After a terrible ending to the season inside the bubble that saw the team crash out of playoff contention, the New Orleans Pelicans parted ways with Alvin Gentry in a move that had been forecasted for weeks. While Gentry was dealt a tough hand largely through injuries not only this season but years prior, coaches are often the easiest change a team can make after disappointing seasons.
Gentry made his first public appearance since the firing on ESPN’s First Take and was asked whether he expected to be fired following the season.
“I would have to say that it did catch me by surprise but you know obviously when you’re in a situation where you’re trying to get a franchise going and you got a bunch of young guys, these kind of things can happen. As I said, I think that team’s going to be a good basketball team…They made the decision and you know you just have to live with it. You just got to move on.”
Gentry and Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations met shortly after returning to New Orleans from the bubble before the head coach was relieved of his duties.
Considering how the team was playing just before the bubble, it seems a little harsh to fire Gentry. The Pelicans were one of the hottest teams in the league between Zion Williamson’s debut in late January and the league’s postponement in mid-March.
But the poor play in the bubble by New Orleans left a particularly sour taste in the mouths of the front office that may lead to changes extending past Gentry.