YSB contributor Nick Friedell, on-the-scene and in the locker rooms from Orlando ...

The Sixers are still adjusting to Elton Brand ... and vice versa.

If there was one thing that became clear throughout last night's Philly-Orlando game, it's that the Sixers are still trying to get used to having a consistent presence in the paint. Almost every time Brand got the ball anywhere near the paint, the Magic doubled down on him and forced the big man to kick it out to one of his new teammates. One of two things happened next: Either that teammate was standing in the wrong spot and couldn't get a clean look at the basket, or they just missed a wide open shot.

All of this added up to a bad night for Brand. He finished with just six points, the first time he's been held to that number since March 18, 2005. After the game, the former Duke star didn't sound very concerned, knowing that once his new team plays together a little more, the game will flow much easier. "It's an adjustment period," Brand told me after the game. "I'm adjusting to them, how they like to play, where they like the ball and they're definitely adjusting to me."

What made the adjustments so tough last night was the constant defensive pressure the Magic put on Brand. Rashard Lewis and a host of other defenders spent the night, hounding the Sixers' new star. Even Lewis was surprised that they were able to shut him down throughout the night. "He only finished with six points, I think that's a shock," Lewis said. "It's a lot of credit to my teammates, they came on the double team early, made him move the ball around."

If the Sixers are going to contend in the East, Maurice Cheeks and his staff are going to have to find a way to get Brand more space on the court, but as the coach said, the best remedy for that is to hit open looks when you have them.

"We're still learning how to play with (Brand)," Cheeks admitted after the game. "As time moves on we'll do a much better job playing off the double (team that he encounters). We have to make shots to make teams pay for the double-team."

When you shoot 36-for-95 from the field, as Philly did last night, you aren't going to beat many teams, no many times they double-team your star.

*****

Tony Battie has a lot to smile about these days. Not only is he back on the court, after having to sit out all of last season because of shoulder surgery, he also has football bragging rights for one of the first times in his career. Texas Tech, Battie's alma mater, has risen to number two in the polls, after defeating Texas last weekend in the final seconds.

The Magic forward could not be prouder of his school, and has followed the team's progress every step of the way. "I'm happy for them, they're playing great," Battie told me last night. "They've got a great quarterback (Graham Harrell), a great receiver in (Michael) Crabtree, and they're well-coached."

The Harrell-Crabtree combination has made the trash talking a little sweeter over the last few days. "I ran into a couple of Oklahoma State people coming up this week," Battie admitted. "They said they were going to be spoilers to us this week, so I was able to rib them a little bit."

The former Red Raider knows that his team still has a long way to go to reach the BCS title game in Miami, but if they get to Dolphin Stadium, the most prominent Texas Tech alum in the NBA will be there. "Hopefully (the BCS title game) will fall on an off-day ... I would love to go down there and check them out."

The Magic actually have January 8th off, which is the same day as the BCS title game ...