Even with Deandre Ayton, the Suns starting center and probable franchise cornerstone, out of the picture because of steroids, Cheick “Discount Diallo Cheick” Diallo wasn’t getting regular playing time. It took the backup center, Aron Baynes, going down with injury before Diallo could finally crack the rotation and start doing Diallo-y things.
Prior to tonight, he was shooting 78 percent from the field (on low attempts, but that’s still pretty good if you’re a guy playing in a league where most of the defenders would prefer that you not score on them). Somehow, he upped the percentage to 80 with a rather dominant 10-12 performance. The Nuggets should still have their scouting report on this guy from his days with the Pelicans, but they must have misplaced it, because he was doing what he wanted out there.
And his buckets weren’t just a bunch of easy dunks and layups. He was FLOATERING the heck out of the Nuggets when he wasn’t straight up hitting midrange jumpers. I, now and forever, maintain that floaters should be the sole domain of unathletic point guards who can’t get any other shot, but I’ll make a temporary exception for Diallo. I’m just so happy to see him have a good game in a Suns uniform.