Alvin Gentry’s words of advice were directed to Cheick Diallo, but they just as easily could’ve applied to numerous other members of the New Orleans Pelicans. Even though Diallo wasn’t playing much early in the season, he needed to be prepared in case the opportunity came for him to contribute.
“Coach was just telling me to be ready,” Diallo said after Monday’s shootaround inside the Ochsner Sports Performance Center, where New Orleans (7-6) prepared this morning to face Atlanta (2-11). “When your number gets called, you’ve just got to bring it.”
Diallo responded Saturday in his largest minute allotment of the season, registering nine points and six rebounds in 19:19 of action.