<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Anybody that has been following the Philadelphia 76ers closely this year has to be wondering what's become of Samuel Dalembert. After all, wasn't he one of the guys ESPN picked to have a breakout year? However a funny thing happened on Dalembert's way to being a top-flight center--Coach Jim O'Brien. The Sixers are just about 40 percent done with their regular season, and O'Brien still cannot make up his mind about Dalembert. However if you read a lot of different perspectives you'll learn that many other coaches and general managers in the NBA are pro-Dalembert and are doing all they can to wean him away from the Sixers. So why such a difference of opinion amongst experts? One school of thought is that O'Brien is trying a tough love approach to Dalembert. That's hazy to me. On the one hand O'Brien has moved Dalembert into the starting lineup, but on the other hand he seems to yank Dalembert faster than a third grade girl?s ponytail on a school bus. True Dalembert has a penchant for foul trouble, but the NBA allows six fouls. Lots of times O'Brien nails Dalembert to the bench after three. That seems counterproductive. Nonetheless, that behavior does lend credence to the tough love theory. Yet, it seems that every time Dalembert plays 25 minutes or more, the Sixers win. So part of me believes that O'Brien doesn't want the team to get too comfortable winning with Dalembert. Why else would a stat man like O'Brien ignore the fact that the team plays better when Dalembert plays more? That makes me wonder if O'Brien wants to trade Dalembert. If that's the case, that would be a monumental mistake. Six-foot eleven/seven foot guys that can run and jump don't grow on trees. No doubt Sam is raw with a capital R, so right now he may not be the best fit for O'Brien's scrambling, post fronting defense, but O'Brien's being a bit stubborn for my tastes. He needs to realize that he isn?t ever going to win a title playing his style of hoops. The style needs to be modified. If Billy King were in a stronger position as General Manager, he could force O'Brien to play Dalembert 30 minutes or six fouls a game, whichever comes first. However based on his track record in Boston, O'Brien doesn't truck being told what to do by management. What we need is a compromise. King prides himself on his political skills. He should finesse O'Brien into hiring a full-time big man coach to work with Sam. In fact, maybe that would be a good way to keep former fan favorite Todd ?Big Mac? MacCulloch near to the day-to-day aspects of the game. When he played, Big Mac mastered the fundamentals of the center position, and as an analyst for Sixers? radio broadcasts he seems to have the temperament for coaching. This is an idea King should explore. Whatever winds up happening, something has to be done to refine Samuel Dalembert?s wonderful natural talent and help him become an all-star caliber center. The kid has all the tools; O?Brien and King need to find a way to put those tools to work.</div> Link: http://www.hoopsworld.com/article_11080.shtml
This is pretty sad really. The guy came out last year fighting and playing hard for us- surprising us with wins and raw ability. Yet, now O'Brien is just blowing everything that he has done off and benching him for so many minutes. Its like he doesn't want him to develop or something. Dalembert has so much all star potential- he's a big man with long lanky arms and runs incredibly fast for his size. However, from what I've seen with O'Brien as the coach, Dalembert isn't really going to thrive with the system. O'Brien loves Marc Jackson as the center and has yet to utilize Dalembert with any lineup that pushes him the best of his ability. I really want Dalembert to stay with Philadelphia, but if he does get traded, I hope he gets traded to a team that he prospers with and lets him shine.
Also, you noticed last year that when the Sixers played on a TNT or ESPN that the bigname annoucers constantly praised him too. Especially Bill Walton.
I always got the feeling JO did not like SD since the moment he gave the pre training camp interview. They asked him who he thought would be starting and he said AI, Green, Robinson, KT, and either Dalembert, Jackson or Skinner. He basically gave everyone who started last year the benefiet of the doubt and said they would be starting even Robinson, but never gave a position on his thoughts about SD. Many thought it was because SD was in his home counrty at the time doing some charities, but now a quarter into the season you see that he really seems to have something against SD. JO likes to have veterns in there he seems to trust them more over young guys. The 76ers at most positions dont really have a solid vetern back up, but at center they have Jackson and I think he trusts Jackson more than SD. Though he starts SD that is he does not get the minutes you would like to see out of him. I get the feeling also JO doesnt know what he wants at basically any position on this team he has attempted to start two different players at least at every position in the 76ers starting rotation outside of point guard unless AI was injured, and had to miss the game. He has also changed up the rotation off the bench consistantly this year one night a player gets consistant minutes the next he doesnt play do to coachs choice. Even KT at one point a guy who is known to hustle and be a hard worker was sitting at the end of the bench. So really it is not just SD its the whole Sixers roster who has fallen under the JO curse this year thus far. I dont think he is playing favoritism I just dont think he knows what to do. He doesnt even know if he likes his own offensive style of play sometimes. I have said it before, and will say it again though many people like JO I will be here for a while until he proves he can coach with one starting lineup and a set bench rotation. At this point I really feel we should have tried and get Cheeks over here a little harder.
There was a huge 1 page article in the daily news today on OB's thoguths on Sammie and how he has plans for him. He see's alot of potential in him and definitely likes what he has seen in him. I hope this means more pt for him. *you could probably find the article at philly.com.
Sammy Dalembert along with Igoudala and Green are the Sixers future when AI retires. They need to keep Sammy and keep him happy so he stays with us. HE is young and has a long time t o master the game. I thought last year was a preview of the future, and it still could be. Sam Dalembert can turn into a shot blocking and rebounding machine if given the necesary minutes. Jim O Brien has to relize this. Jackson is better at scoring, Sammy is better at every thing else. Also JAckson provides a nice scoring threat off the bench. Off-Topic: lol Does anybody else find it funny when Marc JAckson screams all the time and says shit every once in a while?
