WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. – As players stretched or fired jumpers Tuesday, preparing for the first practice of the New Orleans Pelicans’ 2015-16 season, speakers blared recent hit songs from artists such as Drake and 2 Chainz. With steady rain falling outside on an exceptionally gloomy morning, the upbeat music helped energize the proceedings from the get-go. Borrowing from his Golden State head coach last season, Steve Kerr – who borrowed the concept from the NFL’s Pete Carroll – Alvin Gentry has vowed to play popular, upbeat music at his team’s practices this season. That began in earnest Tuesday, even before the first whistle blew at The Greenbrier.
“Just trying to loosen it up and make it a fun environment, getting us ready for practice,” Pelicans two-time All-Star Anthony Davis said. “Playing music. The biggest thing is to get us loosened up for practice, but at the same time, working hard and having fun.”
“He’s a lot more relaxed and relatable than most coaches, because he’s so hip to a lot of things that are new,” forward Quincy Pondexter said of Gentry and his approach. “He probably listens to Drake more than us. He’s a great guy.”
Shooting guard Eric Gordon said the pre-practice playlist was a combination of the preferences of coaches and players. Gentry favorite Drake made a few appearances over a 30-minute span.
“It’s a little bit of the players’ (favorites), too,” Gordon said. “We enjoy it. That’s why I’m glad they have a good playlist. It’s good to have music, period.”
Other notes from the team’s initial practice day:
- As promised, the defensive end will be a major priority during the Pelicans’ preparation time. Davis: “We went over stuff today and we'll do more tonight. We’ve got a big emphasis on defense. To be a great team, we have to play defense. We have enough offense to score with the best of them. But we were 23rd last year (in defensive efficiency). We want to be a team that’s great defensively, but also happens to be good offensively.”
- The Pelicans will also focus on instilling a mindset of constantly pushing the pace offensively. That means trying to advance the ball quickly up the floor, even after the opposing team scores. It also requires crisp, accurate passes, so that whoever has the ball can keep pushing it. Gentry on playing fast: “If we’re going to be a running team, we need to be in great condition. Also we have to be consistent in our running. It’s not so much how fast we run, but we have to be consistent in what we’re doing. I equate it to a wide receiver who knows the ball isn’t coming to him, but you still have to run the pass pattern as if it is, in order for the play to work. It’s kind of like that. You have to run every single time. You may not get the ball – you may go five or six times without getting the ball – but it will help our team trying to get better.”
- Away from the court, the Pelicans will go on a unique team-bonding trip Wednesday. The plan is for it to be highlighted by a skeet-shooting competition. If poor weather returns tomorrow, the backup plan is bowling. A smiling Gentry: “We’re going to take them skeet shooting, which I’m really, really anxious to see who’s going to be the best. I think if you can hit one out of 25 you’re probably going to be the winner. If the weather’s not going to cooperate, we’ll have a bowling tournament or something like that. We’ll do something that is a challenge. We’ll see who the best athletes are on this team.”
- NBA fans would recognize a familiar face from the coaching ranks Tuesday, as former sideline leader Mike D’Antoni visited Gentry and the Pelicans. D’Antoni, who has a home nearby in West Virginia, revolutionized offensive play in the NBA in Phoenix, where Gentry was his assistant coach. Gentry was animated when discussing the impact D’Antoni has made on him as a coach: “He’s one of the great coaches. He should be coaching in our league right now. I really, really believe that. All this garbage that you can’t win that way (playing fast like D’Antoni’s Suns teams) is such crap. Don’t get me started on that. The guy’s a tremendous coach. He’s proven that. He’s won championships in Europe; we came close to winning championships (in Phoenix). I bounce a lot of stuff off him, because basically what I do as a head coach, probably 80 percent of it came from him.”