http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/sports/basketball/10309617.htm

Lack of playing time frustrates Dalembert

It's been up and down for the Sixers center. One reason: Marc Jackson is doing well.

By Marc Narducci

Inquirer Staff Writer


ORLANDO, Fla. - Samuel Dalembert had no explanation other than the obvious when Tim Duncan asked the 76ers center a seemingly simple question. The two met in the locker-room area after San Antonio had scored an 88-80 win over the Sixers on Nov. 18 at the Wachovia Center.

"He asked me where I was in the second half, and I said that I was on the bench watching," Dalembert said after yesterday's practice at the Orlando Magic's facility. "He started laughing and then said that he thought he would see more of me then."

Tonight, when the Sixers play the Spurs in San Antonio, nobody knows whether Dalembert will get off the bench much in the first half, let alone the second.

In the teams' first meeting, Dalembert played 18 minutes in the first half and had four points, six rebounds, two blocked shots and three personal fouls. Both of the blocks were against Duncan, who finished the game with 34 points and 13 rebounds.

Dalembert didn't play in the third quarter and logged just three minutes, with one rebound, in the fourth period when the Spurs outscored the Sixers, 33-21.

During the Sixers' 6-7 start, one of the confounding story lines has been the up-and-down playing time of Dalembert.

He is averaging 18.8 minutes in nine games, having missed four because of a hamstring injury. At 6-foot-11, he is the tallest Sixer on an undersized team. Dalembert is averaging 5.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game and is able to run the court like a guard.

Saturday's 105-99 loss at Orlando was the low point for Dalembert. He picked up three quick fouls in three first-quarter minutes and didn't play the rest of the game.

There have been other times this year when his playing time has been uneven. He played just 13 minutes in a 93-83 loss to Miami, despite committing just one foul.

Not wanting to rock the boat, Dalembert will say only that his uneven playing time has been "a tough situation."

One reason Dalembert hasn't been playing as much as expected is the success of starting center Marc Jackson, who is averaging 14.2 points and 6.2 rebounds in 27.7 minutes per game.

Since the Sixers are so undersized, why not use both Jackson and Dalembert at the same time? In that scenario, Jackson would slide over to the power- forward spot.

"If there is ever a time I thought it was necessary to play Marc Jackson at four [power forward] and Brian Skinner or Samuel Dalembert at the five [center], we would," Sixers coach Jim O'Brien said.

Still, Dalembert's frustration over his playing time is evident.

"When you are out there on the court, you don't know exactly how long you will be there, but you try to do what is best for the team at that moment," he said. "Sometimes it's good, and sometimes it seems good for others, but it's not good."

O'Brien is the judge and jury on playing time, and right now it appears as if Dalembert has to do more to earn more minutes.

"My job is, frankly, to be cold and calculating from a standpoint of observations on how people are playing and make the appropriate decisions," O'Brien said. "Sam is improving on his defense and he gives us a shot-blocking presence on court."

The key is getting more time on the court, and many - including Duncan - are wondering whether that will happen.

Notes. O'Brien said that Jackson would start tonight's game guarding Duncan and that 6-8 Josh Davis would go against 7-foot center Rasho Nesterovic... . Jackson on guarding Duncan: "I think Duncan is the hardest assignment. It's not just the kind of player he is, but he plays in a system where they get him the ball in certain positions on the court that are tough to stop him."... O'Brien said the starting lineup remains intact, which means Davis and Jackson will be joined by Kyle Korver, Andre Iguodala and Allen Iverson... . There's nothing new on the Glenn Robinson front, according to his agent, Charles Tucker. "He's working out, but not ready to play yet," Tucker said yesterday. Robinson has been hampered by an elbow injury and left-ankle tendinitis.

I would love to get Dalembert. If the Sixers aren't very high on him, maybe we can get him.

Dalembert sounds like an interesting prospect. I still want to keep Nazr. From what I can gather from the Sixers, they need a center and a SG or a SF. TT and a 2nd rd pick for Big Dog and Dalembert works.

yea only way to get it done is to probably add sweets

A frontline of Dalembert/Nazr and Sweetney off the bench providing a low post threat looks very good!

Posted by fishmike:

I would trade Sweetney for Dalembert right now. I love Mike and still think he will be a hell of a player but Sam keeps us young and immediatly becomes our backup center and gives us something we really need.

I'm not too sure Philly makes that deal since they already have an overpaid and undersized Kenny Thomas at the 4. But i'm curious - how do you think Nazr would do at the 4? Wouldn't Sam and Nazr all of a sudden give us a potentially tough duo at the 4 and 5?