Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Posted: 2:33 p.m.
By Dei Lynam
CSNPhilly.com
BOSTONFor almost a month now Elton Brand has been playing with not one, but two bad hands. He dislocated his right pinky finger in a win at Cleveland on Feb. 27. It happened late in that third quarter, and he came back to make a pivotal foul line jumper in the Sixers 95-91 win.
In the overtime loss to the Thunder at home on March 9, Brand suffered a severe blow to his non-shooting hand. He did not leave the game, but an X-ray after revealed a minor fracture on the top of the hand, according to a team source.
The left hand injury was not even discussed until after the Sixers defeated the Celtics 89-86 two days later when Doug Collins in his postgame comments said: Elton got banged on the back of the left hand the other night and I think hes going to be OK. I think he got karate-chopped the other night.
The N.Y. Times reported Monday that the severity of the injury was not initially revealed so prevent opposing players from targeting the hand.
On March 15, on a non-game day in Los Angeles, Brand had both his hands wrapped in ice after putting in extra shooting time and getting footwork instruction from assistant Quinn Snyder.
NBA
That day was the most he has commented on his injuries and how they have affected him.
There is definite soreness, and just in having confidence in using your hands, Brand said at the time. Just getting up from sitting down, you take for granted how much you use your pinky and hands and even on the big guys in the post trying to keep them out. Going for blocks and going into the hole strong, but not wanting to get hit. Its mental, you just get through it.
Brand wears padding to protect that pinky, but when he starts missing shots (he is shooting 42 percent over his last five games but 51 percent for the season) the padding gets blamed, rightly or wrongly.
Its frustration, but its also something you arent used to, so it is the first thing you blame, he said, chuckling.
Brand no longer wears the padding. He has played in 13 games with both hands injured. In that stretch he is averaging 13.3 points and 7.1 rebounds, down slightly from his season averages of 14.9 and 8.4, while shooting 47 percent. He has missed only one game this season, and that was because of a suspension.
E-mail Dei Lynam at dlynam@comcastsportsnet.com.
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