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Eric Gordon says Alvin Gentry offense will be enjoyable for everyone

Eric Gordon made two separate trips to Las Vegas in mid-July, partly to meet with new coaches, but also to support New Orleans’ summer league team. The shooting guard came away duly impressed by what he saw on the court, as the summer Pelicans went 5-1 and averaged 94.0 points in 40-minute games, despite a roster that featured no proven NBA players. When Gordon envisions how Alvin Gentry’s aggressive, fast-paced offensive system may translate to the 2015-16 Pelicans, the seven-year NBA veteran predicts more enjoyment for everyone – including the people watching from the seats.

“You could see how it is during summer league, with that fast pace,” Gordon said. “I’m sure we’ll do it in a more organized fashion, once the season comes around. But it’s really going to be fast-paced and a fun style of play. I think it’s going to be fun for everybody, from players to coaches to fans.”

Coming off a career-best three-point shooting season (44.8 percent, second in NBA) and his first trip to the NBA playoffs (he averaged 18.5 points vs. Golden State), Gordon is moving into an offense that emphasizes spacing and wider driving lanes for perimeter players. He believes it will play to the strengths of a team that has a stable of talented backcourt players, as well as the NBA’s most gifted big man.

“It’s going to be a style that’s easy for us to implement, because we have a lot of guys who can put the ball on the floor and create for others,” Gordon said. “That’s the major part. For a player like me, it works out really well because it shows my overall game, as far as shooting, penetrating and getting the ball to the open man all the time.

“What this offense does, it gets you easier shots. Instead of just throwing it to (Anthony Davis) on the block, he’ll catch it on the run, where he’s more dangerous to stop. You’re using his strength, which is running up and down the floor.”

Gordon actually averaged a career-low 13.4 points per game in 2014-15, but his efficiency increased, including an effective field-goal percentage of 51.2 (via Basketball-Reference.com) that was his highest since coming to the Crescent City. The biggest reason for that uptick was that 45.4 percent of his field-goal attempts came from three-point range. His shots from 0-3 feet dipped to a career-low (19.9 percent of his FGAs), but that number could increase in Gentry’s system, which creates more room for guards to operate. During summer league, New Orleans’ perimeter players were consistently able to drive to the rim one-on-one against their defender, with other defensive players slow to help, while trying to stay attached to Pelicans spotted up beyond the three-point stripe.

“How we’re going to play is really going to show everyone’s athletic ability and how they create for others,” Gordon said. “It’s just such a different style of play. Everybody is going to have to be geared up and in top shape. For us guards, it’s going to be easier for us to implement, because we love that style of play. We love to play up and down. We all have to jump on board, and get our legs ready for it.”

The Indiana University product has already had numerous conversations with Gentry and Pelicans coaches about the system and his role. Now entering his fifth season in New Orleans – and in the midst of a second straight injury-free offseason – Gordon believes he and his teammates will benefit from roster continuity. The Pelicans are bringing back virtually every key member from last season, a rarity since Gordon came to the Big Easy in December 2011.

“I think that’s the only way you can win, by keeping guys together,” he said. “Guys like each other on this team, and with this style of play, it’s only going to make it better. It’s all about finding the open man, being unselfish and playing the right way. It’s going to show. It’s always good to keep players together, if they like each other, for sure. A lot of players in the last couple years had a hard time figuring out their roles. From starters to bench guys, a lot of guys had different roles, whether it changed from injuries or whatnot. This year, it’s all about everyone knowing what their role is. This style of play is going to suit everybody: You’ve got good bigs and good guards, for us to mesh chemistry-wise within the offense. Everybody is going to thrive in it.”