Le Basketbawl

There were lots of expectations heaped on Elton Brand last year when he signed a five year contract with the Philadelphia 76ers last summer for a reported sum of $80 million. The former Los Angeles Clippers power forward was expected to make  Philadelphia an elite team in the Eastern Conference putting them right up there with Orlando, Cleveland and Boston.

Well as you are probably aware that never happened for Brand and the Sixers; just when he started to get a feel for the team’s offense the big man was injured. He had a surgical procedure on his shoulder ending his season early and has had problem with an achilles tendon. However Brand after rehabbing all summer is chomping at the bit to get the regular season going. Brand told the “Philadelphia Daily News” that “My leg and shoulder are good. I’m healthy. It’s still the preseason, and there’s still 2 weeks before the regular season to get the kinks out. But I feel good and I feel good about the team.”

The Sixers have a new coach in former Washington Wizards bench boss Eddie Jordan. The new Philadelphia head coach told reporters there are some things he is very pleased that Brand has been doing so far in the NBA preseason. Jordan said “I like that he’s aggressive. He’s putting the shoulder down, he’s really looking to be assertive in the paint area.”

However the veteran bench boss is not pleased with all aspects of his big man’s game right now. Jordan told reporters “I want him to execute a little better, as far as spacing for his teammates, his cutting for his teammates, not for himself. “I’m sure he’s trying to get himself going and trying to prove he’s worthy of everything that is put upon him, his leadership, his contract situation, the big signing from last summer. He’s trying to be assertive and see if he can get to that level where he’s been at all these years. I want him to be patient but aggressive.”

Brand realizes the importance of his role on this club. When asked by a reporter if he thought he could be the same force he was pre-surgery Brand replied “Absolutely. I don’t know about points-wise, but they definitely need me to be a dominant player.”

Brand realizes that the Sixers did not spend all the money they did  to acquire him so he could be a role player. Elton Brand must be a go-to player for Philadelphia if they expect the team to go far.