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Brand-less Sixers look to snap skid vs. Clippers

Dec 31, 2008 - 11:15 AM Philadelphia (12-18) at LA Clippers (8-22) 9:30 p.m. EST

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- New Year's Eve was supposed to be Elton Brand's welcome home. Whether or not he would actually be welcomed is another story. However, as it turns out, the All-Star forward won't be available as his new team visits his old one.

The struggling Philadelphia 76ers hit the road to take on the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night in a matchup that has been largely stripped of its drama.

Brand, who became an All-Star with the Clippers and led them to the Western Conference semifinals in 2006, shockingly bolted to Philadelphia this offseason, much to the surprise of both the organization and its fan base.

No doubt, the spurned Clippers faithful had this contest marked on their calendars to let Brand know exactly how they felt.

But with Brand out until at least late January with a separated shoulder, Clips fans will have to wait another year for such an opportunity. Unless, that is, by some stroke of magic these two teams end up meeting in the NBA Finals before then. As it stands now, that's a virtual impossibility.

The Sixers have failed to capitalize off the promise they showed following last season's unexpected playoff appearance. Brand struggled to re-establish himself as a reliable go-to guy; Andre Iguodala has struggled with his shot and the team's offense as a whole has been wholly unremarkable. The team is 1-4 since Brand went down, including four consecutive losses.

The Clippers, meanwhile, are still the Clippers. Baron Davis - who joined the team in part to team up with Brand - is struggling through his worst NBA campaign. Rumors have sparked up that he is unhappy with the club and wants to return to the Warriors and Don Nelson's free-wheeling offense - rumors he has refuted.

After an impressive stretch in which the Clips won five of seven, they have now dropped four straight - most recently a 92-90 heartbreaker to the Sacramento Kings despite rookie Eric Gordon's 24-point night. Marcus Camby added 15 points and 24 boards in a losing cause.