Coach Alvin Gentry: Defense will be first priority for Pelicans
He comes to the New Orleans Pelicans with a reputation as an offensive guru. But for coach Alvin Gentry, getting the Pelicans to the next level as a contender will start with the defensive end.
That was clear when he made Darren Erman his associate head coach. And in an interview with NBA.com's John Schuhmann, Gentry reiterated his commitment to making sure the team improves on defense, since that's how the Golden State Warriors become a championship team.
Asked if defense was the No. 1 priority, Gentry responded, "Sure it is. That's how we won the championship last year, make no mistake about it. Our offense was good, because our defense was great."
As for how the Pelicans get there, given that the combination of Omer Asik and Anthony Davis was unable to lift New Orleans out of the bottom 10 in defense, Gentry said that it starts on the perimeter:
"First of all, we've got to get better perimeter defense out front, so that we're not getting penetration from perimeter players, which causes our bigs to be in rotation. That's the first thing that we've got to do.
"Secondly, we've got to be better as a team, in our rotations, in our protection of the lane. The big thing is that you've got to take away dribble penetration."Gentry also once again mentioned that he intends for Davis to be a 3-point shooter, even for the corner, as he pointed out that Davis is already a good enough shooter to feel comfortable in the corners.
Add healthy point guards, and it's a recipe for success in New Orleans. The West will be tough once again next season, and the Pelicans will be a big part of that strength.
(h/t NBA.com)
Photo Credit: Bob Donnan/USA TODAY Sports
