The experiment in the Big Easy hasn’t been an easy transition for Anthony Davis and Demarcus Cousins thus far.
The Pelicans, who were 2.5 games out of the No. 8 seed at the All-Star break when they made the blockbuster deal, are now 5.5 games out and basically eliminated from postseason contention.
That does not bode well for Head Coach Alvin Gentry’s future with the franchise or General Manager Dell Demps.
Report: @PelicansNBA likely to fire Alvin Gentry if they don’t finish season better https://t.co/2d5SaoC6wd pic.twitter.com/YAKDBEhzMt
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) March 16, 2017
The Pelicans have been pretty bad offensively with Davis and Cousins on the court together, only 91.1 points per 100 possessions and it appears the current leadership will be cast as the scapegoat.
Here is an excerpt from Sean Deveney’s piece on The Sporting News:
“A league source told Sporting News that though no definite decision has been made on the future of the tandem of Gentry and general manager Dell Demps with the Pelicans, failure to secure that playoff spot (which has been all but lost) or at least to show “significant progress with this roster as it stands” likely will move the Pelicans to oust Gentry. Demps is more likely to stay, but that’s not a certainty, either.”
I get that Gentry’s record over the past two seasons has not been very good in New Orleans, but much like Jeff Hornacek in New York, the roster he has is not at all conducive to his playing style or what he excels with as a coach. Gentry was an elite coach in Phoenix when he played an uptempo style and had plenty of depth on the roster to supplement his stars and create a strong second unit and establishment of roles, he has none of that here.
If he is fired, expect him to be immediately offered another head or assistant coaching job in the league.
