So much for a Brand new ballgame.

For the Sixers, it’s more like the same old, same old.

Our NBA team went out in the off-season and made a bold move, signing free agent power forward Elton Brand to an $80 million deal. This despite the fact that he had missed almost all of last season with a bum Achilles tendon.

New Sixers boss Ed Stefanski decided to roll the dice anyhow. He had seen his team rally last year with a strong finish after he took the helm. They made the playoffs. With the addition of Brand, even bigger things were expected this year.

Didn’t work out that way. The team struggled early, trying to adjust the run-and-gun game that carried them to the playoffs last year to a slower, more methodical halfcourt game with Brand in the low post.

Then before Christmas Brand took a nasty spill and dislocated his shoulder. He did not return until last week. Oddly, some people noticed that with him out of the lineup, the Sixers appeared more like the team they were at the end of last season.

Brand struggled when he returned. Now we know why.

The Sixers announced yesterday Brand would undergo surgery on his ailing shoulder and miss the rest of the season.

Ouch!

To their credit, the Sixers promptly went out last night and beat the Pacers, 99-94. They will be led by the Andres - Miller and Iguodala. Both had strong games last night. Samuel Dalembert also had a good game, with 18 points and 20 rebounds.

They likely will look very much like the team that rolled into the playoffs last year. And that’s the problem. Because they also will quickly exit the same way.

During the regular season, that kind of free-wheeling, running game can be very effective. But the playoffs are a halfcourt game. And that’s where the Sixers struggle. That won’t change.

Look for them to be one and done.

And then they can start talking about a Brand new ballgame again. For next year.