Trail Blazers head coach Micah Nori promoted Sidy Cissoko to a starting role Tuesday, replacing Scoot Henderson. That decision paid off, as Cissoko contributed to Portland's impressive 123-103 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
He finished with 17 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists in 33 minutes. But Blazers fans who have followed Cissoko also know he's the type of energetic role player who brings intangibles that don't always show up in the box score. While that's an ideal quality to have in a bench player, Nori decided this starting unit needed Cissoko, and he was right.
Ja Morant will likely slide back into that starting five to replace Cissoko when he's ready to return from injury. But in the meantime, Nori should stick with this decision.
Sidy Cissoko should stay in Blazers' starting lineup until Ja Morant returns
Henderson continues to struggle, while Jrue Holiday looks like one of the best sixth men in the league, thanks to his versatility and two-way skill set at 36. Cissoko also gives this starting five more positional size, which is important when constructing a defensive-minded unit to help cover for Damian Lillard's limitations on that end.
Tuesday's win over the Thunder looked a lot like how things should've gone during Lillard's first stint in Portland, had they assembled the right pieces around him. Toumani Camara, Deni Avdija, and now Cissoko provided length, versatility, and switchability on the wings. Donovan Clingan is already one of the best rim protectors in the association, and when he's not in, they don't even take a significant step back after retaining Robert Williams III on that three-year deal.
Even Lillard was looking like his prime self, hitting shots from the logo. Paul George must have been somewhere in Boston yelling at a TV about how bad a shot it was. But with Lillard returning close to form, it gives Portland a working formula as that secondary playmaker and co-star alongside Deni Avdija.
Cissoko helps Nori and the Blazers achieve that formula as the cleaner two-way fit compared to Henderson. Not only that, he's played far better lately with the two starting the season trending in opposite directions. Portland is playing like a top team in the West early on and can't afford to go through the growing pains with Henderson anymore.
This adjustment is the latest example of why Nori looks like the right man for the job. And Cissoko stepping up to validate Nori's decision on Tuesday was another example of how much he's improved since coming to Portland.
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