The Philadelphia 76ers Do Away With Generic Play In the Middle and Add a Brand Name

The Philadelphia 76ers went from marginal playoff team to Eastern Conference contender and it only cost them about $80 million dollars. This team overachieved last season in making the playoffs, let alone going up 2 to 1 against the mighty Pistons in the first round. Brand is a career 20 and 10 guy and instantly becomes one of the two best power forwards in the Eastern Conference alongside KG. In the East his chances at becoming an All Star and making it to the NBA Finals increase exponentially. His signing will allow Reggie Evans, a high energy guy who lacks the tools to be a dominant NBA power forward, to come off the bench and hopefully allow Sammy Dalembert (who has been a disaster since being given a big contract) to develop offensively. Andre Miller had a career year scoring the basketball last season (17 ppg), but his assists were down. The addition of Brand will allow him to find a even ground between scoring and handing out assists. Andre Igoudala needs to shoot better, but having a bona fide threat in middle will allow him room to slash to the basket, which is what he does best. Brand, when healthy, took the Clippers to within one game of the Western Conference Finals, yes the LA Clippers, so his credentials needed not be brought into question. I am assuming somewhere in the city of LA Baron Davis is sobbing. At least he has those $80 million to fall back on. The East is still all about the Mighty C's, but the Sixers will now be worth watching, especially if they someone, anyone, who can shoot the ball from the outside.