FArting
Lopes Up!
The Philadelphia 76ers might be a better team without Elton Brand.
For the time being, the Phoenix Suns won't have to worry about getting by without one of their top players.On Monday night, the 76ers look for a third straight win since losing the former All-Star to a season-ending injury, while trying to prevent the visiting Suns from winning their third in a row.
Philadelphia (25-24) won 94-84 over Miami on Saturday to improve to 3-2 on a season-long seven-game homestand.The win came two days after the 76ers avoided a third straight loss with a 99-94 victory over Indiana and had learned Brand would miss the rest of the season to undergo shoulder surgery.The 76ers, seventh in the Eastern Conference, improved to 12-8 without Brand, who averaged 13.8 points and 8.8 rebounds in 29 games during the first of a five-year, $80 million contract with the club.
"I think we're a playoff team even without Elton," Philadelphia general manager Ed Stefanski said of a franchise that has been to the postseason once in the last three seasons.That could change as the 76ers still have a number of options, including point guard Andre Miller, exciting forward Andre Iguodala and center Samuel Dalembert to excel in their up-tempo offense.Miller, who averaged 20.5 points and 11.0 assists against the Suns last season, had 15 points Saturday for Philadelphia. The Sixers received 41 points from their bench and outscored Miami 31-15 in the fourth quarter for their 12th win in 16 contests.
"Everyone contributed. That's the way our team is," said interim coach Tony DiLeo, who is 16-10 since replacing the fired Maurice Cheeks.The 76ers look to move a season-high two games over .500 in their initial meeting with Phoenix in 2008-09.The teams split the season series in 2007-08, with each winning on the other's home floor. The Suns won 107-93 on March 28 for their third win in four trips to Philadelphia.
Phoenix forward Amare Stoudemire averaged 22.9 points and 9.8 rebounds in eight career games versus Philadelphia.The seventh-year forward is scheduled to represent the Suns in next Sunday's All-Star Game on his home court, but continues to play through recent trade rumors."It's all about what they want to do financially," said Stoudemire, who is averaging a team-leading 20.9 points, but signed a five-year, $74 million contract extension in 2005. "I have no control over that."We'll see how it plays out."Barring a deal, Stoudemire -- considered to be a defensive liability at times -- will try to help the Suns match a season high with a third straight win. He scored 18 points in a 107-97 win at Detroit on Sunday to open a three-game road trip that concludes in Cleveland on Wednesday.
Steve Nash added 15 points and a season-high 21 assists, while Jason Richardson had 21 points and Shaquille O'Neal 20 for the Suns, who currently own the final playoff spot in the West.O'Neal has averaged 25.0 points and 11.6 rebounds in his career against Philadelphia.
http://espn.go.com/nba/preview?gameId=290209020
