Brand, Simmons Persevere

Elton Brand and Bobby Simmons were written into the Clippers’ starting lineup on opening night Nov. 3 and, four months later, they’re still there.

Neither has been sidelined because of injury, a rarity among the players who were projected to be Clipper regulars.

“That’s been a positive, obviously, to have some consistency in our lineup, particularly those two guys; they give you a lot of production,” Coach Mike Dunleavy said. “The other guys have filled in around them.”

Brand, the Clippers’ top rebounder and second-leading scorer, sat out one game, Dec. 11 against the Lakers, while serving a suspension for shoving Emeka Okafor of the Charlotte Bobcats.

Simmons, third on the team in scoring and fourth in rebounds, is the only Clipper who has played in all 59 games.

Luck? Preparation?

“A little bit of everything,” said Simmons, who sat out 26 games last season, most because of a hip injury. “Eating right and pretty much lifting [weights] on a consistent basis to maintain my strength and try to take care of my body.

“Unfortunately, I got injured last year and I sat out for a long period of time, and that wasn’t fun at all. It was pretty hard for me sitting there watching when I really wanted to play. So that’s why I maintain my strength and conditioning exercises every day. A lot of times I come early and sometimes stay late after shoot-arounds.”

*

Dunleavy, on rookie Shaun Livingston’s injury-shortened season, which so far has been limited to 13 games: “It’s disappointing only because I think he was really getting it. The better news, though, is that we really believe we’ve seen enough to know that he’s going to be really good for us.

“The biggest question, I think, has been answered by as little time as he’s played. That’s apparent, I think, to most people who’ve seen him play.”