While the team being better has helped Brand look to the league as he's looked to Clippers fans, Brand has also improved his game this year. If you've been watching, he's become money from inside 18 feet, and looks like one of the better shooting PF's from that range. This summer he worked on his jumpshot [and it shows] even though he was not a bad mid-range shooter before, actually pretty good, and also worked on his conditioning even though he wasn't out of shape before. Those 2 things have made him look like a different player this season, and is also part of why we're winning more games along with Cassell's vocal leadership, and the addition of Mobley.
The Clips beat Miami relatively easy tonight. Wasn't a blowout and there are some stretches where it's a close 2-3 possession game, but Elton was just phenomenal tonight. He is the best 6'8 PF ever to play in the NBA.
He's definately been a beast, he's a Top MVP candidate right now with how him and the team are playing, and that's pretty good from being a guy who produces and couldn't get on All-Star teams.
Yes, Brand is playing out of his mind and if the Clippers keep this up, I'd definetely say Brand is MVP worthy. Of course, watch out for Baron Davis!!! (Player of the Week)
Right now, Brand is the MVP. At least looking at his numbers, combined with the team success. Statistically, only Iverson is having a better year, but his team is struggling.
Pick & Roll play has been the biggest on court key to Brand's improvement imo. Brand has never had a point guard that plays the pick & roll like a Sam Cassell..Cassell gets Brand 5 to 6 wide open looks from the elbow just off pick & roll...so now it seems that the Clips are running more half-court set plays for Brand, but its really simple point guard bigman pick & roll/pop. Cassell has played it with so many bigs in this league, of course starting with Hakeem...then look how good he and Van Horn where with it that year and a half together in Jersey...then look at that as really being the hidden ingrediant during KG's mvp season...now he is playing it with Brand, and everyone is screaming Brand MVP. Cassell has been playing pick & roll the same exact way for over a decade, he is probably the only PG that never goes to the rim coming off the screen/Pick, but can always create that open look that is needed for his bigs Honestly, not to take anything away from Brand but without that Pick & roll/pop that Sammy brings to the table...he is still just a 18-20 point scorer, even with the improvements that everyone says he has made.....because he isnt a go to scorer in the block against that Western Conference size...so he would still just be getting alot of loose in points...but the pick & pop quality looks has realy involved him more into the half-court set. I do believe that he has improved on the defensive end tho...and that really cant be attributed to anyone but his own efforts.
Actually last year Brunson, Livingston, and Jaric to a lesser extent did a good job of getting him the ball on the pick and pop 15-18 foot jumper. The latter also missed a lot of games, so they weren't there most of the year. Outside of those 3, like you said, he's never had a PG that get's him the ball like that. I remember last year when Maggette was out in April, and Livingston was healthy averaging near 7 APG, EB was scoring about 24 PPG and had a few 30 point games in the stretch. Their's a direct correlation between Maggette playing and Brand's PPG. In the month's where Maggette played almost every game: 18.7 PPG | 17.8 PPG | 17.6 PPG. When Maggette missed games: 22.7 PPG [4 missed]| 20.2 PPG [3 missed] | 23.6 PPG [6 missed] ..but last year Brand could also could not hit that shot as consistently as he's hitting it now. This year he doesn't even think about it before he takes it, last year many times he'd prefer to put the ball on the floor and try and get in the lane for a score, and it was effective, but his shot open's up his offense even more. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I do believe that he has improved on the defensive end tho...and that really cant be attributed to anyone but his own efforts.</div> He was a good defender before, but when you loose, people don't care. This year losing weight has made him quicker on rotations, and he's close to 3 BPG right now. Last off-season was the first off-season in a while where he's not been injured, and he made sure he put it to good use.
No offense to those guys the Brunson, Jaric, and Livingston but playing pick & role with one of the best mid-range shooters in the league is far different. Iam not trying to take any thing away from Brand at all...but when Cassell is coming of a pick/screen the first thing opponents head coaches are telling their defense, is dont let Cassell turn that corner and get a look from 15. And that leads to bigs stepping away from brand and stepping out a bit further then they would in normal sitautions to prevent Sam from turning that corner. And leads to not only good looks but looks so easy that its pretty much Brand taking pre-game warm up type jumpers. Next game against the Suns, just watch how far Kurt Thomas or who ever will be matchup up against Brand, steps out to help Nash defend Cassell coming off the screen,,,,just focus solely on the pick & roll play. And I think you will end up seeing the big difference..In playing Pick & roll with Cassell compared to playing it with alot of other guards around this league.
Well Brunson, Jaric and Livingston aren't in the caliber of Cassell, and especially as shooters none is close, so of course their's no offense. When you look at the Clippers play, when Casell plays good, the team plays good.
The main difference I've noticed is the slimmed down version of Brand. His first step is a lot quicker than the last few seasons, and his jumpshot has really improved. Having more quickness is allowing him to beat his man before the double team comes. He's definitely putting up MVP numbers and should be a front-runner.
He has improved but this is the same Elton Brand that's been playing the past few seasons...he's putting forth the same workmanlike numbers, except the difference is winning...I'm happy to see his name amongst the limelight of the NBA...
Brand was never a goto guy in crunchtime because he lacks the post moves and consistent jumpshot. This year, it's not the same anymore. He can actually face up and either take that midrange jumper over anyone or, with his improved physique and faster first step, he can take it into the hole and score in the paint. Yes Cassell has definitely helped Brand's cause, but it is unfair to say that Brand gets so open purely because of Sam. In the past years, EB was always let open around 15-18 foot out because he didn't have a consistent jumper, but it's a different story this year. Anyways, I'm pumped for the Phoenix game tonight Go Clips!
he is always underrated (career 20-10 guy before the crazy year he having right now) and the clippers being clippers (eg. getting clipped by teams) doesn't help his value at all he definitely has improved this year, but i think he has to do with better support down the stretch...as they know how to close games better than before...don't just collapse in 4th quarter Brand should be an allstar this year
