Thursday Roundup: Finding the Silver Lining in Wake of Elton Brand Injury

It would be interesting to know the inner reactions by Sixers' brass and players when they were informed this week that Elton Brand would be out for the rest of the season.

Team president Ed Stefanski could have felt a sharp pain in his backside around the area where his wallet resides; Brand played only 29 games in year one of his five-year $80 million deal. There's no telling how effective Brand will be when he comes back this season. That's an unknown with a huge price tag attached.

Coach Tony DiLeo is probably disappointed he didn't have more time to effectively mesh the differing skills of the halfcourt oriented Brand with his thoroughbred young core of Andre Miller, Andre Iguodala and company.

The players themselves? I'm sure they felt sympathy for their fallen comrade-in-arms, but as soon as they hit the floor Thursday night against the Indiana Pacers, they had to be feeling loose and carefree knowing one thing:

They can run again.

And run the Sixers did, plugging in promising youngster Thaddeus Young at the four-spot, immediately making Philly's starting five much more athletic and potent in the full-court game. Center Samuel Dalembert can rebound (he amassed 20 caroms Thursday night) and outlet to any of the other starting four on the floor (Miller, Iguodala, Young, or guard Willie Green).

The result was high-octane movement that resulted in transition baskets. The perimeter troika of Iguodala (20 points, 11 assists, and eight rebounds), Green (23 points), and Miller (13 points, 12 assists) benefited immediately, and Philadelphia outlasted the Pacers 99-94.

The loss of Brand does throw into sharp relief the lack of depth on the Sixers' bench. While the starters excelled, the bench combined for just 11 of the team's 99 points. Designated sixth man Lou Williams shot poorly (2-7 for five points), and no one else on the bench can be relied upon to give consistent offensive production.

Up to this point, Philadelphia suffered the same identity crisis that currently assails the Phoenix Suns. Both teams have legit big men who, when the offense is tailored to them, can put up big numbers against almost anyone.

The consequence for both teams was that their respective big men actually have a negative impact on their teammates' production due to the contrasting styles of play. If it weren't for Brand's injury, the Sixers might be as antsy for immediate improvement as the Suns are right now.

Luckily for Philadelphia, they've caught a lucky break (or tear, in the case of Brand's shoulder injury). They have from now until next season to figure out how to incorporate Brand in the team's overall scheme.

In the meantime, Philadelphia will look to run in an effort to catch up to their own lofty expectations.

Other Notes:

·         Indiana All-Star forward Danny Granger shot 5-8 on two-pointers and only 1-7 on threes. That's not encouraging for an invitee of the Three-Point Shootout on All-Star Weekend.

·         The Sixers' starting lineup all had plus-minus ratios of +14 or better. The bench players posted -12 or worse.

·         The reason the Lakers vs. Celtics game was so close? The Boston bench showed up. Well, Leon Powe and Eddie House showed up, but that's enough when the two of them combine for 26 of the bench's 30 points on 11-17 shooting. If Glen Davis or Tony Allen (2-11 combined for four points) have better showings for Boston, it's a different ball game.

·         Did Laker legend and league logo Jerry West watch the game? Did his chest swell with pride every time Pau Gasol scored or rebounded his way to a 24-point, 14-rebound night? Did he say to his friends, "Yeah, I'm the reason the Lakers are whoopin' on Boston. I gave them Pau and now they're knocking on the champs' door."

·         Where was Kevin Garnett during the most important game of the regular season? He took only 12 shots and two free throws on his way to 16 points. Throw in the four turnovers and six fouls, and it's safe to say he had a sub-par showing. Does he deserve the benefit of the doubt after playing fresh off getting over the flu?

·         Speaking of no-shows, Dirk Nowitzki was AWOL in the Mavs' 115-87 loss to the Jazz Thursday night. 14 points on 6-20 shooting will NOT get it done against a Utah team fighting for their playoff lives.

·         While there's concern whether Philadelphia can handle the loss of their All-Star forward, there shouldn't be any of the same in Utah. Paul Millsap (14 points, 10 rebounds) is the dream-case scenario for the Jazz in the wake of another injury-racked season for Carlos Boozer. If I'm running things in Salt Lake, I'm trading Boozer to a contender now so I can get something back for him before he hits free agency this summer.