<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Chris Webber was talking about Samuel Dalembert one day in Barcelona when his eyes suddenly lit up and he shook his head in wonder. "He's just a monster, man," Webber said of the 76ers center. "It's impossible to block him out. If Sam concentrates on rebounding and blocking shots, he will be a monster in the NBA. He could lead the league in blocks, easy, and he could lead the league in rebounds, easy." That's just fine with Sixers fans who, five years after Dalembert was drafted in the first round as an athletic but not-too-basketball-savvy 6-foot-11 project, still are waiting for him to fulfill his potential as one who can dominate with his play on the backboards and blocking shots. Frankly, Dalembert wants to see himself step up, too, having worked hard on his overall game in the off-season. "I worked this summer on understanding the game," he said, "understanding what the other team is trying to do, knowing where my teammates are most likely to be. It's just being wiser, using my speed when I need it. Sometimes you don't need the speed, you just need position. I also need to be patient on offense. "So it will work out fine for me. I see some progress on my part and I'm continuing to do the same things [in training camp]. I can't wait." In the Sixers' two exhibition games overseas against teams from the Euroleague, Dalembert averaged 18 points, 14 rebounds and 6 blocked shots against Winterthur FC Barcelona and CSKA Moscow. However, it was in the latter game that he strained his left hamstring, an injury that kept him out for two weeks of training camp. He played in the Sixers' final preseason game against New Jersey, but looked as if he had accumulated some rust in his idle weeks. Remembering his injury problems a year ago in training camp, when he missed the first 13 games with a strained right quadriceps, Dalembert has been careful this preseason. But he is confident he will play in tomorrow night's season opener against Atlanta. Dalembert, 25, signed a six-year, $64 million contract in the summer of 2005, but his quadriceps injury, suffered prior to the start of training camp, affected him the entire season. He averaged 7.3 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.42 blocks in 66 games. It was a perplexing year. Dalembert missed three games in February with a sprained left ankle, but it took him 14 more games to regain his place in the starting lineup, a development that put the normally affable, smiling player into a bit of a funk. He also was unable to stay out of foul trouble, fouling out of nine games - more than in his previous two seasons combined. He also finished with 244 personals, fifth in the NBA. Dalembert said he watched tape all summer and tried to spot tendencies that led to calls against him, even studying what various referees would and would not let him do on the court. He called staying on the floor this season "my biggest challenge." "Almost every game I played where I got most of my fouls were on tape," he said. "I've been watching them over and over again and understanding the refs, the way they think. I'm going to do my homework and know exactly who's going to be the referee, what stuff he has a tendency to call." Dalembert must be patient on defense so as not to pick up silly fouls. Webber has told him that he has to lay back at times and, in essence, not try so hard. "He needs to realize that at times, he needs to say, 'Let me back up and let them come to me,' " Webber said. "It's almost the attitude of what he might think is not doing his best. It's not a lack of effort that gets him in foul trouble. It's not knowing when to back up and make a guy come to you. So I think he's going to stay out of foul trouble." Of course, what also will help Dalembert are his teammates. He is the last line of defense, but his teammates guarding the perimeter have to make sure they don't get beaten with regularity. If Dalembert can stay healthy, stay focused and stay out of foul trouble, he can be the inside defensive presence the Sixers desperately need. "What the team wants from me is to be a terrifying defensive player," he said with a smile. "That's what I'm working on, that and rebounding. I don't want to look at the paper to find out we struggled defensively and I didn't rebound enough. I don't want that to happen." </div> Link Samuel Dalembert has potential, as I assume we all should know. It's just that he hasn't lived up to it. Will this be the season Sammy finally breaks out? I guess we will have to wait and see
I'm not sure about Dalembert, dude supposedly has potential but so far he has made the same mistakes over and over again. His awareness on defense needs to improve drastically.
If both Dalambert and Iguodala breakout this season, Korver and Carney have successful seasons and Iverson and Webber continue to do well I can see the Sixers going pretty deep into the playoffs.
<div class="quote_poster">Iggy Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">If both Dalambert and Iguodala breakout this season, Korver and Carney have successful seasons and Iverson and Webber continue to do well I can see the Sixers going pretty deep into the playoffs.</div> And there is 1% chance ALL of that will happen.
<div class="quote_poster">Pakman Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">And there is 1% chance ALL of that will happen.</div> How? You make it sound like all those players are crap and there is no way possible that it will happen. All of what Iggy said IMO is indeed possible. As for Sammy, there`s been things said like he could emerge every season as a force on defense, but nothing has really happened to raise some eyebrows. He`s looked good so far in these 2 games, but like everyone said before, I guess we`ll just have to wait and see.
<div class="quote_poster">Pakman Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">And there is 1% chance ALL of that will happen.</div> Umm.. care to back that up? Dalambert could break out any time now and with Iguodala being more aggressive he probably will break out. Its quite likely Carney will have a somewhat solid season similar to Iguodala's rookie season and Korver has all ready shown what he can do off the bench. Iverson and Webber still look good with Iverson becoming more efficient and Webber grabbing more boards. So I really don't know why you think it won't happen.
Dalmbert is smart defensive IQ away from being a defensive force. He's one of those guys that can block shots well, but too many times picks the wrongs spots, and will leave his man open for a dish off or offensive rebound, or pick up unneccesary fouls.
