The power forward is feeling confident playing in new coach Eddie Jordan's offense, which should help accentuate Brand's inside skills.

"We'll still push the ball up the court. But in Coach Jordan's offense, I think we will have a more consistent halfcourt game," said Brand, looking healthy after shoulder surgery in February.

Jordan's Princeton offense emphasizes constant motion, passing and backdoor cuts, seemingly a better fit for Brand, 6-9, 254 pounds.

A career 20-point scorer with 10 rebounds a game, Brand never looked comfortable last season, averaging a career-low 13.8 points, with 8.8 rebounds. The Sixers got off to a 9-14 start before replacing coach Maurice Cheeks with Tony DiLeo.

"We never got any movement around" Brand, guard Andre Iguodala said of the struggles early last season. "We just tried to force feed him the ball, and it wasn't a good vibe. With Coach Jordan's offense, it's spread out. … We don't have to force him the ball now. He'll get it in the natural flow."

Iguodala, who led the team in scoring at 18.8 points a game, will likely be the primary option. But Brand will still get plenty of touches. "Everybody needs a horse, and he's my horse," Jordan said.

Under DiLeo, the Sixers rallied to finish 41-41 but lost to the Orlando Magic in the first round of the playoffs. That was the ninth time in his 10 seasons Brand had not played in the postseason. In December he had dislocated his shoulder and tore a labrum, requiring season-ending surgery in February.

"The toughest part was just not being able to help my teammates," said Brand, the No. 1 overall pick in the 1999 draft and an All-Star in 2002 and 2006 "Watching us play Dwight Howard and Orlando in the playoffs, it's like he was picking on your little brother, and there's nothing you can do.

"I'm not going to say we would've won the series, but I would've liked to have gone out there and fight for these guys. That's why I signed with Philadelphia, to be part of the playoffs."

In 2006, Brand played 12 playoff games for the Los Angeles Clippers, averaging 25.4 points, 10.3 rebounds, 4 assists and 2.6 blocks. Two seasons later he missed all but eight games for the Clippers because of a ruptured Achilles tendon.

Jordan warns Philly fans to be patient, because it will take time to fully learn the nuances of his attack. "These guys are babies in this offense," he said. "Hey, it took Michael Jordan two-and-a-half years to understand the triangle offense."

Although the Achilles injury might have cost Brand some vertical explosiveness, his coach doesn't believe it's a big deal. "I don't know if he's ever had above-average athleticism," Jordan says. "He puts his body into people and creates space that way."

Iguodala believes Brand's past frustrations will motivate him: "He went through a lot mentally last year. He wants to prove to everybody he can still play at a high level. On our team, we all feel like he's the same player he was before the injuries."

Around the hardwood:

Memphis Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins confirmed guard Allen Iverson, who has yet to play because of a hamstring tear, will start the season coming off the bench. … Magic coach Stan Van Gundy, knowing Rashard Lewis is suspended (elevated testosterone level) the first 10 games of the season, is cutting back the forward's playing time this week.

Enlarge By Frank Franklin II, AP Elton Brand aims for good health in his second season with the Sixers after playing in just 29 games last year.