Brand set for Thursday debut
It won’t feel like opening night, but for Clippers forward Elton Brand it will be a new beginning.
Out all season while rehabilitating from a ruptured left Achilles’ tendon suffered in August, Brand is set to play his first game Thursday, when the Los Angeles Clippers
Brand went through his last practice Tuesday in preparation for his season debut. He is expected to watch from the bench again Wednesday, when the Clippers play the Sonics in Seattle.
"I’m ready to roll," Brand said. "Today was more game-like than anything I’ve been through so far."
The Clippers’ five-on-five scrimmage included Elton Brand getting double-teamed in the post when he received the ball, which has been typical throughout his career of the way opposing teams have defended against him.
"I had to pass out of the double team and split the double team, so that I’ll know what to expect when it comes time to play," Brand said.
Brand’s Achilles’ tendon has been healed for some time, but it has been a slow process for him to get in game shape. Asked how his stamina would be, Brand hesitated before saying, "It’s alright."
Los Angeles Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy is not expecting Brand to automatically resemble the player who has averaged 20.3 points and 10.2 rebounds in his previous eight seasons.
"He’ll be rusty," Dunleavy said. "It’s going to take him awhile to get his timing and quickness back."
Brand had averaged 76 games per year in his previous eight seasons. He will play no more than seven this year.
But for Brand, the most important thing is that he is back.
"No more freebies on this trip," he said. "It’s time to earn the per diem."
Banged up and out
The Clippers are likely to be without starting center Chris Kaman for the remainder of the season. Kaman was diagnosed with a moderately sprained right ankle, which he suffered in Monday night’s loss to Dallas.
After grabbing a defensive rebound, Kaman rolled his ankle after being fouled by Mavericks forward Devean George. Chris Kaman got up and limped down the court to shoot his free throws. Kaman was injured with 39.6 seconds left in the first quarter.
"I didn’t want to lie on the court like a baby," he said. "But I knew I wasn’t going to be able to finish the game."
It is the latest malady that has come upon Kaman, who was the only Clipper to play in the first 39 games. Since then, however, he has missed 18 of the past 35 games.
Forward Tim Thomas is expected to miss his third consecutive game because of inflammation in both of his Achilles’ tendons. Guard Cuttino Mobley likely will miss Wednesday's game because of a jammed left heel and sore left calf.
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