No. 1: What's "Fun" for Sammy?

The 76ers' Samuel Dalembert let it be known that he had a problem with . . . something.

But what?

Minutes? He's averaging 33.1, third highest on the team.

Subbing in and out of the rotation? Part of the Sixers' recent success has been coach Maurice Cheeks using bigger and smaller lineups, based on opponents and specific game situations.

Not having a big man on the coaching staff to work with him? In recent seasons, he has had Moses Malone, a Hall of Fame center who relied on work ethic and instinct, and during training camp in Barcelona two seasons ago Steve Mix, a rugged power forward who built a long career based on court knowledge and awareness, positioning and -

despite being vertically challenged - carefully honed baseline and post moves.

In the course of the last decade, I've watched assistants John Kuester, Randy Ayers, Chris Ford, Jim Lynam, Henry Bibby and John Loyer - none of them centers - work effectively with players at virtually

every position.

The truth is, Dalembert has

become nicely proficient at shot-blocking, the 12-to-15-foot jumper and the backdoor lob, and has improved as a passer. He's one of about a dozen players in the NBA averaging a points-rebounds double-double.

He has said he has been looking for "the fun" in the game. But in his mind, that's different from being happy.

"I never said I wasn't happy," he said. "The way we're playing, I'd be a fool not to be happy."

At this stage of his career, I'd be surprised if he suddenly developed a go-to jump hook or a baseline drop-step. But what he has done, he has done very well. Against the Pistons on Wednesday night, he was a fourth-quarter tower of strength, sweeping seven of his 15 rebounds, making two steals and blocking a shot.

Later, as he munched on a postgame meal in the cramped Palace locker room, he was as happy as I've ever seen him.

No. 2: The Toney Chronicles.

Andrew Toney, the legendary "Boston Strangler," agreed to be part of the March 10 ceremony in the Wachovia Center honoring members of the 1982-83 championship team, then changed his mind.

But when the honorees piled into a postgame limo back to their hotel headquarters, Earl Cureton dialed Toney's cell phone to tell him all about the evening.

And when the phone was passed around, Franklin Edwards giddily yelped, "Hey, Andrew, I'm still open in the corner."

If Toney prefers not to get involved in public life, that's certainly his prerogative, and he should not be criticized for it. But if he made a commitment to the Sixers, and, more important, to Cheeks, Cureton, Edwards, Clemon Johnson and Reggie Johnson, he should have honored it.

He could have avoided doing interviews; he could have just waved to the crowd. I believe he would have received a huge ovation.

But he chose to stay home.

"I don't know why," Cureton said. "I talk to him all the time."

The Sixers chose to make no mention of Toney during the ceremony. And I'm not sure that was right, either.

Medical center

Willie Green, who suffered a lower-back strain in Monday night's loss to the Boston Celtics, is expected to be available tomorrow night against the San Antonio Spurs in the Wachovia Center.

Scheduling quirk

Time flies

Words to live by

Drew Gooden, on being traded to the Chicago Bulls from the Cleveland Cavaliers: "There were trade rumors over my head every year I played in a Cleveland Cavs uniform, but that made me feel other teams wanted me." *

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