Charles Lee’s rotation decision didn’t reflect his praise for Moussa Diabate

Facing an unbeaten Cleveland Cavaliers squad on Sunday, the Charlotte Hornets had the opportunity to leave the league open-mouthed by stealing the win.

A flurry late in the third quarter allowed the Hornets to cut Cleveland's lead to three points entering the fourth period. Unfortunately, their offense ran out of gas, and they eventually lost to their conference rival 128-114.

Not having Mark Williams or Nick Richards to deal with the Cavs' twin towers of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley may have proved too much for Charlotte, as it got outrebounded 48-40.

There was a lack of Moussa Diabate in Charles Lee's rotation

With the Hornets shorthanded at the frontcourt, it could have been the perfect opportunity for Moussa Diabate, who has been one of the most surprising Hornets players this year, to test his mettle against one of the best big man duo in the NBA this season.

Coach Charles Lee was also expected to rely on the 22-year-old Frenchman more on Sunday after showering him with high praises prior to the matchup, including emphasizing the team's need for Diabate, describing him as "really hungry and humble," and acknowledging how joyful it is to watch the youngster succeed whenever he is on the court.

In addition, Diabate's past four appearances saw him average 7.0 points (on 73.7 percent shooting), 13.8 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks on 26.8 minutes per game.

So, imagine Hornets fans' astonishment when Lee decided to have Diabate suit up for just 12 minutes against the Cavs. He finished with two points and four boards. It's unclear why Lee thought it was a great idea to limit the University of Michigan product to sit out around three-quarters of the contest.

Was Diabate nursing an injury and needed some time to recover? Did Lee think going small was the solution to neutralize Cleveland's size?

We can only speculate at this point why the 40-year-old coach went with such a decision. But moving forward, he might have to resist the temptation of sitting Diabate for long stretches, especially with Charlotte being stung hard by the injury bug.

Even when Williams and Richards are finally on the mend, it looks like the third-year pro has built a solid case to be a key part of the rotation. After all, his energy and hustle off the bench can be a pivotal weapon for Lee and the Hornets. Furthermore, Diabate currently paces the team in average rebounds per 36 minutes with 16.4 and has been a bit more efficient than Richards in putting the ball in the basket.