<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">In his first training-camp meeting with the 76ers, Maurice Cheeks told the players that he wouldn't be running to management asking for reinforcements, that everyone on the roster would be getting an opportunity. A prophet, if you will, in his own gym. No one has slipped a banana peel under the new head coach's feet, even if it might seem that way. No one is sucking the newly minted positive atmosphere out of the arena. The welcome mat for this group remains very much in place, even if forces beyond anyone's control have been poking holes in the depth chart. Opening night tomorrow against the Milwaukee Bucks is not projecting the way Cheeks and president/general manager Billy King had anticipated. Starting center Samuel Dalembert, who aggravated his right quadriceps strain in Thursday's preseason finale in San Antonio, is out for at least 10 to 14 days. Starting small forward Kyle Korver hyperextended his left knee in Saturday's open practice at the Wachovia Center and was held out of yesterday's session, but Cheeks said, "I think he'll be ready to play." Dalembert, who had been eagerly anticipating the start of the season, tried to smile through the disappointment when his situation was announced to reporters Saturday, but said, "I'm miserable." So while Allen Iverson and Chris Webber are expected to be on the court in a game together for the first time, Steven Hunter has been penciled in as the starting center, backed in some order by rookie Deng Gai, free agent James Thomas and possibly Webber. Andre Iguodala will start at shooting guard, but depending on Korver's situation could log some minutes at small forward and possibly even power forward. King said he was not intending to bring in an additional big man, because injured Michael Bradley (arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn meniscus) and rookie Shavlik Randolph (foot stress fracture) are also likely to be back within a 2-week time frame. Asked directly about two available veteran free agents, he said he had no interest in Christian Laettner or former Sixer George Lynch. Even though assistant coach John Kuester almost daily runs specific players through additional post-practice drills, it seemed significant that a lengthy session yesterday included Hunter, Gai and Thomas. "Any time a guy is hurt, I just usually put the next guy in, regardless of who it is," Cheeks said. "I don't bog my mind down with worrying about, 'This guy's out or that guy's out.' The reason why guys are on NBA teams - and I tell them - is we feel like they can play." Nor would Cheeks be wary if the 6-10 Webber had to fill some of the minutes in the middle. Webber did that with Sacramento, and had to play against such opponents as Shaquille O'Neal, Tim Duncan and David Robinson. One constant as the season gets under way will be the pressure up the floor and various zones and traps Cheeks has been installing. Of the preseason, he said: "I liked the pressure of forcing turnovers, not just relying on our offense to score points. We always had a good amount of deflections... which always indicates our defense was active, our hands were active." That defense, needless to say, is more effective when there are a couple of big men around the basket. Without Dalembert, their best shot blocker, there would have to be more reliance on some largely inexperienced players. "We've done extra work, not just on the premise [that they might have to play], but since Sam went out they also understand the need and the importance of being ready just in case," Cheeks said. "You've just got to use what you have. Hopefully, that guy can do the job. Certainly, it will not be at the same caliber, but each day we're hoping that guy will get better and help our needs out." </div> link:http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/sports/13041039.htm
