Hallejuiah!!! I hope that article up top is true about Brand

[Chocolate or Thunder?]

IMO, I do think he is undersized. 6'8" is about as tall as Thad is or a Tracy McGrady. Whatever. I don't deny that size does not appear to be an issue for him. But when competition gets tight, per say, the playoffs, that's when a disadvantage like this will show up.

I just don't think we become contenders with an Elton Brand. If anything, we'll be a big tease that can never get over the hump. Just look at Chicago. Chicago was a big tease with Ben Wallace last year but fizzled out this year. Ben Wallace was OK in Detroit. Why? B/c he had Rasheed and Prince and other good pieces around him. His shortcomings, no pun intended, showed up in Chicago, one of which was his size.

[Sixerscan]

IMO, I do think he is undersized. 6'8" is about as tall as Thad is or a Tracy McGrady.

You don't play basketball with the top of your head.

If he has a wingspan longer than almost all 6'10"/6'11" guys in the league it really doesn't matter if he's 6'8"

[corwin]

I know some of you will disagree with my point of view. But I am really not interested in an undersized PF such as Brand. So, if he is not expected to opt out then I say yeah to that. Call not so insightful, call it ignorance but I really was not interested in him coming here, especially with him being injured. That is too much risk and not enough pay off.

I would be OK with the pre-injury Brand but I think there are real questions about his ability to return to that level. Couldn't find the discussion but I read a discussion about the impact of his ruptured left Achilles a while ago. The gist of the argument was that because he pounds to establish/push off from his position as an inside player, that the injury will effect his game significantly n the future. Don't know if that is true but I'd want to see him healthy before taking a chance.

[wow444]

It appears that he is back....Update

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3326622

[Sixercise]

You don't play basketball with the top of your head.

If he has a wingspan longer than almost all 6'10"/6'11" guys in the league it really doesn't matter if he's 6'8"

Or barely 6'6" (Sir Charles)


It's amazing how some people forget how big that guy played for us. I don't see why Brand can't bring a similar dimension to this team.

[Sixersftw]

i don't understand why we are discussing elton brand's size. This is like we are talking about a draft pick or something. this guy has been beasting for years with no problem.

[ExplosionsInDaSky]

I agree. In fact Brand is the closest thing to Barkley i've seen since Barkley retired. I think he'd be a great fit here and I hope we nab him.

[Chocolate or Thunder?]

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Or barely 6'6" (Sir Charles)

It's amazing how some people forget how big that guy played for us. I don't see why Brand can't bring a similar dimension to this team.

There's only one Charles Barkley. But even taking that argument remember how Chicago ate us up in the playoffs with Chuck? Remember how Mike chewed up Hawkins? One of the biggest problems in that series was our size. Hersey was 6'3". Charles had his hands full with Scottie. We were simply overmatched.

I remember that and remember how size and athleticism does make a differenct. Guys like Barkley and Moses were exceptions to the rule but generally it does have an effect as your wear down.

[Sixercise]

But even taking that argument remember how Chicago ate us up in the playoffs with Chuck? Remember how Mike chewed up Hawkins? One of the biggest problems in that series was our size. Hersey was 6'3". Charles had his hands full with Scottie. We were simply overmatched.

Not relevant to the topic. Not to mention that the Sixers during that era didn't have a good bench like Chicago did.

I remember that and remember how size and athleticism does make a differenct. Guys like Barkley and Moses were exceptions to the rule but generally it does have an effect as your wear down.

Still not relevant. Have you even seen how Brand uses his length (7'5" wingspan) size (255 lbs) and relative quickness to beast the guys around? Even Corliss Williamson at only 6'7" found ways to score; how impressive is it that he got a Sixth Man award on the 04' Pistons squad?

Look, what better guy is available out there? To me and most ppl on this board, Brand's a no-brainer.

[Tommy Udo 6]

Brand is looking for a career in movies. He has already produced one & is looking for more.

The chances of him leaving LA is extremely small - and a team would have to offer him the max.

I dont think Brand would be upset at staying with the Clips. Some players have other priorities than championships

[ExplosionsInDaSky]

Brand making movies has nothing to do with his basketball life and I think he would gladly go someplace where he has a chance to win.

[is1531]

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There's only one Charles Barkley. But even taking that argument remember how Chicago ate us up in the playoffs with Chuck? Remember how Mike chewed up Hawkins? One of the biggest problems in that series was our size. Hersey was 6'3". Charles had his hands full with Scottie. We were simply overmatched.

I remember that and remember how size and athleticism does make a differenct. Guys like Barkley and Moses were exceptions to the rule but generally it does have an effect as your wear down.

We blew game in the 1989-1990 season Chicago, with Stacey King filling in for Pippen, who was attending a funeral. King lit up Mahorn for 27 points. That was the game of doom for the 76ers in the series. The 76ers blew a 16 point lead in the 2nd quarter in game three.

The 76ers had a 6 point lead at the half in game 5, but the 2nd half was all Chicago. Your right, size was a major problem with Hawkins facing Jordan. Dawkins tossing up 23 foot missed jumpers were going for dunks on the other end. It turned out that the 76ers were a mismatch for Chicago, as we would find out the following year.

We brought in Armon Gilliam and got rid of Giminski, but we still lost in 5. We won one game with a Hersey Hawkins long baseline jumper at the buzzer in game 3. It was like deja vu.For that reason I would love to get Elton Brand and Jason Thompson. If Thompson is anywhere as good as Hot Rod Williams, the 76ers would become a very tall team and a talented team. Thompson has a lot of talent.

Until the76ers get bigger, I will never take them as a serious contender. If we play the Magic and line up a 6ft 6 player up against Turkoglu, your giving Hido a perfect view of the lane to through a pass, let alone tossing up trays or driving to the hoop. I do not want to play Orlando until this team becomes bigger.

[mmh119]

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There's only one Charles Barkley. But even taking that argument remember how Chicago ate us up in the playoffs with Chuck? Remember how Mike chewed up Hawkins? One of the biggest problems in that series was our size. Hersey was 6'3". Charles had his hands full with Scottie. We were simply overmatched.

I remember that and remember how size and athleticism does make a differenct. Guys like Barkley and Moses were exceptions to the rule but generally it does have an effect as your wear down.

Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen chewed everyone up they were a better team with better players how you can watch that series and somehow relate it to Elton Brand I have no idea.

[Chocolate or Thunder?]

OK. There seems to be some disagreement about how size matters. Maybe the Barkley back in the day example is not good enough for my argument. But, look at last night's game between Memphis and UCLA. Look at how D. Rose wore out Collison. Listen to how the commentators reflect on his size and how it wore out the UCLA backcourt. This is a small example but it speaks to how size does matter.

I'll repeat. It does not mean the Sixers would not be a good team with Brand just not a championship team. They will be a big tease that will have to work their butts off just to get to the Finals.

[freshie2]

Isn't Brand 6'8" or 6'9"? He's not a 7'er, but he's more a physical PF than a long PF...both can work.

Biggest concern should be the injury. He's produced throughout his career, and would be a very nice fit here. Think about a player of his quality getting some of the passess that bounce off Reggie or Sam's hands?? Plus, he probably gives the big men a leader and someone from which they can learn more tricks of the trade.

I don't think he ends up here, but I will not be disappointed if he does...and is healthy. The value of his acquisition in the offseason would be tough to gauge for a few seasons until you could see how his achilles (and body in general) held up.

[Sixersftw]

look at last night's game between Memphis and UCLA. Look at how D. Rose wore out Collison. Listen to how the commentators reflect on his size and how it wore out the UCLA backcourt. This is a small example but it speaks to how size does matter.

this is also a bad example. your talking about height. d.rose didn't wear anyone out with his height. they were talking about size as in mass. Collison is rail thin, wear as D. Rose is built like a tank.

you just don't play basketball w/ the top of your head. his wingspan is massive and he's been in that teir of pf's right behind kg and duncan (i'll sneak amare in for now too) for years.

[dbodner]

But, look at last night's game between Memphis and UCLA. Look at how D. Rose wore out Collison

1) size. not just height
2) D Rose is the better prospect.
3) Collision doesn't have 8 years of NBA as a track record to benchmark his performance.

Brand's 6'8", with great strength, and very long arms. This shouldn't be a discussion.

[The Guilty Party]

If this article does hold true and Brand does not opt-out, are we all agree that Emeka Okafor should be the primary target? Even if he is, I believe the max we could offer him is 5 years/$55MIL which isn't going to get the job done so it would have to be a sign and trade.

[IggyTheBEaST]

You dont think 11 mil would get it done? bobcats have both Gwall and Jrich on the books now...

and they still have holes in their team. Dont you think if it cost more than 10 they would do a sign and trade or use their money elsewhere?

[Chocolate or Thunder?]

How come you think they talk about how "long" Memphis is? Or how long the Lakers are and how that serves as an advantage? C'mon now. Brand helps but will not be this team's Moses. Hear's the real question b/c I did not deny he would make us better but would he make us a championship contender?Is he that piece we could build around. If yes then where did the clippers go wrong?

I'm okay with Okafor but does he have any O?