against the Jazz, taking his first touch hard to the glass, only to have it stripped by Carlos Boozer, one of the several former Duke stars Brand sees as he goes around the league. But for all of Brand's aggressiveness, all he got for his night's work was 11 points and 3 rebounds in 24:08. He knows the team needs more, particulary on a night when the opponents, using an all-rookie backcourt of Eric Maynor and Wes Matthews, go up by as many as 26 points. How to do it is another matter.
Is it simply a matter of regaining his legs and rhythm as he comes back from a ruptured achilles tendon and a dislocated shoulder? Or just a matter of learning to play in Jordan'sd supposedly equal opportunity systerm that includes a lot of fast breaking and the use of a pass-and-cut, read-and-react Princeton system? And how much of it is psychological, between the ears?
''I've never been through an achilles injury; I don't want to put it on the injury,'' Boozer said. ''He's the guy I looked up to my whole career; he'll you that. He's helped me a lot in my career. He's got the body of a power forward and the quickness of a 3-man (small) forward) when he was with the (Los Angeles) Clippers. The achilles injury hurt him a little bit, but he's also trying to get used to a new system.
''In my mind, EB's a 20/10 (points and rebounds) I'm used to seeing. He's taught me how to do a couple different things being an undersized power forward. He helped me a lot, especially early in my acreer. I love him to death. He's a hard worker. They (ought to) give him some more minutes, some more touches, in my opinion. Nothing against the coach, though, but Elton, to me, is a great talent. They don't go to him a lot; they go to Thaddeus (Young) and Iggy (Andre Iguodala) a lot, and deservedly so. In my opinion, he's one of the best power forwards in the game. He juswt needs to get a little more opportunity.
''When he was with the (Los Angeles) Clippers, he was their offense, except for the year they went to the playoffs when they also had Sammy (Sam Cassell). For the most part, they went to him 5 out of every 7 possessions. But the system now is a little different. He told me it's hard to get going when everything is perimeter oriented. With the Clippers, it was inside/out; here, it's outside/in; when the perimeter players get going, then it goes inside.
''Don't get me wrong, I mean he has to step up to the plate and do his job, but at the same time they have to use him in a different way. Also, here in Philly, there are some tough critics. He's going to hear it every time, so he's going to try and do more and more. Nothing against what they're doing over there, but if I had Elton on my team as a coach, I'm going to feed him til he tells me he can't take any more. He's a star trying to fit in instead of standing out.''
Jerry Sloan, who was regarded as one of the toughest players of his era and has coached the Jazz the same way since 1988-89, said ''When guys get injured, they lose a little confidence. The organization has to fight to try and get him back; they know what he can do. Thast's what I'd try and do.''
''An injury can make it a job, I don't care who you are,'' Sloan added. ''Some guys handle pain better than others, but it doesn't get any easier. As a coach, all I can do is support (a player coming back from an injury). I can't run for him. I can't fight through for him.''
*****
Yo, Lebron:
Lebron James wants to switch from his No. 23 with the Cleveland Cavaliers to No. 6 because he thinks Michael Jordan's number should be retired. Nice sentiment, but faulty.Really, really faulty.
Last time I checked, No. 6 means Bill Russell in Boston and Julius Erving in Philadelphia. They're among the guys who helped create the NBA in which James has become a superstar.
I'm hoping league authorities don't cave in to this. They shouldn't/
I'm an older guy, so I go along with Mr. Jasner on this #6 deal. But I applaud the sentiment from LaBron regarding WHY he wants the change. He just needs to increase the scope of his perspective to encompass what Mr. Jasner has to say. LaBron is a very, very special person folks, articulate, extremely personable, supremely confident, VERY funny, and has an eye for the history of the game.— TBear- I honestly feel this is the worst handling of a superstar athlete that I have ever witnessed. EB may have followed the money train into Philly but this is a player who was hearing MVP rumours until his injury 2 years ago. This is a 20-shot-a-game-carry-a-team-on-his-back beast. He should be logging 30-35 minutes a game every night until he rounds into form and then he'll give you 40 minutes. After spending the amount of money needed to bring him to Philly, the coaches should be developing an offense around him. The 1-2 puch of Iggy and EB is there. You wouldn't take the ball out of LeBron's hands or Kobe's hands like this. EB is an elite player in this league who needs to regain his legs and confidence and the only way he'll be able to do that is logging some heavier minutes, playing in crucial times and realizing that he is the go-to guy they brought him here to be. Once he throws up a few great stat nights there will be no turning back for this guy. He is a character individual. I'll bet what has taken place the last 2 years is killing him more than his fans, moneyor no money, Elton is a baller. He is Big Time and Coach Jordan is kicking him in the marbles with the lack of touches and minutes. Referring to him as just 1 of 13 guys on a team may sound noble and comradic but it is a bogus statement meant to support his decision to mismanage how he uses one of the two most talented players on his team.— silvd23
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- Spell check Phil?— mtt122
- At this stage, Sixers need answers. Give Brand 20 games of 35+ minutes and 15+ shots a game. Then judge him. If he returns to 20/10 form, great, ride him like a horse. If he underwhelms, sit him and try to get a slightly less onerous contract back for him at the trade deadline.— JBP
- Why did Stefanski hire Jordan if he wasn't going to protect/develop his huge investment in Brand? That should have been number one on the coaching criteria.— jeffrey215
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- i watched him at duke,hhe showed alot of tools,at the small forward.didn't see much after college,and even less when he was inLA.personally, i think he was following the dough.can u blame him?..stiffanski,played with monopoly cash and now,should be on baltic ave.if the 6ers entertain the notion and use him more,and he produces,well that might justify some things,short term.but last time i checked, theres 11 other guys who needs to step up as well.and the princeton offense,should have stayed in jersey.or ,u got the wrong guys jackin up 3's outta it.— t_darb_56
- Eddie must go.... Keep Brand— starbird
- elton brand was the worst possible pick up for a team that likes to out on the break...couldve and shouldve signed josh smith who would of been a perfect fit for a run n gun team like the sixer— lpany13
- Sentiment? Why do I see it as just another way for LeBron, like Kobe before him, to sell more of his jerseys? Different number means everyone that has a 23 Lebron can now run out and buy a 6. It's pretty simple economics/greed.— phillyabe
- the blame has to go squarely on management in the case of Brand. they knew they were getting a banger-type player but yet they run an open court, run-n-gun system. now they go out and hire Jordan and he brings this b.s. "Princeton" offense with him. none of this plays to Brand's strengths. now is he overpaid and overrated ? oh yeah but who in the NBA isn't ! i feel he's still a solid player who needs to contribute asap for the 76ers to make any noise. Eddie J better get it together quick.— GSEaglesFan
- yes, jordan is probably the best player in NBA history but retiring a jersey league wide should be, and to this point is, reserved for players that directly change the way the game is played or viewed, ala Jackie Robinson. Michael Jordan is a great player, but he did not transcend the way basketball is played, and without Jackie Robinson who knows if Michael would have ever had the opportunity to be His Airness. Thanks, but no thanks Lebron.— drciccotti
Bob Cooney has been at the Daily News for more than 20 years, working in the sports department for the past 15. This is his third season on the Sixers beat. He has covered just about everything, but mostly college basketball, where he was the La Salle beat writer for six seasons. E-mail Bob at cooneyb@phillynews.com and follow him on Twitter.
