<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Allen Iverson calls Samuel Dalembert Philly's X factor. Ironic, when you consider that not long ago the Sixers were ready to cross him off their roster. In this summer's Rock Mountain Revue, Dalembert played like a guy missing a shoe. The 22-year old big man jumped tentatively, showed no agility and shrank from contact. In other words, it was just another underwhelming performance from a 2001 first-rounder with just 51 points to show for his career. Not week, career. To be fair, Dalembert probably shouldn't even have been on the court. His surgically repaired left knee, which cast him all of last year, just wasn't ready. But he was desperate to show the Sixers he was the inside presence they needed, rather than the bust they thought they had. "I was like a little kid," he says. "I just wanted to play." The 6'11", 250-pound Hatian had just 5 years of competitive hoops (three in high school, two at Seton Hall) before going pro, and Larry Brown rarely played the rook. "That was hard, because I felt like I could contribute," he says. The came the surgery just before last season. If Dalembert's play this summer wasn't artistic, it clearly helped to speed his recovery. On Nov. 7, he looked like a monster -- 14 points, seven rebounds, three blocks -- in a Sixers win over Chicago. A week later, in his first career start, he tore down 10 rebounds, against San Antonio. Sticking pretty much to putbacks, lob and dunks, Dalembert is shooting 58%. But it's hist shot altering D that changes games. A freakish vert and wingspan have him averaging 4.48 swats per 48 minutes, fifth best in the NBA. Still, he has lots left to learn. As in "everything," according the coach Randy Ayers. So after practice, Dalembert watches video with coaches, then goes home with more tape. He can't rewind the lost seasons. But at least his team now knows the value of X.</div> John Jiloty ESPN: The Magazine I always thought that Sammy was a great player, he was at Seton Hall, but then the injury came and he was forced to sit. Now he is feeling better, and we have a coach that will give him playing time, I expect huge things from him. The only thing he needs to do is add some size maybe. Thoughts?
I think if he maybe gained 10 pounds that would help. He is a very good shot blocker and doesn't ask for the ball. He knows his role and shuts his mouth. He played high scholl bal in Montreal and tryed to play for Team Canada. Team Canada could of used him.
Yeah, 10 pounds isn't much to gain. At this moment, I don't think it would matter if it was just fat or muscle, because he really needs it.
