Deep Sixer

On the day it was announced that rookie center Herbert Hill would have surgery for a torn meniscus in his left knee, the Sixers got some encouraging news when Samuel Dalembert returned to practice on Saturday.
Dalembert was held out of contact, so a true test will come Sunday when he is expected to take part in the entire practice.
The Sixers and Dalembert keep insisting that he will be available for Wednesday’s opener at Toronto against the Raptors.
Hill will have surgery on Tuesday in Birmingham by noted surgeon Dr. James Andrews. Sixers team physician Dr. Jack McPhilemy will assist in the procedure. The team doesn't have a timetable for Hill until the results of the surgery are known.
What Hill’s injury and Dalembert’s return shows is the fragile position the Sixers are at center.
With Dalembert missing all but one preseason game after experiencing soreness from a stress fracture in his left foot, rookie 7-footer Jason Smith received valuable minutes at center.
And if Dalembert couldn’t go for some reason, Smith and Calvin Booth are the only other centers on the roster. That doesn’t’ count power forward Reggie Evans, who played center in some instances this preseason.
Smith is also suited more for power forward, but at this point, the Sixers can’t be choosy.
And it comes to show how delicate this team is when so much is riding on the health of Dalembert, who was able to start in all 82 games last year.
In the past, Dalembert was looked on as a necessary component. Now he is perceived as one of the team’s strengths.
Before Saturday, Dalembert hadn’t practiced since Oct. 11, so he has missed a good chunk of time.
With Dalembert out, Hill was able to give a few serviceable minutes at center.
What has been impressive about Hill is that he always seems to be around the ball. He averaged 4.2 rebounds in just 9.0 minutes during the five preseason games he appeared in.
As impressive as Hill was, he wasn't going to come close to having the impact of Dalembert.
For now, the Sixers hope that Dalembert is able to round into form and that he doesn’t experience any more setbacks.
Dalembert said that he felt better after getting new orthotics, but the true sign will likely be around a week from now, after the Sixers have played three games in four days.
Dalembert gives the Sixers a rebounding and defensive presence that was lacking during his absence.
Even if he can only give the team 20 minutes a night in the early part of the season, that beats putting together patchwork frontcourt lineups.
And with such a young team, Dalembert is needed this year more than ever, just for the team to have a chance at being competitive on a nightly basis.