During a 45-minute talk with roughly 50 Louisiana high school basketball coaches Saturday, Darren Erman gave the audience a glimpse at some of the philosophy he’ll help try to instill in the New Orleans Pelicans next season.
“We want to be first on the floor (for loose balls),” said the Pelicans’ lead assistant coach under Alvin Gentry. “We want to win all 50-50 balls. The 40-60 balls, I want those. The 30-70 balls, I’d like some of those, too. We want to be the hardest-playing team. Those things are all in your control – they’re all non-negotiable.”
Erman was the final speaker during Saturday’s clinic for local hoops coaches at the team’s practice facility in Metairie, an event that also included talks by NBA legend Bob Lanier, former McNeese State coach Glenn Duhon and Pelicans sports nutrition consultant Tavis Piattoly.