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
Brand none too happy after Sixers loss
Bob Cooney
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.
The team sucks, Jordan's worse. Regardless of what happens in the remainder of this season, Jordan's reputation in Philly--among fans, among his players--is damaged goods. When the season is over, he needs to go away.— Hobbes- Coach Quirky or Elton Brand...who will Eddie S. support?— JBP
- QOACH QUIRKY STRIKES AGAIN!!!— voodooguru
- I don't blame Brand for feeling that way, he knows more about the game than his head coach. The Sixers with Eddie are good enough to miss the playoffs. With a good head coach, or even someone with basic basketball sense could get this team into the playoffs and farther. A complete waste of a talented roster, all thanks to a coach that shouldn't have been hired.— ricky
- I have had it with trying to watch this team. I was/have been a big fan of Ed Stefanski. If he isn't smart enough to recognize the total incompetence of Eddie Jordan - who was his hire - and fix it, the Stefanski should be fired tomorrow. You can hang at least 10 losses directly on the stupidity of Jordan this year. I would rather see you pull a fan out of the stands to do that job than watch another game. If you don't understand why the building is empty every night, it's because no actual basketball fan would subject themselves to watching the talent we have be so mismanaged.— pnellius
- there's a simple solution - have EJ and AI take the rest of the season off to take care of AI's sick daughter and designate EB as the player-coach— dunes7
- Vsta's recommendation of going with Jason Smith (not Josh) at the #4 makes lots of sense. He FINALLY got off the pine against the T'wolves and made a difference. Of course EJ didn't get it and wouldn't get him back in until Garbage Time was well under way.— tomvallar
- Eddie Jordan not only sucks as a coach - he is also a wierd looking dude with braces? How old is he? Come on man!— ChangeISNeeded
- Vsta7 - You're an idiot...Brand has been playing very well overall lately...You watchin the Nets by accident or something and mistaken him for someone else ???— Will.i.Am
- Why did they hire him in the first place? He never did anything in D.C. and that team has some talent. Or had anyway, he had Caron Butler who is very good, A Jamison who's pretty good, and Arenas,and still got canned.I agree both Ed's need to go NOW!!!! Or they will blow our next draft pick.— fla.eagle
- please fire Eddie Jordan. He's horrible and a cancer to this team! Everyone, let's start a petition to get him fired. We need a better coach.— Ellidyr
- please fire Eddie Jordan. He's horrible and a cancer to this team! Everyone, let's start a petition to get him fired. We need a better coach.— Ellidyr
- I wish it was that easy that signing a petition whould get him canned cause I'm all for it. Maybe 100,000 signees will wake Snider to take notice because he already has empty seats.— fla.eagle
- brand fine example of whay a fool and his money will buy, the coach of the 6ers A JOKE LOW BUDGET bring sd off the bench for d and rebs, pro ball for a bad team is playing the young.... team need a draft czar— 1maddad
- please fire eddie jordan. he MUST go if this team has a chance of making the playoffs. he's just a really really bad coach...probably THE worst in the league.— Ellidyr
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.
