Still in a “two-way contract”, Moussa Diabaté yet still started for the Hornets last night, against the Bucks. It must be said that the two main pivots of the team (Nick Richards and Mark Williams) are in the infirmary and that the Frenchman (2m11) brings his size and energy against the opposing interiors.
Last night, he didn’t score, being blocked by Brook Lopez, Giannis Antetokounmpo or Bobby Portis.
However, for the sixth time this year, he exceeded the threshold of 10 rebounds, once again making the majority of his harvest (11) on offensive rebounds (7). Since the start of the campaign, he has captured 55 offensive rebounds, which places him 6th in the NBA. Except that the players in front of him, Ivica Zubac (72), Jakob Poeltl (69), Alperen Sengun (62), Clint Capela (57) and Jalen Duren (57) all play a lot more…
At the top of the ranking, the Croatian pivot of the Clippers has played twice as many minutes: 572 compared to 288!
The player who struggles the most on the offensive rebound
Thus, if we represent (horizontal axis) the number of offensive rebounds that the best rebounders contest per minute spent on the floor, in relation (vertical axis) to the number of offensive rebounds that he recovers per minute spent on the floor, we see that the Frenchman is the one who tries to grab the most rebounds after a missed shot.
It is Kevon Looney who is so far the most effective offensive rebounder in the league, the Warriors pivot taking advantage of opposing defensive changes to often find himself facing smaller players on the rebound.
Moussa Diabaté is in another style, full of energy to throw himself as soon as his teammates draw.
“That’s the most important thing. It all starts with energy. This is how I play and this is the only way I can play. So I have to bring my energy to the team and be that energizer who can help. »
A full-time “energizer”
It must also be said that with his offensive limits, and teammates (LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, etc.) who are very greedy in terms of shooting, the former Clippers knows that his offensive role is limited to setting screens and fetching rebounds. to collect additional possessions. Even if he sometimes doesn’t even look at the circle anymore…
A pure “energizer” profile probably too light to be a starter, but still useful off the bench.
“He’s hungry. He wants to eat every minute, he fights, he wants to eat every offensive rebound. I love his tenacity on both ends of the floor.” recently explained his coach, Charles Lee, who confirms internal discussions regarding transforming Moussa Diabaté’s “two-way contract” into a real contract.
The problem is that the Hornets already have 15 players on guaranteed contracts, so they would have to cut someone to sign Moussa Diabaté full-time. But Taj Gibson’s lease is only partially guaranteed…
| Moussa Diabate | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saison | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | To | Pd | Fte | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2022-23 | LAC | 22 | 9 | 51.1 | 50.0 | 62.5 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 2.3 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 2.7 |
| 2023-24 | LAC | 11 | 6 | 52.6 | 0.0 | 64.3 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 2.2 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 2.6 |
| 2024-25 | CHA | 16 | 18 | 55.6 | 0.0 | 36.4 | 3.4 | 4.6 | 8.1 | 0.6 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 3.4 |
| Total | 49 | 11 | 53.2 | 50.0 | 56.1 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 4.1 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 2.9 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
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