Next man up: 5 OKC Thunder players that can benefit from Hamidou Diallo’s absence
The final option would be to reposition some of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander‘s minutes. Currently, Shai is averaging 34.8 minutes. CP3 is playing four fewer minutes (30.8) while Dennis Schroder is logging 29.8 minutes.
Since Schroder is so keen to take shots why not pair him with Paul for five to seven minutes a game so he can be a spot-up shooter. Then take those minutes and add them to the four additional minutes SGA is logging to see what the rising star can do with 11 to 12 minutes leading the reserve unit. Theoretically, these are players who the team wants to monitor for the future anyway.
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By tweaking the rotation it would give Shai more dedicated time running the point and getting a read on how he meshes with players like Bazley, Nerlens Noel, Burton, etc. And maybe then the Thunder could push the pace and establish an increase in fast break scoring.
It’s not an unheard of strategy as copious teams stagger their rotations with a star and reserves. One of Damian Lillard or CJ McCollum is typically on the court at all times. Kyle Lowry made all the reserves better when Toronto ran out a Lowry plus reserve lineup and the Rockets are staggering James Harden and Russell Westbrook’s minutes with a similar strategy in mind.
Ultimately, this season is supposed to be about Presti’s “repositioning and replenishing” mantra but the truth is -it’s about figuring out precisely who is worth investing in long term on the roster outside of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. With that in mind letting him run some point with the youngsters on the team seems like a great way to decipher who specifically meets those objectives.