Elton Brand Totally Gets Where AI Is Coming From

Yesterday, both Brand and Sixers coach Eddie Jordan spoke about Brand’s status. And although they stood on the same practice floor, their viewpoints seemed miles apart.

“No, I don’t accept it. . . .,” Brand said of not starting. “I don’t think I’ve done anything to merit a bench spot.”

For the season, Brand is averaging 12.2 points and 6.6 rebounds in 29.1 minutes a game. In the last game the Sixers won, at home against the Bobcats on Nov. 18, Brand scored 19 points and had 11 rebounds. In the week leading up to that game, Jordan made it publicly known he was considering taking Brand out of the starting lineup.

Since returning from the hamstring injury, Brand is averaging 16.0 points and 7.5 rebounds coming off the bench. He has made 12 of 23 field-goal attempts.

Yesterday, Jordan was asked whether Brand would continue to come off the bench and whether he liked Brand off the bench.

“Yes to both questions,” the coach said. “I try to get him his minutes anyway, and I want him in crucial parts of the game.”

That’s not the way Brand sees it.

“We’re not winning either way, so I’d rather be out there and give us the best chance,” he said.

via Brand not satisfied coming off the bench

Elton Brand is averaging 29 minutes per game, fourth most on the Sixers. In Per 40 minutes numbers, he is sixth in FG%, fourth in offensive rebounds, fourth in defensive rebounds, fourth in total rebounds, 10th in assists, fourth in steals, fourth in turnovers, fourth in blocks, and fifth in points. In Advanced numbers, he’s fifth in usage, 3rd in Turnover ratio, and fourth in PER.It’s a really mixed bag. The big problem is that almost all of the other frontcourt guys for the sixers are above him on rebounding, both hard numbers and rates per 100 possessions.

If we look at the five-man lineups via 82games.com, of the four positive plus/minus lineups, Brand’s in two of them, so is Speights, so is Dalembert. Young’s at PF in two of them, SF at the other. So again we’ve got confusing information from an empirical perspective.

From what I’ve seen, there’s no reason for Brand NOT to be starting. But that’s solely because Speights is out. Speights had not only earned his spot, but emphatically so. Even if you want to play Speights at his natural 5, the numbers suggest Young’s a better option at the four, even if his natural talents and his personal preference dictate otherwise. Of course, if you move him down, you have to move Iguodala to the three, which means you have no two guard…

Unless…

(You know where I’m going, right? Right?)

ANSWER!

See, Brand you have trouble benching. Iverson you CAN’T bench. I mean, you’re just asking for trouble. Don’t do it. Don’t make us go through it again. Let him hold you hostage. Just start the man so we don’t have to deal with it.

Lou/Jrue-Iverson-Iguodala-Young-Speights. Young, incomplete, but strangely, may be more effective. Sometimes the things that don’t make sense end up making more sense. Or something. Either way, like Brand says, they’re not winning, so they should do what gives them the best chance.

In closing, I miss Marreese Speights.