Deep Sixer

The 76ers are expressing optimism over the recent foot injury to center Samuel Dalembert and feel that he will be ready for the start of training camp Oct. 2.
Dalembert suffered a stress fracture in his left foot and has been fitted for a hard cast.
He complained of soreness following his eighth and final game while competing for the Canadian National Team in the FIBA Americas Olympic Qualifying Tournament last month in Las Vegas.
Dalembert averaged 25.6 minutes, 10.6 points, 9.4 rebounds and 2.4 blocked shots. Canada had to play eight games in nine days, which isn’t the best for anybody’s feet or the rest of the body either.
His performance looked like a good springboard for the upcoming season. Now there has to be at least a question about his health, except it isn’t coming from the Sixers.
President and general manager Billy King said the team anticipates that Dalembert will be ready to return for the start of training camp.
The Sixers begin camp on Oct. 2 at Duke University.
While the Sixers know much more about this injury than anybody else, including this writer, it seems difficult to be totally confident when it comes to a stress fracture in the foot, especially for a basketball player, where the pounding is constant.
The Sixers, no doubt will be cautious, but one thing that everybody is in agreement with is that it couldn’t have come at a worse time.
Remember during this time nearly two years ago when Dalembert suffered a right quadriceps strain while preparing for training camp.
Dalembert missed the first 13 games of the regular season and never developed consistency that season.
Last year, one in which he was able to start all 82 games, he played much better, averaging 10.7 points and 8.9 rebounds.
Dalembert had his ups and downs in last month’s tournament, but the ups won out by a good margin. His worst game came against the champion U.S. , where he had five points and two rebounds in 22 minutes, shooting 2 for 7. It didn’t help that his team was overmatched, losing 113-63.
Still, there was the 13-point, 18-rebound effort in Canada’s final game, a 72-66 loss to Puerto Rico on Aug. 30. Dalembert also had 18 points and 8 rebounds in an 80-73 win over Venezuela.
“Everybody looks at him as a shot blocker and rebounder, but I found him to be a tremendous passer, who really runs the floor and a capable scorer,” Canadian National Team coach Leo Rautins said. “I think you see a player who is really ready to excel.”
Dalembert has shown glimpses of brilliance before, but more often he he has displayed a lack of sustained consistency.
It often takes big men longer to develop, especially ones who didn’t become serious about the game until they were teenagers.
This could be the season that Dalembert puts everything together, but he must without pain.
And while there is no outward concern by the organization at this point, a lot of people will be breathing easier when they actually see Dalembert running on the court pain-free.