MVN: Most Valuable Network

The Sixers-Clippers game had all the hype of a backyard brawl between two wannabees. Elton Brand, the quintessential gentleman in a ferocious pitbull's body, came to the Sixers in a maroon job done by superagent David Falk on the conversations between his client, the Clippers star player, and coach. When Falk did this to Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriquez, A-Rod fired his agent and stuck with the Yankees.

Meanwhile, everybody's favorite NBA personality, perhaps second only to Gilbert Arenas, decided to follow the spotlight and head down the California coast. The leading role already cast for Elton Brand, B-Diddy was to be cast as the co-star in the L.A.'s leading opening act to the Lake Show. He was to be the Danny Glover to Mel Gibson, the Chris Tucker to Jackie Chan, the Cheech to Chong, the Starsky to Hutch...but turned in to the Turner to a Hooch that skipped town.

Well, we've got the Hooch now. Brand's basket with 57 seconds left on Friday put the Sixers up for good. The Clippers lost again, 88-89. The Clippers played not to lose, which ironically was also the case with the Elton Brand situation. The Sixers jumped out to a big 28-16 lead after the first quarter. Andre Iguodala had six of his game-high 12 assists in the opening frame.

Young and Iguodala scored seven points in the first, but the Clippers responded with a 33-18 second quarter of their own. After taking a 49-46 lead at the half, both teams went back and forth to start the third quarter. The Clippers led most of the quarter and finished with a four point advantage going into the fourth.

However, they never could extend the lead to double-digits. They held the lead for the entire quarter until Brand's 15 foot jumper with under a minute to go. Neither team would score another point.

Clippers small forward Al Thornton led all scorers with 22 points. The Sixers passed him up in last year's draft to select the team's current leading scorer - Thaddeus Young. Young and Brand led the scoring with 17 points a piece. All five starters scored in double figures. Willie Green had nine points off the bench and Mo Speights added 8 points and 6 boards. Baron Davis added 18 for the Clippers and Chris Kaman had 17. The Clippers starting frontcourt all grabbed nine boards a piece. The Clippers outrebounded the Sixers, 54-49.

Plenty of seats were available to be had and the Sixers dropped their prices down to ten dollars a ticket for games in November and in December. Either the Sixers are responding to the slow economy or in the holiday spirit. They currently rank 28th in attendence throughout the league. Only 13,474 were in attendence for the Clippers game.

The next chance to see them is at 5pm on Sunday against the Golden State Warriors. This will be the first game for Jamal Crawford in a Warriors uniform. You may know him better as the only guy who could score for the Knicks. They traded him for Al Harrington on Friday. So, get down to the Wachovia Center on Sunday to save yourself from the Eagles depression! And remember, Passion and Pride Pulse will come to you at 6pm, so bring your Wifi and your laptops to the Sixers game if you can.