<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>NEW ORLEANS -- Ike Diogu believes he just needs a chance. But there's a catch in his attempt to earn minutes in the Indiana Pacers' rotation. In order to get that chance, Diogu has to learn when to shoot and when to pass out of double and triple teams.</p> <div class="bodytext">On Monday night, Diogu knew when to shoot and when to pass.</div> <div class="bodytext">Diogu scored 19 points on a perfect 7-of-7 from the field in the Pacers' 117-104 preseason victory over the New Orleans Hornets.</div> <div class="bodytext">"I didn't know I was perfect, but I knew I was in a pretty good flow out there," Diogu said.</div> <div class="bodytext">Diogu also went 5-for-5 from the free throw line with five rebounds in 25 minutes. His shooting performance made up for a slow start to the preseason. He went into Monday's game shooting just 27 percent from the field.</div> <div class="bodytext">Diogu is an effective low-post scorer, but gets into trouble when he tries to do too much. He struggles reading the defense, which usually causes him to force a shot against multiple defenders, leaving the Pacers coaching staff scratching their heads.</div> <div class="bodytext">"He did a lot of positive things one-on-one," Pacers coach Jim O'Brien said. "His difficulty comes when he tries to go one-on-two or one-on-three."</div> <div class="bodytext">O'Brien said Diogu can learn from Jermaine O'Neal on how to read the defense.</div> <div class="bodytext">"Jermaine gets rid of the ball when he sees a double team and makes accurate passes out," O'Brien said. "Jermaine is bigger than Ike, but Ike is coming along really well. We're very pleased with Ike. His training camp has been solid, and he was solid tonight."</div> <div class="bodytext">Diogu, who was acquired from Golden State in the middle of last season, and O'Neal have developed a bond. The two have lockers beside each other at Conseco Fieldhouse.</div> <div class="bodytext">"We've been talking a lot about (passing), especially this year," O'Neal said. "The more you pass, the better you are as a scorer because the defense is going to start loosening up and he's going to be able to get his one-on-one touches in the game.</div> <div class="bodytext"> With O'Neal and Troy Murphy sitting out a significant portion of the second half, it was Diogu who became the Pacers' primary scoring threat down low.</div></p> Source: Indy Star</p> </div>
He looked promising in GS but plays very little defense which results in limited playing time. He can learn a thing or two from O'Neal.</p>
