The Sixers' medical staff has again placed Samuel Dalembert's left foot in a protective boot, hoping that immobilizing the foot will aid in the starting center's return from a stress fracture that was diagnosed in August.
Cheeks said yesterday that Dalembert will not play in the two remaining preseason games: tomorrow night in New York and Thursday night in New Jersey. Also, he will not practice until Saturday at the earliest. The Sixers open the season Oct. 31 in Toronto.
Without Dalembert, Cheeks will continue to offer extended power forward/center minutes to rookie Jason Smith and also will use veteran Calvin Booth and possibly rookie Herbert Hill. He has remained more cautious about using Shavlik Randolph, who is not quite 11 months removed from a fractured and dislocated left ankle.