Alvin Gentry’s hand has often been forced by injuries during the early portion of the 2015-16 regular season, one reason why the New Orleans Pelicans have already seen 12 different players start at least once during the team’s 1-9 open to the schedule. Small forward has been particularly eventful, with Luke Babbitt, Dante Cunningham and Alonzo Gee receiving the starting assignment at various times. Gee started the past two games, injecting New Orleans with some hard-nosed defense and hustle, but it’s possible that role will change hands until the roster gains more stability and gets closer to full strength.
Gentry said during his pregame media session Tuesday that “I think we’ll go back and forth some,” in terms of the starter at small forward. “Depending on the matchups, who we’re playing and who’s going to be out there. Obviously we like Luke out there also because he gives us another spacer and shooter on the floor. We’re just going to keep experimenting game-by-game until we can finally get some of the (injured) guys back and put guys back in their proper positions and proper roles on this team.”
Gentry credited Gee with taking on some difficult defensive duties in recent games, including being matched up against New York All-Star Carmelo Anthony during Sunday’s road-trip finale.
“I thought defensively, he’s done a good job on the guys he’s guarded,” Gentry said of Gee. “Melo had 29 points, but I thought he did a really good job. Melo is probably the most efficient scorer in our league, other than Steph Curry. Alonzo did a good job of making him earn his baskets.”
Other notes from pregame:
- Jrue Holiday will play tonight but is expected to sit Wednesday’s back-to-back at Oklahoma City. Gentry reiterated that the short-term plan is for Holiday to play in the home portion of the Pelicans’ upcoming back-to-backs. “I’m not 100 percent married to that, but pretty much, that’s what we’ll do,” Gentry said of the home-play, road-rest plan for the starting point guard.
- Gentry noted that a portion of the blame for New Orleans’ defensive struggles should be placed on the club’s inconsistent play on offense. There have been times in recent games where Pelicans turnovers have led to fast breaks for the opponent at the other end. Bad shots have also ignited the transition attack for the opposition.