Why OKC Thunder wing Hamidou Daillo is better suited in a reserve role

OKC Thunder: Hamidou Diallo #6 drives to the basket against the New Orleans Pelicans (Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images)
OKC Thunder: Hamidou Diallo #6 drives to the basket against the New Orleans Pelicans (Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images)

The OKC Thunder game against the Indiana Pacers offered evidence why Hamidou Diallo is better suited to come off the bench.

In the game against the Indiana Pacers, Hamidou Diallo was the least effective that he had been all season. It was also his first start of the season and the game showed that Diallo is more effective coming off the bench for the OKC Thunder at this point in his career.

In the previous ten games, Diallo averaged 9.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game. He is shooting 51.7 percent from the field and that includes a meager16.7 percent from deep. In the Indiana Pacers game with Diallo in the starting rotation, he produced two points, three rebounds, an assist and a steal.

He shot the ball at 25 percent from the floor and was unable to get to the rim for his trademark thunderous dunks. There were many reasons for this, but this game shows that Diallo far better coming off the bench than starting.

This question has been raised amongst the Thunderous Intentions staff for a while now, should Diallo replace Terrance Ferguson in the starting line-up. I have always maintained that Ferguson should start, and here is why.

https://twitter.com/okcthunder/status/1193707510617825280?s=20

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Ferguson is a much better 3-point shooter than Diallo. While the OKC Thunder has plenty of spacing in the starting unit with Chris Paul, Danilo Gallinari, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Ferguson built a reputation last season as a player who needs to be guarded. This then gives greater spacing for the incredible SGA drives.

In terms of defense, Ferguson is assigned the best opposition backcourt or wing player on most nights. Diallo takes over after most of the first quarter has passed, meaning that the player is tired. Don’t get me wrong, I love the job that Diallo does, but Ferguson has the more difficult job.

However, enough of the negatives, the main reason I love Diallo in the second unit is what he can do against them. He is a heads up athletic player who relishes being out in transition. His attack on the rim gets the crowd and the rest of the team pumped.

https://twitter.com/okcthunder/status/1193344453781659656?s=20

Of the 42 field goals Diallo has made, 22 of them have been dunks. Part of this is that he is too much to handle for most second units, including heads up plays where he steals the ball off an inbounds pass and slams it home. It is so much harder to do this against starting units.

We here at Thunderous Intentions wish T-Ferg’s personal issues are resolved for his sake, and so that he can take his rightful place in the starting line-up.