Samuel Dalembert: Championship Center?

[jsams]

We're all witnesses. I just watched the Celtics destroy the Lakers in every way shape or form in a 6-game sweep. What made the Celtics so much better than Kobe, Phil and the Lakers? There's one simple answer. A 6'11'' presence in the middle of the floor, anchoring the defense, especially when the offense goes stagnant. His name is Kevin Garnett. Kevin Garnett is now a world champion along with a never-ending list of top defensive big man. We've heard the cliché a thousand times, but for whatever reason, this NBA Finals made me come to the realization that "Defense [really does] win Championships".

That brings me to my question. Does this young Philadelphia 76er team have enough defense to one day hoist a Larry O'Brien trophy of their own? The answer is still remain to be seen, but if they do, it's all going to have to start with the man in the middle, the "Haitian Sensation", Samuel Dalembert.

Looking back at the NBA champions throughout the years, there is one constant variable. Big men who can anchor the defense. Michael Jordan's Bulls were the only real exception. The recent Spurs teams had him (Tim Duncan), Shaq and Kobe's Lakers (Shaq), the Pistons (Ben Wallace), the Celtics (Kevin Garnett), the Heat (Shaq), the Rockets (Hakeem). The list could go on forever; all the way back to Willis Reed, Kareem, Russell and Wilt. The other night, ESPN brought up an interesting point about how Bill Russell might not have been the greatest offensive option, but he gave his team the best chance to win (11 Championships) when they went up against a big man who once dropped 100 (Wilt).

Am I saying Sammy D is anywhere near the skill level, let alone be mentioned in the same breath as these guys? Absolutely not, but do I think he has enough talent to eventually anchor a defense for a championship team? Yes and here's why. (Be prepared for a ton of stats to be thrown your way).

Sammy just turned 27 years old and this past season was the year he really put everything together. He's always been a great shot-blocker (2.0 per for his career), but he was consistently a player who blocked a bunch of meaningless shots, not helping the overall team defense in the process. That explains why the Sixers allowed more than 98 points per game in the three seasons prior to this one. The biggest difference in his game this season was, he was able to stay on the court longer and develop a rhythm by fouling out a career-low, 3 times. The previous two seasons he had fouled out in 9 games. He also controlled the boards like never before, averaging 10.4 per game.

During the Sixers' 2nd half playoff run, Dalembert came up HUGE in the fourth quarter of games, shutting down the other team's best post player and doing it without the double team. The most memorable game was against the Spurs and Tim Duncan. I cannot give you the exact details about the plays, but I vividly remember Dalembert forcing Duncan into two horrible shots on back-to-back possessions in the fourth. Duncan missed the shots and Philly held off a furious Spur comeback to win the game. Sam held Duncan to a mere 16-6 in the win on 5-14 shooting, while Dalembert finished with 10-10-2. The other two games I remember where similar things occurred were, the big win in Boston late in the season and the game where Dalembert blocked Al Jefferson's potential game-tying shot, giving him 9 blocks for the game.

Here's what some of the NBA's best big men did against Sammy this season:

Duncan- 17 points and 11 rebounds on 46% shooting
KG- 19 points and 7 rebounds on 60%
Bosh- 21 points and 6 boards on 53%
Curry- 10 points and 4 rebounds on 59%
Dwight Howard- 17 and 15 on 61%
Okur- 18 and 1 on 60%
Kaman- 7 and 8 on 36%
Al Jefferson- 20 and 12 on 55%
Andy Bynum- I hate to even show this one, but 20 and 13 on 84%....Ouch!
and
Camby- 8 and 8 on 46%

Besides Bynum, no one handled Dalembert very well. None of these numbers really jump out at me, but Dalembert did hold some pretty good rebounders below their season average. The thing with Dalembert is, he went into his "anti-KG" mode this season in fourth quarters. Dalembert was in a defensive zone in the fourth quarter of games and absolutely baffled teams' best post-player. If the Sixers hung with a team through the first 3 quarters they knew they'd have a great chance to win with their suffocating fourth quarter defense, lead by Dalembert. In the month of March, which they solidified their playoff berth, they won 11 games. In those 11 wins Philadelphia outscored their opponents in the fourth quarter in 10 of 11 games. The only one where they failed to accomplish that was the San Antonio game I mentioned earlier.

The 27-year-old Dalembert is finally becoming the player we all thought he would be. Heck, he might even be earning about 7 of the 10 million dollars a year Billy King gave him. The most encouraging sign was his ability to take it up a notch in fourth quarters. Not even Garnett could do that. After what I saw this season from Sam, along with some very nice post-season performances, I'm very confident Dalembert will one day anchor a Philly team's championship defense and he might even bust out a Kevin Garnett type scream at mid-court. Oh, the possibilities.

[tk76]

Interesting stats. Sam is progressing as a one on one defender against some of the better quick PF/C's in the league. Most importantly, he is able to stay out of foul trouble. He still has to adapt to playing bigger athletic centers like Howard and Bynum- but that is a problem for the entire league.

If you have a center who is big enough to control those guys you probably have similar match up problems against smaller, quicker centers. Its akin to trying to slow down both quick PG's like CP3 and power pg's like Baron and Billups. Its unlikely you will match up well against everyone.

As for being "championship" quality- it all depends on his teammates. Put him on Utah, Pheonix or LA and he would be great (as long as he is willing to play within his role. Pait him with a great penetrating guard and another threat at PF/C, and Sam might get you 15/10/3 with all of the easy dunks and o-boards left to him if his teammates drew help from his defender.

That said, Sam will never be the best frontcourt player on a champion (at least not offensively) and the more he touches the ball within an ofensive set the worse off for the team.

No one player gives you a championship- although as you pointed out, its nearly impossible without a superstar. You need at least 2 stars and 1-2 near stars. It was as true for Wilt, Kareem and MJ as it is today. Sam could be the 4-5th best player on a champion, but he isn't the Moses to lead you to the promised land.

[tk76]

I don't see Sam being the center if the Sixers become contenders (a big IF anyways.) Sam has 3 years on his deal, and after the Sixers get PF or C a think they are more likely to move Sam than resign him at age 29.

I am afraid that his flaws will become more evident as he starts to loose his quick jumping ability. He's not like Mutumbo, who defends more with size and length- Sam is more reliant on quick jumping- which goes with having young legs.

[AI_to_AI]

Kevin Garnett is now a world champion along with...

as an european, this "title" always somehow ticks me off, especially given Team USA's performance in recent years... don't get me wrong, to me, the nba is still the best league in the world. but to call yourself world champion, well, you somehow have to beat the rest of the world.

anyway, as for daly being a center on a chamionship team: with a dominant power forward - maybe. but i don't think so.

[SendEm]

Kevin Garnett is now a world champion along with...

as an european, this "title" always somehow ticks me off, especially given Team USA's performance in recent years... don't get me wrong, to me, the nba is still the best league in the world. but to call yourself world champion, well, you somehow have to beat the rest of the world.

anyway, as for daly being a center on a chamionship team: with a dominant power forward - maybe. but i don't think so.

The Olympic and international game of basketball is a completely different brand of basketball. The Olympic and international 3 point lines are much shorter than the NBA and the paint area is wider than the NBA. If the International and Olympic game had those two things the same as the NBA then your argument would hold water. Team USA would have never lost EVER if the Olympic 3 point line were farther out and the painted area were thinner just like the NBA.

So in essence Garnett is a world Champion in the North American style of basketball which is the original style. That international style is just designed to make less talented, less physical players look better while promoting perimeter players over interior players...

The United States still obviously has the most skilled basketball players but it has taken us some years to teach our young Team USA players that weird international style that reduces what they do best and allows less talented European players to shine.

[Stanford]

Garnett is a world champion. Who the hell cares about oversensitive Europeans. Stop trying to PC everything up.

[AI_to_AI]

exactly, boston is the world champion in northern american style of basketball. that's why they should be called nba champions, not world champions.

well, if the 3pt line was so much shorter, nba pros should have a field day against international competition. that would be like shooting long 2s all day long and getting 3 points for it.

imo, team usa lost it's aura recently because it wasn't a team anymore, just a bunch of highly skilled individuals.

yeah right, oversensitive european...

[tk76]

You'd have a point if the best Europeans played only in Europe. What proportion of the best 25 European players in the world play in the NBA? I'll take Dirk over Vaquez- and that doesn't even include the impact of non-US/non-Euro players like Manu, Yi and Dalembert. Since the NBA has the majority of the best players in the world it is fair to call it the elite league in the world.

Man United proved itself to be the best football club in the world this year- or should they have to beat Houston Dynamo or DC United of the MLS? Of course not. If you don't want to call the winner of the best league in tho world the "world Champs" then you are just splitting hairs and oversensitive.

What proportion of the best 25 European players in the world play in the NBA?

[SendEm]

exactly, boston is the world champion in northern american style of basketball. that's why they should be called nba champions, not world champions.

well, if the 3pt line was so much shorter, nba pros should have a field day against international competition. that would be like shooting long 2s all day long and getting 3 points for it.

imo, team usa lost it's aura recently because it wasn't a team anymore, just a bunch of highly skilled individuals.

yeah right, oversensitive european...

You failed to address the extra wide painted area in international basketball. Or are you downplaying its importance? Please do address this and how it effects the game of basketball. Oh yeah let's not forget about zone defenses that are allowed with NO DEFENSIVE 3 SECOND VIOLATION. The NBA just began allowing zone defenses within like the last like 7 years. But, with a defensive 3 seconds violation unlike international basketball. Please do address the HUGE painted area in international basketball. HUGE!

[psykosacul]

i believe sam can be the center on a defensive championship team simply because he doesnt hurt the team as much as he used to. his blundering mistakes, dribbling up the court, slow outlet passes, goal tends, and bad fouls went down this year. if he stays within those confines in the future he can be the center on any team that has championship calibur talent on it. but... he'll need some help. (front court and back)

[jmon]

exactly, boston is the world champion in northern american style of basketball. that's why they should be called nba champions, not world champions.

well, if the 3pt line was so much shorter, nba pros should have a field day against international competition. that would be like shooting long 2s all day long and getting 3 points for it.

imo, team usa lost it's aura recently because it wasn't a team anymore, just a bunch of highly skilled individuals.

yeah right, oversensitive european...

You failed to address the extra wide painted area in international basketball. Or are you downplaying its importance? Please do address this and how it effects the game of basketball. Oh yeah let's not forget about zone defenses that are allowed with NO DEFENSIVE 3 SECOND VIOLATION. The NBA just began allowing zone defenses within like the last like 7 years. But, with a defensive 3 seconds violation unlike international basketball. Please do address the HUGE painted area in international basketball. HUGE!

Who's to say that the NBA's version of basketball is the "best" version of basketball? Just because the sport began in the Unites States does not mean the country owns the sport. International committees make the rules in a manner where the thought is not to sell the game, but to have fair competition. The NBA' is a business who's main focus is to sell its product.

[jmon]

i believe sam can be the center on a defensive championship team simply because he doesnt hurt the team as much as he used to. his blundering mistakes, dribbling up the court, slow outlet passes, goal tends, and bad fouls went down this year. if he stays within those confines in the future he can be the center on any team that has championship calibur talent on it. but... he'll need some help. (front court and back)

I don't have goaltending statistics in front of me, but I would guess he still goaltends the most in the NBA.

He led the league in loose ball fouls and was top 10 in shooting fouls according to 82games... http://82games.com/FSORT3.HTM

I think he has improved, as you say, but more improvement is needed. I am not sure, right now, that he could really be the guy at center, but he is getting there... finally. The reports were right, for sure, when we got Sammy... project.

[IggyTheBEaST]

im not gonna read all that but the answer is yes, Samuel Dalembert can be the center on a championship team if he has an elite PF by his side (see KG and Kendrick Perkins)

[Mahorn at the 4]

My issue with Dalembert is the cap space that he uses up. I would like to move him just to put his cap space toward a star player. If we could use the current cap space, Dalembert's space and potentially Miller's cap space that could be 2-3 really good "complete" players to add to this team.

Yes, I know Dalembert adds a presence on D and makes up for some perimeter mistakes, but thinking fiscally... he is using too much cap space. The team can find someone to be a presence and rebound at a fraction of the cost.

[freshie2]

My issue with Dalembert is the cap space that he uses up. I would like to move him just to put his cap space toward a star player. If we could use the current cap space, Dalembert's space and potentially Miller's cap space that could be 2-3 really good "complete" players to add to this team.

Yes, I know Dalembert adds a presence on D and makes up for some perimeter mistakes, but thinking fiscally... he is using too much cap space. The team can find someone to be a presence and rebound at a fraction of the cost.

Scary thing is, he's getting close to a top 10 center in the league. There's not much else out there. When you look at total value (off/def) Sam's not a bad value, and you need big men to win. They can' t move him along and get equal value back.

[tk76]

Yes, I know Dalembert adds a presence on D and makes up for some perimeter mistakes, but thinking fiscally... he is using too much cap space. The team can find someone to be a presence and rebound at a fraction of the cost.

Who would that be?

Sam makes somewhere between the 14th and 20th highest salary for centers (depending on whether guys like Sheed and Duncan are considered centers.) That means he's paid like a midle of the road center. If you pay "a fraction" of his salary you will have a major weakness at the position- unless you have a guy still on his 1st contract (and likely that would be a top 10 pick if they are as good as Sam and still on their 1st contract.)

Sam is overpaid as a player- but his salary is pretty much market value for a center.

Non-superstars making 17M (Redd), aging stars making 22M (AI) and non-factors making 6M (Jerome James) get you in cap trouble. Key 24-26 year old starters making 10M does not put you in cap trouble.

People keep on acting like 10M is a huge NBA contract when it is not even to 50. How soon we forget that we had 2 players making a combined 40M 2 seasons ago. That's 4 Sams of new Iguodala contracts.

Moost elte teams are paying 45-55M for their top 3 players. Boston will pay their big three 60M next year. That puts them over the cap with only 3 players.

[Mahorn at the 4]

My issue with Dalembert is the cap space that he uses up. I would like to move him just to put his cap space toward a star player. If we could use the current cap space, Dalembert's space and potentially Miller's cap space that could be 2-3 really good "complete" players to add to this team.

Yes, I know Dalembert adds a presence on D and makes up for some perimeter mistakes, but thinking fiscally... he is using too much cap space. The team can find someone to be a presence and rebound at a fraction of the cost.

Scary thing is, he's getting close to a top 10 center in the league. There's not much else out there. When you look at total value (off/def) Sam's not a bad value, and you need big men to win. They can' t move him along and get equal value back.

Very good point! I believe in my post, but I had a hard time trying to figure out what we could get back for Dalembert. Toronto is an obvious destination, but what could they offer? A 3 way may be needed, but even then...

[freshie2]

Toronto makes sense for them, but only if the Sixers somehow can acquire a legit center in another move. You would have to think they would consider a deal that was based around Bargnani for Sam, but I'm not sure what else they would need to throw in to make it work. Problem here becomes the lack of an inside presence.

This deal works, but I think the Sixers would still need to bring in another big man for the center spot.

Philadelphia Trade Breakdown
Change in Team Outlook: +3.0 ppg, -4.8 rpg, and +1.3 apg.
Incoming Players
Rasho Nesterovic 7-0 C from Slovenia (Foreign)
7.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 1.1 apg in 20.9 minutes
Andrea Bargnani 7-0 PF from Italy (Foreign)
10.2 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.1 apg in 23.9 minutes
Outgoing Players
Samuel Dalembert 6-11 C from Seton Hall
10.5 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 0.6 apg in 33.2 minutes
Jason Smith 7-0 PF from Colorado State
4.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 0.3 apg in 14.6 minutes

[docwasoverated]

i like tk take..daly = value and youth..he will continue to improve imo.he has the foot speed to defend against the slashers ..hence no easy buckets ...so yes i think sam can be a huge part of a championship team!

[ahwi_quacoe]

Until the Best NBA teams engage in competition against the best teams in Europe or against the best anywhere , This World Champions Title that we Americans love to give ourselves will always be questioned and debatable. How can you call yourselves World Champions when you don't play the rest of the world regardless of if your league is the best league in the World? It's like if Manchester United beat every team in England and then proclaimed themselves World CHampions , they would be considered laughingstocks. A Champions league for Basketball would be interesting every two to 4 years instead of nations playing that FIBA competition.

I digress


Dalembert would have made the Boston Celtics even more ridiculous on the defensive end. Next to KG and with Posey and Paul Pierce on the perimeter ? The only team I think was better defensively in my opinion was LArry Brown's 2001 76ers . That Defense was incredible. Full Court presses, trapping , blocked shots . I thought Eric snow was defensive player of the year. I remember on interview where Kobe was asked who guarded the best in the league and before the interviewer was done asking the question Kobe blurted out Eric Snow and repeated his name like three times to give it emphasis. If only we could have added Ron artest to that team and SHaq wasn't destroying the league back then. Aaah the good old days... Give me some Larry Brown any day

but I digress