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Samuel Dalembert overslept, keeping him from a Dallas Mavericks practice.

Samuel Dalembert overslept, keeping him from a Dallas Mavericks practice.

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The center slept too long and was late to a Mavericks workout, which caused Dallas to suspend him for its 92-80 loss to the New York Knicks on Sunday, according to Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News – the second time Dalembert faced team discipline for oversleeping. It wasn’t a complete repeat of the previous incident, though.

Last time, he missed the entire shootaround. This time, he was just late to a workout.

Last time, he was removed from the starting lineup. This time, he was suspended for the entire game.

Last time, he said, “I’m very disappointed in myself.” This time, he said, “I just feel ashamed of it.”

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Dalembert, via Sefko:

“I was late for my lifting,” Dalembert said. “I just feel ashamed of it. We’re taking steps to make sure that doesn’t happen. And we’ll move on. Just make sure I have second options. And some people helping me in those situations. It’s a sleeping thing for me. We’re working on it. I can’t sleep at night. When that happens to me, I try to go to bed really early and situations like this happen.”

It would be in the Mavericks’ best interest to help Dalembert solve his sleeping issues, because they need him – and they know it.

Dalembert has a history of stepping over the line. The Mavericks signed him, anyway.

Rick Carlisle called Dalembert out of shape before the season. Dalembert still began the year as the Mavericks’ starting center.

Dallas tried to end its reliance on Dalembert during the season. But after his DNP-CD, not only did Dalembert return to the rotation, he was back in the starting lineup shortly after.

Carlisle said this latest punishment would be only the one-game suspension, which sounds fair – and practical.

The Mavericks need Dalembert’s defense as long they’re starting Jose Calderon and Monta Ellis in the backcourt. For all the offensive skills those guards have, they’re defensively deficient. A shot blocker like Dalembert protects them much more than Dallas’ other two centers, DeJuan Blair and Bernard James, do.

When Calderon and Ellis play together, the Mavericks’ defensive rating hinges greatly on which center joins them on the court – ranging from so-so to bad to horrific.

Dalembert: 104.0

104.0 Blair: 107.4

107.4 James: 134.4

Dalembert is not an ideal player in any sense, but at this point, the Mavericks have to ride out his ups and downs – and snoozes.