Are you paying attention Rick? The per game stat comparisson was for their FIRST 3 years, not carreer averages. They both began their pro careers at the same starting point and Deke was light years ahead of Sam after his first year.
Yeah I am paying attention. Dalmebert's first year, he played in only 34 games and averaged 5 minutes a game. The next year, he played in all of them but only got 27 minutes a game. How can you possibly compare stats with a player who was a starter from the minute he came into the league, and by his third year had so much more experience!?
The years that Mutumbo was here, he averaged somewhere around 11 rebounds and 11 points per game. Just about what Dalembert produced in the playoffs.
How much worse can he be if he can put up the same numbers now that he's in his fourth season? Who's faster up and down the court, who jumps higher?
Dike is a better blocker, having been trained well in College, but Sam has better potential. I will agree about their relative intelligence. I think Sam would have progressed a bit faster, if he was a bit brighter :rolleyes:
I never saw Dikembe jump up, catch a shot and put it down, something Sam is coordinated enough to do regularly.
Physically Sam is much more capable, Dikembe was never much more than a 10 and 10 player, Sam should be better as he gains more experience.
It's not easy for anyone who 7'0" to be a great dribbler in the post, guys like Garnett and McHale were doing it since they were in Jr. High. I don't know how much the Sixers are working with Sam, but I would have him practicing McHale's drop step, and up and under move 8 hours a day. Eventually, he'd be able to mimic the moves and do it automatically, which is all he needs to become an all-star.
He's a player who needs to spend a lot of time practicing with someone patient enough to keep at it, until he gets it right. Dikembe could never even think about copying moves like that, he'd trip over his feet and break his own ankles!
Just watch what happens this year.
