Don't mean to be a latter day Ricky by starting all of these new threads- but thought it would be interesting to see how Brand might change the teams dynamic (and gives us another post for Ducky,Debodner and TGP to trade barbs about the improtance of shooters
)
Supposedly, a great deal of the Sixers late season success (in spite having guys like Green and Evans out there nearly 30 mpg) was their finding an "identity" as an athletic, up-tempo, active defensive, fast breaking team. This maximized there strengths while masking there lack of shooters, passers and low post scorers.
Brand is a good athlete, but will his addition mean a major shift in how much this team gets to benefit from getting out running and getting easy baskets.
On one hand, adding another good interior defender in Brand should help the defense, leading to more forced jumpers from the opposition, and more possible breaks off of blocks and long rebounds.
On the other hand, starting Brand is a far cry from the small ball athletic, line-up the Sixers had when they started Thad at PF. Does playing 2 legits bigs decrease what the Sixers can do in terms of trapping and switching in order to create running opportunities?
No doubt the Sixers will at least have some better options in the half court now that Evans/Green will be replaced by Thad/Brand- but it will be interesting to see if Brand can be added without effecting the chemistry that allowed the Sixers to benefit from so many easy baskets and often wore opponent out.
