"Hopefully over the All-Star break that will give it a chance to calm that thing down," said Sixers coach Doug Collins.
After tonight's game, the Sixers won't get together again until they practice on Monday in Detroit. They'll face the Pistons the next night in their first game back after the break.
In Brand's place, Collins decided to start little-used Andres Nocioni, who had played in just eight games this season. Nocioni played 6 minutes and collected two points and two rebounds.
"He's worked very hard and been a real pro for us," Collins said of the 8-year vet. "We think we need some activity."
Nocioni obviously welcomed the call.
"There's a reason why you need to keep in shape and work hard every night," he said. "That is what I tried to do. I try to do my job, that's it. I'm pretty sure I'm in good shape and I'll be able to run the floor. I'm fine."
Time for Speights
As he made his way to the court for his pregame workout, former 76er Marreese Speights shared greetings with almost every worker he passed in the hallways of the FedEx Forum before getting a big hug from an elderly female worker just before he entered the court.
Speights, who spent three-plus seasons with the Sixers before getting traded to Memphis as part of a three-team deal on Jan. 4, always has been a lovable guy. In the one-plus seasons that Doug Collins coached the Florida product, he gave Speights more compliments than playing time. So when the deal was completed, Collins was genuinely happy that Speights would have a chance to get playing time. Not nearly as excited as Speights, though.
