@Jim_Eichenhofer
Not long after New Orleans’ 108-103 win over San Antonio that extended the season Wednesday, fifth-year head coach Monty Williams divided his 14 players in the Pelicans’ locker room into two groups, based on whether they’d ever been to the NBA playoffs. The seven Pelicans without a postseason appearance were then told to meet their seven experienced teammates on the other side of the room, a symbolic gesture that ignited what was already a raucous celebration.
“He put all the guys who’ve been in the playoffs on one side, and the guys who haven’t on the other side, and then we welcomed them in,” explained guard Norris Cole, a two-time NBA champion with Miami.