Will Elton Brand Ever Return to His Old Form

Elton Brand used to be a premier power forward in this league. From day one Brand had become one of the best power forwards as he shared the rookie of the year award with Steve Francis. Basically you could pencil in Brand for a 20-10 every night. Brand has been productive his whole career prior to joining the Philadelphia 76ers.

However things have changed, the injury bug has riddled Brand, and coming into this season Brand has played a combined 37 games in the last two seasons. Two years ago the 76ers went out on a limb and signed Brand as they were a team who had cap space and desperate to use their cap space they signed Brand looking for a low post presence to go with Andre Iguadala.

Even when Brand has been on the court he has not been close to the form he was once in prior to joining Philadelphia. Last season Brand averaged just under 14 points and just under 9 rebounds before going down with a season ending injury. However this season many Sixers fans are willing to give Brand a clean slate as he was supposed to be coming into this season healthy.

The team went to new uniforms and hired head coach Eddie Jordan, so there were reasons to be excited and Brand was one of those reasons. Fans were excited to see how Brand would fair in a new system. However brand has been ineffective in the Princeton offense.

Although Brand hasn’t played many minutes and Jordan has not let him finish games for the most part, Brand has averaged 9.5 points, 5.6 rebounds in 27 minutes. Now this could all be due to Brand getting used to playing in the NBA regularly again as he has played 37 games in 2 seasons. Kevin Garnett is going through a similar phase as he has only topped 20 points once this season in 9 games, although he had a 26 point game against the Phoenix Suns.

Or it could be due to Brand just not fitting in this Princeton offense as the power forward in the Princeton offense is expected to be able to pass and shoot an outside instead of a traditional power forward that plays inside and posts up. Brand is more of a traditional power forward who relies on his elbow jump shot and his post game to get most of his points.

Now am I saying Elton Brand is done, absolutely not. I still think he needs to get used to playing heavy minutes and get worked in, remember the most minutes he’s played in a game is 36 in an overtime game.

I do think Elton Brand can be a successful player in this league again and possibly an all star caliber power forward, I just don’t think it may be in Philly. Like I pointed out earlier, Elton Brand does not really fit the mold of a typical Princeton offense power forward. If you look back to Eddie Jordan’s days coaching the Wizards and the way Antwan Jamison was used, that was what a power forward in that system had to do, and we all know that Elton brand and Antwan Jamison are completely different players.

The only way I could see brand getting used to the Princeton offense if he returns to his old form is if the Sixers start play Elton brand at the 5 and start Mareese Speights at the power forward spot. Elton Brand is about 6-8 but in the Princeton offense he could be a successful 5 man, you look at how Al Horford is used by the Atlanta Hawks.

Starting Brand at the 5 would let Brand go back to playing the way he likes to play, and start Mareese Speights who is arguably the Sixers best current player. Speights has a solid offensive game as he can play inside down low and outside knocking down jump shots. This lineup would provide the Sixers with two front court players who can knock down a jump shot and rebound well. It’ll be interesting to see how the Elton Brand situation plays out as the Sixers are desperately hoping for something to show for after the big contract they gave Brand.