Elton Brand doesn't like most preseasons, usually dreads them. But, last night's 76ers' 91-83 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers notwithstanding, not this one.
"This year, I like it,"
said Brand, who signed with the Sixers as a free agent after seven seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers. "This year, we have a chance to work on camaraderie, on cohesiveness, to learn about each other."
With one exhibition remaining tonight against the New Jersey Nets in East Rutherford, they've basically learned that they have much more to work on. It hasn't been easy, going the last two games without starting center Samuel Dalembert, who will also sit out tonight's game with soreness in both knees and the lingering effects of the flu.
Brand was back last night after missing a game and several practices because of the birth of his son, Elton Peace. He had 12 points, 13 rebounds, four turnovers and two blocks in 34:16. Andre Iguodala was the high scorer with 19 points, while Andre Miller added 12 points and 10 assists.
"We don't want to get anybody hurt [tonight], but we want to end the preseason on a positive note,"
Brand said. "We can do that by playing hard. When you're lackadaisical, that's when bad things happen. We have a week after that [before the Oct. 29 start of the regular season against the Toronto Raptors]. When it's real, we're going to step it up."
Coach Maurice Cheeks will use the coming week to finalize his substitution rotation, if he hasn't already.
"We do have a lot of guys, but as [former Sixers coach] Billy Cunningham told me a long time ago, the guys who will be playing will separate themselves,"
Cheeks said. "Tonight, tomorrow, a week of practice, they will be separated."
In last night's game, the Sixers held advantages of scoring in the paint (42-32), second chances (17-6) and fastbreak points (25-10), but shot just 35.9 percent from the floor. The team that finished last in three-point shooting last season, was 0-for-8 from beyond the arc. *
