<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'></p> Elton Brand, recovering from a ruptured Achilles' tendon sustained during the off-season, is scheduled for a follow-up appointment with his surgeon, Dr. Craig Morgan,in Wilmington, Del., next Tuesday.</p> </p> If the surgically repaired tendon checks out strength-wise, Morgan will attempt to establish a timetable for Brand to start performing light basketball-related drills.</p> </p> Brand, the Clippers' franchise forward who averaged 20.5 points last season, said he is optimistically hoping for a February return.</p> </p> "I'm not trying to target an exact date," he said. "But it's a six-to-eight-month injury and that would be six months. That would be the closest timetable." -- <font color="#000000">Los Angeles Times</font></p> </p> </p> [*]The Clippers have purchased a new, state-of-the art treadmill machine that Brand hopes he will be medically cleared to begin training next week. </p> Brand said the toughest thing for him now is not being able to contribute to a team that is mired in a five-game losing streak and a skid in which the Clippers have dropped nine of the past 11 games.</p> </p> "It's very difficult being hurt and watching, and not being able to help,'' Brand said after Monday's practice at Spectrum South Bay. "When we were 4-0 and doing well, it was kind of easy to watch. All I had to do was root and be happy. Now, it's definitely tough." -- <font color="#000000">Orange County Register</font></p></div> </p>
