Ti’s Four-Point Play: Four NBA Coaches On The Hot Seat

Alvin Gentry

Alvin Gentry is credited with being a masterful offensive coach, helping to continue the Seven Seconds or Less offense in Phoenix a few years back and Golden State’s incredible three-point attack just last season. Unfortunately, as a head coach in New Orleans he’s floundered.

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The Pelicans ownership made a mistake in firing Monty Williams despite him bringing an injured roster to the eighth seed last season. Now Williams is enjoying life as an assistant coach in Oklahoma City, and the Pelicans are sitting at 11-24 with only the lowly Lakers being worse in the West than they are this season.

Gentry currently sits just two losses away from being 50 wins under .500 as a head coach in his career. After this year, he’ll probably be more like 60 wins below. Although injuries are clearly a problem in New Orleans, the timetable here is not to rebuild for a few more seasons. Anthony Davis is locked up for now, but the Pelicans shouldn’t tempt fate by being awful for most of his five-year extension.

As unfair as that may be, somebody will likely have to pay for this massive regression, especially seeing as the bottom playoff seed in the West is so wide open right now. If the Pelicans were a .500 team, they’d be the seventh seed. Instead they’re a .314 team sitting in 14th.

Next: Things Remain Wild In Sacramento