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  4. title => "Elton Brand \u2014 yes, Elton Brand \u2014 will have a say in Sixers' medical decisions"
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  6. article_body => "<p>WILMINGTON, Del. \u2014&nbsp;Before Saturday\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/76ers\/10-observations-sixers-blue-x-white-scrimmage-delaware\" target=\"_blank\">Blue x White Scrimmage at 76ers Fieldhouse<\/a>, Sixers general manager Elton Brand met with the media. Below are a few takeaways on what stood out from Brand\u2019s availability.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>A new kind of partnership&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>The Sixers made significant changes to their medical and performance teams this summer, not renewing the contracts of vice president of athlete care Dr. Daniel Medina or director of performance, research and development Dr. David T. Martin. The team promoted Scott Epsley to medical director and hired Lorena Torres as performance director.<\/p>\n<p>Brand also acknowledged Saturday there was a notable change the team didn\u2019t announce. &nbsp;<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>We brought in Lorena Torres from the Spurs \u2014&nbsp;she had a great run there with the data science being her base and her background. And then Scott Epsley, who\u2019s been here four years, his ability to relate to the players. \u2026 And with me. I admit it, I\u2019ll be more a part of it with the players in a partnership for their care. I felt like for their daily care, changes needed to be made, but I\u2019m confident in the changes we have made.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Joel Embiid talked at media day about the high level of trust he has in Brand, something he said didn\u2019t exist under the regime of former president of basketball operations Bryan Colangelo&nbsp;<em>(<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/76ers\/joel-embiid-load-management-sixers-media-day-elton-brand-bryan-colangelo\" target=\"_blank\">see story<\/a>)<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Brand assuming a prominent role in the medical\/performance sphere is unorthodox \u2014&nbsp;especially when you consider the team has taken the duty of providing medical updates to the media off the plate of head coach Brett Brown \u2014&nbsp;but it\u2019s understandable. If it means Embiid and other Sixers are more inclined to buy in to the plan to keep them healthy, it\u2019s a sensible shift.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Speaking of Embiid, Brand classified the Sixers' approach with the All-Star big man as \u201cdaily, strategic, thoughtful consultation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He did not rule out Embiid playing more than the 64 games he did last year, or him suiting up for both games of back-to-backs.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Though the team\u2019s approach with Embiid will presumably be fluid, Brand was confident regardless that Embiid will be committed to it.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think the setback last year losing Game 7 in the [Eastern Conference] semifinals, it really hurt and he understood that, \u2018Look, I need to be the best in May and June.\u2019 I think that helped us a lot, and he understands it.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3><strong>No pressure<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Brand is surely aware of all the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/76ers\/ben-simmons-jump-shot-sixers-training-camp-brett-brown\" target=\"_blank\">buzz around Ben Simmons\u2019 jumper<\/a>, and he\u2019s confident enough in the work Simmons put into his shot over the summer&nbsp;to further feed that hype.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>He\u2019s worked hard at it. And we support Ben, we believe in Ben. We want him to shoot and he\u2019s going to shoot. And he\u2019s going to shoot the right shots \u2014&nbsp;that\u2019s what\u2019s important to me. Just developing, it\u2019s a team effort. So if he\u2019s open from a corner three, I expect him to let it fly, and from what I\u2019ve seen, I expect it to go in. Not to put pressure on him, but he\u2019s worked, and he\u2019s built for that. He\u2019s worked his butt off all summer long.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Simmons took plenty of three-point shots pre-scrimmage.<\/p>\n<p><blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Ben Simmons, from well behind the arc: <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/xf1U5zPr8D\">pic.twitter.com\/xf1U5zPr8D<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Noah Levick (@NoahLevick) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NoahLevick\/status\/1180520255443083264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 5, 2019<\/a><\/blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n<p>He only took one&nbsp;jumper during the scrimmage, a fadeaway from about 12 feet away which he airballed.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Don't except more blockbuster deals&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Brand\u2019s first year as an NBA general manger was an active one, highlighted by deals for Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris. Things didn\u2019t slow much in his first offseason either, with the departures of Butler and JJ Redick and the additions of Al Horford and Josh Richardson.<\/p>\n<p>He wouldn\u2019t rule anything out, but don\u2019t expect that same level of near-constant roster turnover in Brand\u2019s second year on the job.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have a championship-caliber team, for sure,\u201d he said. \u201cA lot of things have to fall into place for any championship, but I think we have the pieces. I\u2019m certainly going to monitor and look at any way I can improve the team throughout the season.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The idea of being able to build chemistry and continuity is a positive in Brand\u2019s mind, which is another reason why him making a huge move would indeed be a surprise.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m happy we get it from Day 1 and it\u2019s not at the deadline or moving parts around and making it fit,\u201d he said. \u201cBeing able to start in the summer, a lot of guys came in early \u2014&nbsp;it meant a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/art19.com\/shows\/sixers-talk-a-philadelphia-76ers-podcast\/episodes\/7ce5fd1b-cb88-423b-b9e8-b22c333e1644\/embed\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 200px; border: 0 none;\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><br><br><em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/smart.link\/5bb788a3d5b83?site_id=Web_NBCS_Philly&amp;creative_id=nbcsphi1356&amp;cp_4=www.nbcsports.com&amp;cp_1=washington&amp;cp_2=myteams-nbc-sports&amp;cp_3=nbcsphi1356\">Click here<\/a> to download the MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the Flyers, Sixers and Phillies games easily on your device.<\/strong><\/em><br><br><br>More on the Sixers<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/76ers\/10-observations-sixers-blue-x-white-scrimmage-delaware\">Matisse Thybulle steals the show at Sixers Blue x White Scrimmage<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/76ers\/sixers-training-camp-sixers-bench-joel-embiid-brett-brown-james-ennis-matisse-thybulle\">Competitions are still up in the air, but Sixers think they\u2019ll be \u2018bulldogs\u2019 off the bench<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/76ers\/joel-embiid-jimmy-butler-brother-sixers-training-camp-miami-heat\">\u2018Jimmy is my brother\u2019 \u2014 Embiid laments Butler leaving for Miami<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/76ers\/ben-simmons-jump-shot-sixers-training-camp-brett-brown\">Simmons answers question about jumper \u2014 both on an off the floor<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/76ers\/josh-richardson-qa-defensive-approach-cheesesteaks-and-philly-fans\">Josh Richardson Q&amp;A: Defensive approach, cheesesteaks and Philly fans<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n"
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76ers

76ers

WILMINGTON, Del. — Before Saturday’s Blue x White Scrimmage at 76ers Fieldhouse, Sixers general manager Elton Brand met with the media. Below are a few takeaways on what stood out from Brand’s availability.

A new kind of partnership 

The Sixers made significant changes to their medical and performance teams this summer, not renewing the contracts of vice president of athlete care Dr. Daniel Medina or director of performance, research and development Dr. David T. Martin. The team promoted Scott Epsley to medical director and hired Lorena Torres as performance director.

Brand also acknowledged Saturday there was a notable change the team didn’t announce.  

We brought in Lorena Torres from the Spurs — she had a great run there with the data science being her base and her background. And then Scott Epsley, who’s been here four years, his ability to relate to the players. … And with me. I admit it, I’ll be more a part of it with the players in a partnership for their care. I felt like for their daily care, changes needed to be made, but I’m confident in the changes we have made.

Joel Embiid talked at media day about the high level of trust he has in Brand, something he said didn’t exist under the regime of former president of basketball operations Bryan Colangelo (see story).

 

Brand assuming a prominent role in the medical/performance sphere is unorthodox — especially when you consider the team has taken the duty of providing medical updates to the media off the plate of head coach Brett Brown — but it’s understandable. If it means Embiid and other Sixers are more inclined to buy in to the plan to keep them healthy, it’s a sensible shift. 

Speaking of Embiid, Brand classified the Sixers' approach with the All-Star big man as “daily, strategic, thoughtful consultation.”

He did not rule out Embiid playing more than the 64 games he did last year, or him suiting up for both games of back-to-backs. 

Though the team’s approach with Embiid will presumably be fluid, Brand was confident regardless that Embiid will be committed to it.

“I think the setback last year losing Game 7 in the [Eastern Conference] semifinals, it really hurt and he understood that, ‘Look, I need to be the best in May and June.’ I think that helped us a lot, and he understands it.”

No pressure

Brand is surely aware of all the buzz around Ben Simmons’ jumper, and he’s confident enough in the work Simmons put into his shot over the summer to further feed that hype.

He’s worked hard at it. And we support Ben, we believe in Ben. We want him to shoot and he’s going to shoot. And he’s going to shoot the right shots — that’s what’s important to me. Just developing, it’s a team effort. So if he’s open from a corner three, I expect him to let it fly, and from what I’ve seen, I expect it to go in. Not to put pressure on him, but he’s worked, and he’s built for that. He’s worked his butt off all summer long. 

Simmons took plenty of three-point shots pre-scrimmage.

He only took one jumper during the scrimmage, a fadeaway from about 12 feet away which he airballed.

Don't except more blockbuster deals 

Brand’s first year as an NBA general manger was an active one, highlighted by deals for Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris. Things didn’t slow much in his first offseason either, with the departures of Butler and JJ Redick and the additions of Al Horford and Josh Richardson.

He wouldn’t rule anything out, but don’t expect that same level of near-constant roster turnover in Brand’s second year on the job.

“We have a championship-caliber team, for sure,” he said. “A lot of things have to fall into place for any championship, but I think we have the pieces. I’m certainly going to monitor and look at any way I can improve the team throughout the season.” 

 

The idea of being able to build chemistry and continuity is a positive in Brand’s mind, which is another reason why him making a huge move would indeed be a surprise.

“I’m happy we get it from Day 1 and it’s not at the deadline or moving parts around and making it fit,” he said. “Being able to start in the summer, a lot of guys came in early — it meant a lot.”



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