A FULL `BRAND WAGON' FORWARD CAPTIVATES FANS, OWNER WITH PLAY.Byline: Jill Painter Staff Writer If Elton Brand Elton Tyron Brand (born March 11, 1979 in Peekskill, New York) is an American All-Star professional basketball player for the National Basketball Association's Los Angeles Clippers and the USA National Team. needed confirmation of a job well done, he received it from Clippers owner Donald Sterling Donald T. Sterling is an American real estate mogul, attorney, and the current owner of the National Basketball Association's Los Angeles Clippers. Sterling acquired the Clippers in 1981 for $12.5 million, and today the team is valued at more than $240 million by Forbes magazine. . Sterling briefly interrupted a post-game interview session in front of Brand's locker to congratulate him for a stellar day at the office. Brand had 30 points, nine rebounds, eight assists, and a clutch jump shot in the final minute of the Clippers' 114-107 victory over the Suns Sunday at Staples Center This article has multiple issues: * Its neutrality is disputed. * It may contain original research or unverifiable claims. * It does not cite any references or sources. . The series is tied at 2-2. ``Everybody in L.A. loves Elton Brand,'' Sterling told him. ``Thank you for a beautiful game.'' Brand is averaging 29.3 points, 9.3 rebounds and 43 minutes per game. He continued his dominance in the low-post, which was even more impressive, considering his frontcourt mate Chris Kaman Christopher Zane Kaman (born April 28 1982, in Grand Rapids, Michigan) is an American professional basketball player for the NBA's Los Angeles Clippers. Kaman stands seven feet tall (213 cm) and weighs 265 pounds (120 kg). was out with a shoulder injury. Brand played 45 minutes, a playoff-best, and had enough legs at the end to knock down a 12-foot jumper on an assist from Sam Cassell Samuel (Sam) James Cassell (born November 18, 1969 in Baltimore, Maryland) is an American professional basketball player who currently plays point guard for the NBA's Los Angeles Clippers. -- a big one, considering the Clippers had seen their 13-point fourth quarter lead dwindle dwin·dle v. dwin·dled, dwin·dling, dwin·dles v.intr. To become gradually less until little remains. v.tr. To cause to dwindle. See Synonyms at decrease. to one point. ``If they give me some space, I'm knocking it down,'' Brand said. ``The team depends on me, whether it's getting a big assist or rebound or block. That's what you do when you're a leader.'' Brand was challenged with double-teams throughout. He either backed down and made easy shots, or passed out of them. He made a jumper over Tim Thomas Tim Thomas may refer to:
Life is good for the former No. 1 draft pick. But if he had his druthers druth·ers pl.n. Informal A choice or preference: "Given their druthers, these hell-for-leather free marketeers might sell the post office" George F. Will. , the Clippers wouldn't have needed any heroics. ``It's disappointing we had to hit a shot like that,'' Brand said. ``Maybe we could've hit one earlier and got a cushion. I was definitely ready to take it.'' And ready to be one of the stars in the playoffs. He doesn't garner the same attention outside L.A., but Brand has shown his regular-season stuff has carried over into the playoffs. ``He's been doing this all series,'' guard Shaun Livingston said. ``They didn't have an answer for him. He's been playing like an MVP (Multimedia Video Processor) A high-speed DSP chip from Texas Instruments, introduced in 1994. Officially introduced as the TMS320C80, it combines RISC technology with the functionality of four DSPs on one chip. candidate.'' Even though the real MVP -- Steve Nash -- shared the same court, little pockets of fans chanted ``MVP'' after Brand did something noteworthy. And that was often. Many wore his jersey. And one fan waved this sign: ``Run them over with the Brand Wagon.'' Seems everyone is on the Clippers bandwagon these days. ``It's great to be representing L.A. and the fans and people of this great city,'' Brand said. ``All the fans are rooting for us.'' Count Sterling in on that ``Brand Wagon.'' jill.painter@dailynews.com (818) 713-3615 CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Elton Bran is averaging 29.3 points and 9.3 rebounds against Phoenix. He had 30 points and a pivotal jumper Sunday. Evan Yee/Staff Photographer |
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