Pelicans Head Coach Alvin Gentry: “I thought we started the game great. I thought we did a good job. We had great ball movement. I thought we were really active defensively. I like the pace that we were playing at. That was all positive. Then I thought we kind of went away from that a little bit. Obviously, they won't have a quarter like they had, but I really like the way we were playing. Then I thought we went away from that, as I said. We weren't as aggressive defensively. We started doing some individual things offensively. And NBA games are really long games. Just the other night somebody was up 30 and lost the game. Obviously, disappointed in the loss. There were a lot of good things that happened, and then there's a lot of teaching points that we can make also.”
On whether he feels encouraged after a game like this or alarmed: “I'm encouraged. I think the one thing is that we can see when we do the right things, and execute and play the right way we're a pretty good basketball team. And when we don't we struggle. My goal as a coach is that I have to get us to those situations where we're not struggling, but executing and moving the basketball.”
On Anthony Davis' performance: “He started out great. I thought he played well. He was very active offensively, but also very active defensively.”
On if Anthony Davis' was OK after the contact at end of the game: “Sure, he was. I played him a lot of consecutive minutes and I wasn't going to risk him getting hurt in an overtime game in the preseason. Just didn't make sense to me.”
On the first unit's performance: “I thought they did a really good job of moving the basketball, but also moving themselves. Moving bodies, and making cuts and getting to open spots as far as spacing. We talked about that a lot. It's everything we'd like to see this team do. We played really out of concepts more than we did out of plays, and played with a pretty good flow offensively. All the things that I told you that I'd like to see, so that's good. Then on the flipside of that we played a little selfish basketball near the end, and we were going to win it ourselves. You've got to lock in, and you've got to come up with that big stop at the end.”
On the weakness he'd like to see his team work on: “I just think we've got to execute better. Consistently, I think. That's the big thing we've got to do it consistently. I think the effort is there, but now as I said to them, we've got to do more than play just hard. We've got to play smart also.”
Pelicans Guard Buddy Hield: “I learned a lot. How to stay poised…late situations in games…playing against experienced teams. I learned from my guys. I learned from the coaches and I am just trying to get better each and every day. I think today's game was a great example for me by learning for the next time I know what to do in certain situations.”
On what he has learned about himself during preseason: “That I can play in this league for sure. I compete with the guys. I can guard and defend. I just have to keep on getting better and things I can work on are ball handling and not turning the ball over.”
On Anthony Davis: “He (Anthony Davis) is special. He is making perimeter shots, attacking the glass…he is a special talent. You can't teach that and he works hard at it too. I am just glad that he is part of this team. He teaches me each and every day.”
“He (Davis) helps me with little X's and O's each and every day and where to be ready in different spots. It has been great and I keep learning from that.”
On the start of the regular season: “It (first NBA regular season game) will be a couple more days before it gets here but I will be ready. My family is coming into town. Hopefully we will get off to a great start.”
