New Orleans Pelicans: Player Grades in Disappointing Loss to the Kings

New Orleans Pelicans: Grade for the coaching.

The Coach

Normally I don’t like to bag on the coach too much, as they often get all of the blame when a team loses and none of the credit when they win. The players ultimately have to play the game and Gentry was not the one out there getting burned by Bogdanovic.

But he continues to make baffling substitutions that completely wreck the flow of the game. After coming all of the way back in the second quarter behind strong play from Zion, Jrue and Ingram, Gentry benched them all and the Pelicans promptly gave it all back.

I’ve been screaming for three games that he needs to stagger Ball and Holiday so that one of them is always on the floor, but Gentry continues to run out bench lineups with no size anywhere, no defenders and no big men. He keeps putting Melli at center, which is a joke, as he couldn’t guard me in the post, and his third quarter rotations may have cost the Pels the game.

I don’t know if Gentry has orders to play the young guys as much as possible, but in a game when they couldn’t get a single stop, it might have been nice to see Kenrich Williams or E’Twaun Moore, who at least have some size.

Gentry has been slow to adjust, hasn’t ridden the hot hand and keeps making substitutions that ruin the flow of the game. And sorry, when your team lets up 49 points in the first quarter, some of that has to be put on the shoulders of the coach, as the Pels were not ready to play.

It was a frustrating and disappointing loss for the Pelicans, who have been given an engraved invitation to the playoffs, but can’t cash in.

The Kings may have closed the door that has been left wide open by Memphis. The Pels had every chance to make the playoffs, and if they don’t, they’ll only have themselves to blame.