- Sam Dekker’s season is now over after breaking his hand last night in the Rockets’ win over Phoenix. Dekker achieved redemption in this, his sophomore season, supplanting Donatas Motiejunas’ ghost in Houston’s rotation, cementing himself as Mike D’Antoni’s backup power forward. His final numbers of 6.3 points per game and 3.6 rebounds, with 32% shooting on 3’s, look rather pedestrian, but his play was cause for encouragement. Dekker shot 39% on 3’s in November, forcing his way into the lineup and hopefully providing a glimpse of the player he can one day become. Aside from February when he shot .375 on 3’s, Dekker shot poorly every other month, hopefully just from tired legs. The season was a success, more in that Dekker proved he was worth the pick the Rockets used in selecting him. But next year, and going forward, the Rockets will need Dekker to show actual consistency on his outside shot.
- This may not be too great of a loss as I and others had speculated that Dekker would likely be out of the rotation anyway come playoff time. For now, or if D’Antoni decides to extend his rotation past the limit he’s historically set, I’d surmise that recently recalled forward Troy Williams will take Dekker’s spot at backup power forward. Mike D’Antoni has already said that Montrezl Harrell will not be playing the position. Regarding Williams, I remain cautiously optimistic. I thought Troy Daniels and K.J. McDaniels too had futures in Houston after the glimpses those players showed, in Daniels’ case in the playoffs.
