On one of the youngest teams in the NBA, it is the two most veteran players who have proved to be reliable regardless of their role.
Elton Brand and Carl Landry waited. They sat on the sidelines without complaining, offering advice while riding the bench. Brand didn’t play his first game of his 17th season until March 4, two months after signing with the Sixers. Landry went stretches of games without seeing the court or meaningful minutes in his ninth year.
But once injuries struck younger players in the frontcourt, Brand and Landry stepped in with efficient, fundamental basketball. Their veteran experience has been evident.
“There’s a professional pride to do your job,” Brett Brown said after the Sixers' 120-105 loss to the Celtics on Sunday night (see Instant Replay). “You never know when somebody is going to need you and call your number, and that’s why people stay in the league as long as they do. There’s a professional approach to how they treat their job.”
On Sunday, Landry scored a season-high 26 points (10 for 18 from the field) along with eight rebounds off the bench in 25 minutes (see highlights). Brand (five points, three rebounds) was a team-high plus-5 in 15 minutes as a reserve.
“E.B., seeing him cross over to a jump shot, I was like, ‘Throwback Thursday,’” Celtics big man Jared Sullinger, who was matched up against both veterans, said. “One thing about E.B., he always plays hard, he’s always making the right decision, he’s never forcing anything. Carl’s just found his groove.”
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Stepping outside the box score, Brand and Landry bring years of NBA experience to the locker room. Brand was hoarse after the game. He had been vocal all night, explaining the opponent's plays and tendencies that he had become well-versed in over the years. His younger teammates weren't as familiar and Brand talked the Sixers through them.
More importantly in this situation, both have been through ups and downs. They have been part of losing teams and they've made it to the playoffs.
Brand repeatedly emphasizes the importance of finishing off a season strong to carry the momentum over into the next year. A bigger picture, forward-thinking mentality like that can help younger players navigate the remainder of a struggling season.
“Losing is hard, period,” Nerlens Noel said. “I’m just continuing to play my game. It’s not easy to deal with, but it is what it is.”
For all the contributions Brand and Landry can make on the court, there will be conversations in the locker room, on the team plane and the bench that serve value to the younger teammates after losses. As much as they can talk to one another, having veteran outlets to use as a sounding board or a source of advice can be more important than putting up solid numbers.
The Sixers will embark on a four-game road trip, starting Monday in Indiana against the Pacers. After that, they will travel out West to play the Nuggets on Wednesday and back-to-back games against the Trail Blazers and Warriors on Saturday and Sunday. The schedule doesn't get any easier, and they will continue to encounter teams fighting for playing positions.
"You just keep hammering at it," Brand said. "You just keep fighting every night. I’ve seen it — finish up strong, it bodes well for next season. Guys are confident, guys are ready to play. Get that winning feeling, that’s what we’re trying to do."