Almost exactly six months ago, Alvin Gentry coached his most recent game in New Orleans’ Smoothie King Center, as the lead assistant under Steve Kerr for the eventual NBA champion Golden State Warriors. It was the third time in the month of April that the Warriors visited the Crescent City, including a regular-season defeat that was one of the Pelicans’ greatest victories of 2014-15.
When Gentry takes his seat on the sideline tonight, he’ll have a completely different vantage point, watching from the home-team bench. He’s also already noticed a big difference overhead, where a large scoreboard has been added to the 16-year-old Smoothie King Center.