An Unlikely Lineup Change

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Wednesday November 18, 2009

Maybe Eddie Jordan just likes to stir the pot. A couple days ago he was asked if he was considering changing his starting lineup.

He responded, “Nothing is going to change until Wednesday if there is a change.”

At that point the guessing game was underway. Elton Brand was seen in practice playing with the second unit. Rodney Carney was playing with the first unit. Could that be the change?

I think that will be the first substitution we see tonight, but I don’t think Carney starts and Brand goes to the bench, not after the morning shoot around when Brand said with confidence when asked if he anticipated being in the starting line-up.

“That’s a game time decision but I don’t see things changing in that regard.”

Eddie Jordan said he would announce his starting line-up closer to game time, as he should because it keeps the opposition on their toes.

The Bobcats do start two big men in Tyson Chandler and Gerald Wallace, so there is no need for the Sixers to have concern out of the gate matching a small line-up. That will come later in the game when Larry Brown uses the combination of Raymond Felton, Flip Murray, Stephen Jackson, Boris Diaw and Gerald Wallace.

That line-up closes things out for Brown which means there is a good chance Elton Brand sits in the fourth quarter yet again. That match-up just doesn’t work for his skill set, unless Brand is playing the center position and Sam is on the bench.

Eddie Jordan said earlier in the week his team must make up for the loss of Marreesse Speights with their defense. After shoot around he said better defense would translate into more forced turnovers which should create fast break opportunities.

Charlotte averages a league-high 17.55 turnovers per game.

 Top to bottom the Sixers need to do a better job on the backboard. They are the sixth worst rebounding team in the NBA and they lost their third best rebounder, Marreese Speights who was averaging 6.4 boards.

Jordan also said that running Elton at the back-up five spot gives Brand more touches at the elbow which in years past was Brand’s sweet spot for knocking down jumpers.

Brand said it is not difficult for him to play the starting power forward position and then “put on the five hat” calling it an easy transition. I anticipate that he will switch hats to start the second quarter with a group of reserves.

Charlotte does not pose a big three point shooting threat. On the season they are shooting 29 percent from long range. They have the second lowest field goal percentage (.405) and they average the fewest points 83.3.

If the Sixers play smart they should snap their 2 game losing streak.