Losing Brand not a new experience

It seems like the durable Elton Brand has been out there forever, clogging the middle for the Clippers.

In recent years, that’s been the case. Brand missed a total of only six games in the three seasons before this one.

But an injured Brand is something the Clippers have experienced before.

In 2002-03, he missed 18 games because of a stress fracture in his lower left leg. The next season he missed 13 of the first 14 games after sustaining a hairline fracture in his right foot.

“Any time you are out and you love the game, it’s tough,” said Brand, who hasn’t played this season because of a ruptured left Achilles’ tendon that is expected to keep him out several months. “You want to be part of it, you want to be helping your teammates and get out there and compete with them.”

Brand, who recently had the walking boot removed from his foot, is now performing light cardiovascular activity.

He said Sunday that he’s enjoying watching what is transpiring on the court while he heals.

“I love it,” he said. “There are a lot of non-Clipper fans around who said, ‘You guys ain’t beat nobody,’ and then we beat Indiana and Indiana was undefeated, so I was like ‘take that.’ I loved every win.”

He said his rehabilitation is about reaching new goals. Because of the seriousness of his injury, no timetable is set for his return.

“It’s more month to month. You hit new milestones,” he said. “I’ll be able to jump soon. I haven’t jumped yet. It’s tippy-toe stuff.”

--

The media’s pregame interview with Coach Mike Dunleavy wandered far afield with a discussion about why hockey teams don’t use sumo wrestlers as goalies to completely block the net, as well as the notion of using seven-footers as football receivers near the end zone.

“Why don’t you just find some big-time basketball guy, who you don’t have to put into the game until you get within the red zone, who is seven feet tall, great hands, who can catch?” Dunleavy said. “Don’t even show him in preseason, you just roll him out at the end.”

Forward Tim Thomas, 6 feet 10, was a little skeptical of the idea.

“You could put on a suit and go on the sideline,” Thomas said of basketball players crossing over to football.

--

Guard Cuttino Mobley sat out his second consecutive game because of a strained right groin, an injury sustained last week against the Indiana Pacers.

Mobley is averaging 19.6 points and 6.4 rebounds this season and is shooting 62% from the field. Mobley is receiving treatment twice a day, and the team is targeting Friday’s game against the Golden State Warriors for his possible return.

--

jonathan.abrams@latimes.com