Back in training camp, when there still was hope for the season on which the Pelicans and new coach Alvin Gentry were embarking, Gentry responded to a question about his reputation as an up-tempo coach with little regard for defense. It wasn’t the case, he said. He valued defense, but it made sense to him to play with speed, a lesson he took from his time with the Suns as both an assistant and head coach.
“I learned how to do that from Mike D’Antoni, and I think he is the best there is at it,” Gentry said.