Indiana Pacers: 3 players that can take advantage of extra rest
By Josh Wilson
JaKarr Sampson
Nagging back and hip injuries have kept JaKarr Sampson in the injury reports as of late, something that may just be a signal of him needing some additional rest.
Sampson’s role with the Pacers is fairly minimal at the moment, he’s averaging fewer than 15 minutes per game on the year, but it never hurts to have your rotation guys healthy.
Sampson may get squeezed out of the rotation anyway once the playoffs arrive, but his ability to provide a jolt off the bench on the defensive end could prove fruitful in specific postseason matchups and situations.
Of Pacers with at least 300 minutes under their belt this season, Sampson has the fourth-best DBPM, but proves to be a sore spot in the Pacers offense. He shoots just above 15 percent from beyond the arc and scores just 4.2 points per game.
Given Sampson’s value in the playoffs would be standing in and being a strong force on the defensive end, having him in optimal physical condition would be best for Nate McMillan and the Pacers. If he’s not ready, he’ll get banged around and be a major liability.