The Pelicans‘ penchant for pushing the pace looks more and more like a quixotic mission to out-Warrior the Warriors.
That’s been the dilemma for Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry as New Orleans has slid into a 3-1 hole in its Western Conference semifinal playoff series against
defending champion Golden State.
Although there’d be logic to slowing the game down to limit shooting opportunities for Golden State’s prolific perimeter players
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”We’re going to play at a fast pace,” Gentry says. ”I know some would say, `You’re kind of playing into Golden State’s hands. But this is the way we’ve
played the whole season, so we’re not going to all of a sudden try to adjust and
do something completely different, because the success we’ve had has been based
on playing at a fast pace and being a team that has played the fastest pace in
the league.
”We don’t have the ability to all of a sudden change that and become a walk-it-up-the-court team,” Gentry continued. ”We’re just going to continue to
attack.”
The Pelicans found a measure of vindication in Game 3, when the Warriors had an off night shooting and New Orleans won by 19 points. But in Game 4 on
Sunday
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time in the series. Now Golden State can close out the series at home in Game 5
on Tuesday night.
Even when the Pelicans’ had DeMarcus ”Boogie” Cousins playing alongside fellow All-Star big man Anthony Davis in a lineup that revolved around that
imposing front-court tandem, New Orleans played relatively fast. They averaged
101.5 possessions per 48 minutes, which ranked sixth in the NBA.
After Cousins went out for the season with a left Achilles tear in late January, the Pelicans picked up the pace even more. During their final 34 games,
they averaged 104.5 possessions per 48 minutes – a faster pace of play than any
other team during that span.
If Cousins remained healthy, slowing the pace somewhat
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is not expected back on the court until after next season begins. And whether
he’s still with the Pelicans remains to be seen; New Orleans wants him back, but
he’ll be a free agent this summer.
The Pelicans’ current lineup features relatively young, versatile players who move well and can score from various spots on the floor, such as Davis, guard
Jrue Holiday and forward Nikola Mirotic. They also have a point guard in Rajon
Rondo who thrives when pushing the pace and quickly identifying favorable
matchups in transition, or early in possessions.
”After we lost Boogie
Cheap Tanner Lee Jersey , we became the No. 1 team in pace and we’re going to continue to be that same team,” Pelicans veteran small forward Solomon
Hill said. ”For us to change with all the chips on the table would basically be
defeating the purpose. If we’re good at something, we’re going to stay with it
and if anything, we’re going to try to perfect it.
”If we had Boogie out there, it would be different. We’d slow it down and execute some stuff,” Hill added. ”But we’re not going to change for anybody. The
way we feel like we can compete at the highest level is to continue to be who we
are.”
Gentry has always known what he’s up against in this round of the playoffs. He was a lead assistant coach for Golden State’s 2015 championship team before
taking the top job in New Orleans.
During the 2017-18 regular season, the Warriors ranked fifth in pace
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zone.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, who was Gentry’s boss back in 2015, doesn’t see the Pelicans’ refusal to slow the pace as stubborn. Kerr sees Gentry doing
the best he can with the personnel he has.
”You’ve got to do what’s best for your team. You can’t go against your team’s character and change strategy in the playoffs,” Kerr said. ”You’ve got to be who
you are.”
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