DURHAM, N.C. – Everybody continues to express optimism on the injury front concerning Samuel Dalembert, including the Sixers center himself.
In a training camp that isn’t expected to be overflowing with storylines, the recovery from a stress fracture in his left foot by Dalembert, is right now on top of the list.
Dalembert had limited participation in the opening day of training camp at Duke University’s Cameron Indoor Stadium.
He continues to express confidence, while preaching caution. And right now, with how much he means to the team, he has to do both.
At least he knew not to overextend himself, even though there is nothing Dalembert would like more than to be out on the floor at all times.
“The ankle was starting to get weak so I knew I had to stop,” he said.
After a couple of weeks in a cast and then in a boot, Dalembert’s foot and ankle need to get stronger. He has to have the confidence that he can push off the ankle and that the foot can take the incessant pounding.
“I had to give it a test,” Dalembert said. “I was happy to see how things went.”
Dalembert hopes to be 100 percent by the regular season opener Oct. 31 at Toronto, but there is no guarantee.
He is doing everything possible to return full-time on the court, including day-long rehab. The players practiced from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Dalembert returned later in the afternoon for more rehab.
It’s possible that one of the most important people this training camp will be Sixers head athletic trainer Kevin Johnson.
There was hope expressed by coach Maurice Cheeks that Dalembert would be able to pick up the pace later this week.
For now, that seems like a best-case scenario. It is imperative that Dalembert doesn’t come back too soon. Yet, it’s just as important that he can maintain his conditioning which is difficult when not constantly running up and down the court.
The Sixers have to hope that time heals this wound and that the injury isn’t something that lingers into the regular season
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Getting a Foothold on Dalembert's Injury
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Marc Narducci is in his 23rd year as a sports reporter for The Philadelphia Inquirer. The 2007-2008 season will be his first as the 76ers beat writer. For the past two seasons, Marc had been the backup writer for the Eagles. Over the past few years Marc covered the NBA, NHL and Major League baseball as well as writing on sports media. Prior to covering professional sports, Marc was a long-time high school sportswriter for The Inquirer's South Jersey section.
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