fun finish last night, but . . .

"Ian Kognitow" <covanus.DeleteThis@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:672e5807-06d7-47dd-a4d0-0065bf880cf8@f53g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...
> On Dec 23, 6:37 am, wro....DeleteThis@temple.edu wrote:

> On a related note, I guess, is how it seems one of the more unobserved
> stories lately is how consistent Dalembert has started being. In
> December he has averages of 10.6p, 11.8r, and 3.6b, and in the last
> half dozen games or so it's been even better. Best of all it seems
> that he's finally learned how to keep the fouls under control and has
> averaged a solid 33 minutes a game (would be higher if not for some of
> his injury concern earlier in the year). Anyway, those numbers could
> put him up there as one of the best centers in the east after Dwight
> Howard. While it almost surely won't happen, if he can keep it up,
> might Dalembert deserve all-star consideration as a backup? At least
> might the gripes about his contract stop?

Wish I could agree, but . . . the last two games Sammy has not done the job
defensively. First Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum went wild inside, then last
night Pau Gasol hit his season high in points. I'm open to suggestion that
there are other factors at work here--- maybe the Sixers do need a taller
guy on the PF spot who plays more than 24 minutes a game.

---- Kurt Straub
 >> Stay informed about: fun finish last night, but . . . 

On Dec 23, 11:17 am, "Kurt Straub" <jkurtstr... DeleteThis @comcast.net> wrote:
> "Ian Kognitow" <cova... DeleteThis @gmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:672e5807-06d7-47dd-a4d0-0065bf880cf8@f53g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...
>
> > On Dec 23, 6:37 am, wro... DeleteThis @temple.edu wrote:
> > On a related note, I guess, is how it seems one of the more unobserved
> > stories lately is how consistent Dalembert has started being. In
> > December he has averages of 10.6p, 11.8r, and 3.6b, and in the last
> > half dozen games or so it's been even better. Best of all it seems
> > that he's finally learned how to keep the fouls under control and has
> > averaged a solid 33 minutes a game (would be higher if not for some of
> > his injury concern earlier in the year). Anyway, those numbers could
> > put him up there as one of the best centers in the east after Dwight
> > Howard. While it almost surely won't happen, if he can keep it up,
> > might Dalembert deserve all-star consideration as a backup? At least
> > might the gripes about his contract stop?
>
> Wish I could agree, but . . . the last two games Sammy has not done the job
> defensively. First Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum went wild inside, then last
> night Pau Gasol hit his season high in points. I'm open to suggestion that
> there are other factors at work here--- maybe the Sixers do need a taller
> guy on the PF spot who plays more than 24 minutes a game.
>
Admittedly, I haven't seen the last couple f games to make a full
assessment of Dalembert's personal defense but at least from the
numbers, it seems like he's doing his part--14 boards and 3 blocks
against the Grizzlies and 14 boards and 2 blocks against the Lakers.
Meanwhile, against the Grizzlies Evans, Iguodala, Korver, and Smith
*combined* for 14 boards and 0 blocks and 13 and 0 against the
Lakers. With the small lineups--and this includes Smith who hasn't
shown any strong interior presence--there has been a standing concern
for the interior defense. Put it this way--how awful would it be
*without* Dalembert--if the team were playing Smith and Evans up
front?

--IK
 >> Stay informed about: fun finish last night, but . . . 

On Dec 23, 4:24 pm, "Kurt Straub" <jkurtstr....DeleteThis@comcast.net> wrote:
> "Ian Kognitow" <cova....DeleteThis@gmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:c84e07b9-53d8-44af-99af-bbfde244f7b7@e25g2000prg.googlegroups.com...
>
> > On Dec 23, 11:17 am, "Kurt Straub" <jkurtstr....DeleteThis@comcast.net> wrote:
> >> "Ian Kognitow" <cova....DeleteThis@gmail.com> wrote in message
>
> > Admittedly, I haven't seen the last couple f games to make a full
> > assessment of Dalembert's personal defense but at least from the
> > numbers, it seems like he's doing his part--14 boards and 3 blocks
> > against the Grizzlies and 14 boards and 2 blocks against the Lakers.
> > Meanwhile, against the Grizzlies Evans, Iguodala, Korver, and Smith
> > *combined* for 14 boards and 0 blocks and 13 and 0 against the
> > Lakers. With the small lineups--and this includes Smith who hasn't
> > shown any strong interior presence--there has been a standing concern
> > for the interior defense. Put it this way--how awful would it be
> > *without* Dalembert--if the team were playing Smith and Evans up
> > front?
>
> Sammy has been active, but out of position an awful lot. Opposing centers
> are scoring seemingly at will.

It makes sense in a way--with the small lineups, it pretty much leaves
Dalembert as a roaming single interior defender, so while his block
numbers may be up he also may be giving up more than usual to 'his
man'--even as he is effectively trying to cover for the team. I can
certainly agree that there's room for improvement, especially as a one-
on-one defender. That said, I do think that he has shown some
commendable improvement this year, with some more consistent
rebounding and keeping his minutes steady with less fouls. And again,
besides Howard, what other center in the east is clearly outplaying
him this year? Shaq? Ben Wallace? Bogut? Curry?

> As to help, Steven Hunter has been playing less than five minutes a game
> with the Nuggets.

Hunter actually came down with some knee injury--he would actually be
starting right now otherwise as Camby, Nene, and Martin have all been
out recently as well. The Nuggets just started a frontcourt of Jelani
McCoy and Linas Kleiza. Not that I want Hunter back--just saying.

> So Evans is an upgrade here, but his talents are in
> rebounding and little else. Evans gives good effort, but at 6-8 he's not a towering defensive presence.

True. Everyone knew this about Evans in advance so he's giving about
what could be expected. He's a placeholder. I am still intrigued
about a potential pairing of Dalembert with Emeka Okafor or Josh
Smith, should the team decide to target those guys as free agents in
the summer. Block party.

>As for Smith, he's proving more productive
> than one would expect from a second round draft pick rookie, but his skills
> at this point are more offensive; his defense is lacking.

Smith was actually a first round pick (the Sixers' 2nd of that round)
at #20 overall. Anyway, he was forced a lot of minutes and produced
some modestly competent numbers but actually seems to be regressing a
bit lately with Korver's return and Young finally picking up a few
minutes. Yeah, he seems to have some offensive skills and will
probably stick around the league for awhile but I don't really foresee
him ever being a rotation player on a contending team.

--IK
 >> Stay informed about: fun finish last night, but . . . 

"Ian Kognitow" <covanus.DeleteThis@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:c84e07b9-53d8-44af-99af-bbfde244f7b7@e25g2000prg.googlegroups.com...
> On Dec 23, 11:17 am, "Kurt Straub" <jkurtstr....DeleteThis@comcast.net> wrote:
>> "Ian Kognitow" <cova....DeleteThis@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>

> Admittedly, I haven't seen the last couple f games to make a full
> assessment of Dalembert's personal defense but at least from the
> numbers, it seems like he's doing his part--14 boards and 3 blocks
> against the Grizzlies and 14 boards and 2 blocks against the Lakers.
> Meanwhile, against the Grizzlies Evans, Iguodala, Korver, and Smith
> *combined* for 14 boards and 0 blocks and 13 and 0 against the
> Lakers. With the small lineups--and this includes Smith who hasn't
> shown any strong interior presence--there has been a standing concern
> for the interior defense. Put it this way--how awful would it be
> *without* Dalembert--if the team were playing Smith and Evans up
> front?

Sammy has been active, but out of position an awful lot. Opposing centers
are scoring seemingly at will.

As to help, Steven Hunter has been playing less than five minutes a game
with the Nuggets. So Evans is an upgrade here, but his talents are in
rebounding and little else. Evans gives good effort, but at 6-8 he's not a
towering defensive presence. As for Smith, he's proving more productive
than one would expect from a second round draft pick rookie, but his skills
at this point are more offensive; his defense is lacking.

So I guess at this point, I'd like to see more focus from Sammy *and* some
more help for him on the interior defense.

------- Kurt Straub
 >> Stay informed about: fun finish last night, but . . . 

"Ian Kognitow" <covanus.TakeThisOut@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1fc6fcf0-1b78-45e0-9c5b-504f4178b43c@l6g2000prm.googlegroups.com...
> On Dec 23, 4:24 pm, "Kurt Straub" <jkurtstr....TakeThisOut@comcast.net> wrote:
>> "Ian Kognitow" <cova....TakeThisOut@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>
>> news:c84e07b9-53d8-44af-99af-bbfde244f7b7@e25g2000prg.googlegroups.com...
>>
>> > On Dec 23, 11:17 am, "Kurt Straub" <jkurtstr....TakeThisOut@comcast.net> wrote:
>> >> "Ian Kognitow" <cova....TakeThisOut@gmail.com> wrote in message

> I am still intrigued
> about a potential pairing of Dalembert with Emeka Okafor or Josh
> Smith, should the team decide to target those guys as free agents in
> the summer. Block party.

Here, here. Let's hope Stefanski goes in this direction. The prospect of
Okafor, in particular, has me drooling (figuratively).

> Smith was actually a first round pick (the Sixers' 2nd of that round)
> at #20 overall. Anyway, he was forced a lot of minutes and produced
> some modestly competent numbers but actually seems to be regressing a
> bit lately with Korver's return and Young finally picking up a few
> minutes. Yeah, he seems to have some offensive skills and will
> probably stick around the league for awhile but I don't really foresee
> him ever being a rotation player on a contending team.

You may turn out to be right, but it's way too early for the disillusion you
are expressing. The guy has shown talent and a willingness to run the
court, and at 7 feet, there is no reason why he can't be coached into a
better defensive presence. Especially on this team, the Coach needs to do
everything to foster this development.

------ Kurt Straub
 >> Stay informed about: fun finish last night, but . . .