Brand none too happy after Sixers loss
Elton Brand made pulled no punches in discussing his disgust over not starting in second half in loss to Toronto
The Sixers had given up 40 points in the paint of the 50 the Toronto Raptors scored last night in a 104-103 win. So to start the second half, coach Eddie Jordan pulled forward Elton Brand out of the starting lineup and instead inserted guard Royal Ivey.
To his credit, Jordan said after the game that "I went with a small lineup and it sort of backfired. It happens."
Brand doesn't think it should have happened in the first place.
"I don't call the shots," Brand said at his locker. "I just go out there and play the best I can. I didn't think it was my fault, but I'm easy to get pulled it seems. We weren't down enough (50-41 at the half) to switch what we've been doing in a five-game win streak. That's what we did and we paid for it."
When further questioned as to why the move might have been made, Brand said: "Maybe they're getting prepared for something else."
It is the latest saga in what has been a tedious relationship between Brand and Jordan throughout the season, one that seemed to smooth out after Brand was reinserted into the starting lineup 11 games ago. During that span, the team has gone 7-4.
Stay tuned.