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As the 76ers prepared yesterday for tonight's contest against the visiting Portland Trail Blazers, power forward Elton Brand took part in the majority of practice as he gets closer to returning from a dislocated shoulder.
On Monday, Brand participated only in half-court sessions in what was his first practice since suffering the injury Dec. 17. At the outset of his rehab period, Brand was told his return could take four to six weeks. He said he would undergo what he hopes will be a final MRI exam in a week or so.
"No new pain," Brand said after the workout yesterday at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. "That's the main thing."
While he will not suit up tonight, Brand is hoping to get back on the court for Friday's home game against the San Antonio Spurs, or when the Sixers visit the New York Knicks on Saturday.
"Maybe both, or maybe the second one," said Brand. "It's going to be gradual. We'll leave it up to the training staff and the doctor. We're going to meet again."
"Elton looked fine today," Sixers coach Tony DiLeo said. "His condition, I think, is good. I think he's trying to get his timing and rhythm back, but overall he was good. I thought he was the same as he was [on Monday], so that's a good sign. Whenever the time is our medical staff thinks he's ready to go, then we'll put him out there."
With a four-game winning streak of their own, the Sixers (17-20) will take on a Portland squad (23-14) that came out on top in its last three outings. The Trail Blazers took a 109-95 victory at Chicago on Monday that followed wins at home over Detroit, 84-83, and Golden State, 113-100.
While the Sixers like to get up and down the court in transition, Portland prefers more of a half-court game, with 7-0 Greg Oden and 6-11 LaMarcus Aldridge roaming the paint.
Oden, the top pick in the '07 NBA draft who sat out his rookie season with a knee injury, has modest averages of 8.3 points and 7.2 rebounds. But he is coming along very well in his quest to become the dominating center he was projected to be.
Aldridge's 17.3 points per game are second to the 22.5 being provided by guard Brandon Roy, who is also tops on the team with 5.2 assists. The Trail Blazers have the steady hand of Steve Blake (11.8 points, 4.8 assists) in the backcourt as well.
"I like playing against good teams," DiLeo said. "They're playing well. They have a lot of good young players, and a lot of depth. They are a team I like to watch. We can make statements in these games. We're going to try to build on what we've done the last four games."
Notes. Forward Donyell Marshall sat out practice yesterday with a case of synovitis, better known as water on the knee. He is day to day.
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