Theo Ratliff's career has come full-circle, to the point where, at 35, he is a mentor to the 76ers' younger big men, Samuel Dalembert and rookie Marreese Speights.
Ratliff understands this. He is in his 14th NBA season, and he knows both can benefit from his experience and from his expertise, especially at blocking shots.
That should especially help Dalembert, who has never really had a shot-blocking mentor in his six seasons with the Sixers.
Few have blocked more shots than Ratliff. He ranks 18th in NBA history in blocked shots -- seventh among active players -- and is one of only seven players to lead the league for at least three seasons.
Ratliff already knows how he can help Dalembert.
"He can definitely be a better shot blocker,"
Ratliff said. "He tends to get into a little foul trouble doing certain things. He gets out of control sometimes and goes erratic after a blocked shot, when all you have to do is tap it."
"I speak to him about that. A lot of it is about positioning. I led the league in blocked shots because I knew where to be and when to be there, along with my athleticism."
"If you're not in the right position to make the play, more than likely you're going to foul or you're not going to get there."
Dalembert has already become a prolific shot blocker. He ranked fourth in the NBA in blocked shots last season, with 2.34 per game. But Dalembert did that mostly on athleticism and not necessarily on positioning. And he has been plagued by foul trouble throughout his career.
Ratliff is also helping Speights, the 6-foot-10 rookie from Florida, get a crash course in NBA defense.
"Theo's been great,"
Sixers coach Maurice Cheeks said. "He's showing them things. It's a learning process (for Speights). Everything he's doing out on the floor, he's probably doing for the first time, and he's getting hit."
Ratliff is also helping Dalembert become a better off-the-ball shot blocker, which has always been Ratliff's strength.
"Theo's timing is so good in blocking shots, it's unbelievable,"
Cheeks said. "That's a dimension that Theo can show him."
Notes
Sixers guard/forward Kareem Rush turned his ankle during Monday's practice and left early. Cheeks said he is listed as day to day. . . . The Sixers made three cuts, releasing Andre Emmett, Maureece Rice and Cory Underwood. The roster is at 16. The NBA maximum is 15, although teams can keep as few as 13.
