Sixers Notes: Sixers' Brown has a challenge for Moultrie

DENVER - Brett Brown studied the 76ers in the Orlando Summer League when he was a candidate to fill the team's coaching vacancy.

Brown, who was hired in August, liked what he saw of power forward Arnett Moultrie in Orlando.

"There was an athleticism and energy that was different than our group," the coach recalled after the shootaround for Wednesday night's game against Denver at the Pepsi Center.

Brown says the trick is to make sure that Moultrie displays that energy and athleticism every night once the 6-foot-10, 240-pounder finally sees the court.

The second-year player participated in five-on-five scrimmages Tuesday for the first time this season after preseason surgery on his left ankle. He is expected to play later this month. An exact date for his return will depend on his conditioning, which at the time is not good.

"The knock on Arnett is: Can you do that?" Brown said of bringing consistent energy. "Is that how you play? Is that your [Denver power forward Kenneth] Faried motor?

"That's what he needs to aspire to be. He needs to be a junkyard dog, energy guy. That type of toughness. That's his challenge."

Moultrie welcomes the challenge. He said toughness is part of his personality.

"I like to play aggressive, playing with a lot of energy, run up and down the floor," he said. "Try to get a lot of those 50-50 balls and just try to dominate the paint. I think that's what we are lacking."

Brown believes that the 23-year-old could have a long NBA career if he plays that way.

"Because otherwise, there's a lot of players like Arnett out there that hang around and end up in Istanbul," the coach said. "I think the challenge for him - and my challenge to him - is just what I just said. I think he can be an NBA keeper provided he understands his road map."