Samuel Dalembert's leg still hurts, which means the 76ers centre isn't playing, practising or even sneaking into the practice gym for some late night _ or early morning _ games with a teammate.

And this year, it means Dalembert _ who grew up in Montreal _ won't rush back to the lineup until his strained left hamstring is better, no matter how badly he wants to return.

``I don't want to make the same mistake I made last year,'' Dalembert said after Wednesday's practice.

Dalembert's 2005-06 season unravelled early when he injured his quad in training camp, missed the first 13 games, returned before he was completely healthy, slumped and was demoted. He lost his confidence and grumbled that he wasn't receiving the coaching he needed to help develop him into an All-Star.

``I should have sat down. I knew I wasn't ready,'' he said. ``I was feeling pressure. I was trying to come back. Sometimes that's not the smart thing to do. I learned that.''

He finished with 7.3 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.42 blocks _ not the kind of numbers expected from a starting centre who signed a US$64 million, six-year deal before last season. Dalembert would score 12 points one game, two the next; or 37 points over three games, then 17 over the next three.

The six-foot-11 Haitian often battled foul trouble and was too aggressive, too early. Because of his hacking ways, he was sent to the bench and invisible for long stretches in the fourth quarter. He vows more patience this season.

``I'm still going to be aggressive, trust me, but I'll find a way to stay out of foul trouble,'' he said.

Dalembert's erratic play was one reason the Sixers went 38-44 last season and missed the playoffs for the second time in three seasons.

``What if he missed the first five games of last season and that's it? We would have been in the playoffs,'' Chris Webber said.

So Dalembert went to work in the off-season, determined to change his attitude and his work ethic, and entered camp this season with a rejuvenated attitude.

Part of that confidence was built from off-season 1-on-1 games with forward Shavlik Randolph. The two often talked their way into the closed practice facility, usually late at night, coaxing security guards into sticking around a few extra hours to watch their battles.

Sometimes they brought their friends, sometimes they played until 2 or 3 in the morning.

The games were always rough, and both players insisted they got better.

``He's got some offensive skills I think some people don't know about,'' Randolph said. ``He definitely got better with being patient and a better feel for the ball playing against me.''

Oh, and one of them earned bragging rights. It's just not easy to tell who won those personal scrimmages. Randolph only smiled and said to ask Dalembert who won, not-so subtly hinting that he was the regular winner.

``Oh, please,'' Dalembert said, laughing. ``Tell him, 'Where's my money?'''

No matter which player owes the other, there won't be a rematch any time soon after another setback for Dalembert. He missed the pre-season game against New York on Saturday after tweaking the hamstring and was limited to some free throws on Wednesday.

``Certainly, we'd like to have him out there,'' coach Maurice Cheeks said.

The upbeat, easygoing Dalembert would love to join his teammates, also. He'll probably sit out Friday's game against New Jersey, and hopes to play in at least one of the final two games.

``I'm such a competitor that I feel bad when I sit down and watch my teammates work hard in practice,'' Dalembert said.