Samuel Dalembert Quotations

My decision would've been different. Nothing against Jim O'Brien, but I could never understand his plans for me. But Mo Cheeks told me I was going to play. Now, if I don't produce, it's on me.

I wish they would tell me one specific thing I need to get done and, trust me, I would be focused on that one thing and would make sure I would get it done. But that's not the case. It's not clear to me.

I wish I can tell you. It's crazy. Every time we think we have things under control, something happens.

I did what I had to do. I did a good job stepping up to the challenge and so did the team.

I am just hoping to start playing a little bit more and get my momentum, timing, position and patience back, ... It feels good just being out there.

I don't think it's effort. I think everybody out there is trying to do the right things. I think everybody out there puts a lot of pressure on themselves to defend.

We took control of the game and shut them down. We controlled the tempo of the game and didn't really let them get back in.

I thought I was doing my job, but obviously I wasn't.

That would have been a tough decision. If the staff didn't change, it would have been something to think about.

That's the last time I'm going to avoid somebody. From now on I'm just going to throw myself on everybody. There was no room for me to land.

We're up now. I think we just realize what needs to be done. Not having Chris out there is a deficit for us, but we just have to make up for his offense. Steven brought that tonight with his effort and I just tried to do my thing. With two athletic guys, we're going to make the game difficult.

We're trying hard, we're just making mistakes. Defensive-wise, we pretty much know what we should do.

This year, it's the same thing. It's always a step back.

After Michael Bradley got hurt and had his surgery, I was like, ?Man, I wish I could be there,? ... But we still have guys that are gonna step up and do what they?re capable of doing and helping us out winning. The coaches and everybody said, ?Take your time. We need you by Nov. 1.? So I?m trying to get in a week before November, kind of get a little shape back and get myself into it.

Coach's system last year, it worked well for some people. But I'm a shot-blocker and I don't think the way we played defense was best for me.

You can't imagine. The way things went down for me, just coming back from injury, the last thing you expected is just not playing. It's one thing if you're not starting. But the last thing you expect is not being able to play, and that's a surprise.

There was no warning, nothing. Not starting is one thing but not playing is like them telling me what you were doing wasn't good enough.

I'm trying to get myself on the floor for a long time. I'm ready. I'm ready. My main thing is I want to establish my presence defensively. That's my bread and butter.

I'm not the boss. The boss can decide to do whatever he wants. I just want to play.

I'm comfortable now. Look, my problem last year was playing time. I just wanted the chance to go out and prove myself and I know Mo is going to utilize me the best way he can.

I?d rather play the game than work out because they were too long. The workouts were a couple hours in the gym, a few hours here doing stuff. I said, ?Man, let me get back on the court.? It?s a lot easier to play than try to come back.

I can name about five or six games that we let slip from our fingers.

The doctor told me I was supposed to be in for three or four minutes at a time, then take a break and go back in. But I felt good and I wanted to stay the whole practice. What happened is one guy got the fast break and I ran after him and tried to push the second gear, and I kind of pulled it up a little bit.