Elton Brand disses Clippers
Elton Brand left the Clippers during the summer to sign a five-year, $82-million deal with the Philadelphia 76ers. He joined a young team that made the playoffs last season before losing to Detroit in the first round.
Last week -- obviously not knowing Elgin Baylor would be leaving the team -- Brand talked about the upcoming season and changing teams:
On the intensity of Philadelphia fans: "... the fans here are passionate about their teams. They want you to win. ... That's why there's this pressure for you to play well ... so that's definitely going to be different from playing on the Clippers and being in the Lakers' shadow."
On why he picked the 76ers over the Clippers: "... My ex-team, they offered something comparable. But you have to look at the team, and when I did that, I thought Philadelphia had the best chance of winning and was the best place I wanted to be."
On the pressure of playoff basketball: "I miss the pressure, but it's fun. That's why I play. It's exciting. You want someone to expect you to win -- what it's going to be like to be put in a situation to win. And I haven't had that since the playoffs two or three years ago with the Clippers. I haven't had that feeling again, so it feels good -- I'm ready for it."
-- Barry Stavro
Photo of Brand's 76ers jersey by Tom Mihalek / Associated Press
