Pelica Debrief
Fansided

New Orleans Pelicans: 5 Positives from Alvin Gentry’s Final Season

By Aaron Kellerstrass

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - OCTOBER 11: Head coach Alvin Gentry of the New Orleans Pelicans talks with Josh Hart #3, Kenrich Williams #34 and Jaxson Hayes #10 during a preseason game against the Utah Jazz at the Smoothie King Center on October 11, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - OCTOBER 11: Head coach Alvin Gentry of the New Orleans Pelicans talks with Josh Hart #3, Kenrich Williams #34 and Jaxson Hayes #10 during a preseason game against the Utah Jazz at the Smoothie King Center on October 11, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 5
Next
New Orleans Pelicans, Lonzo Ball
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

The New Orleans Pelicans enter the offseason healthy.

A Healthy Roster

The Pelicans were hampered by injuries all season, which was frustrating to say the least.

It feels like if they were healthy, the Pels would have won that 8th spot outright, but they weren’t and that is part of basketball.

Last offseason Lonzo Ball was banged up, Brandon Ingram was having health issues and Zion hurt himself in the first pre-season game.

The Pelicans will enter this offseason with a clean bill of health. Zion needs to lose some weight and I am sure there are guys with aches and pains (looking at you JJ) but for the most part, the Pelicans will enter next season completely healthy.

Zion will get back into shape. Lonzo and B.I. are going to add strength and I have a feeling Jaxson Hayes is going to return with a whole lot more muscle.

Gentry should be given some credit for not killing his players just to get what would probably be a sweep against the Lakers.

We all wanted to see Zion Williamson play more, but I also want to see him play for the next ten years and wouldn’t be willing to risk that for a minuscule chance in the playoffs.

Gentry managed to coach through all of the injuries, never tried to rush anyone back or play guys who weren’t 100%, when a lot of coaches in his position would have.

Coaches are coaching for their jobs, always, which is why they often butt heads with the front office regarding minutes, as the GM is worried about next season and the season after that.

Gentry never ran his young players into the ground and because of that they have a chance to be fully healthy entering next season.

Home/Pelicans News