Pelicans Head Coach Alvin Gentry
On winning tonight:
“It is by far our most complete game… We started the game really good with the right pace. We assisted on seven of our first eight baskets, but moreso than anything, I thought we were locked down defensively. I thought we did a really good job, especially on (Nikola) Jokić. He’s such a load in there and such a smart player. He makes everybody around him better. I think we did a good job just staying true to what we were trying to do defensively and came away with a win. Much needed win.”
On rebounding and transition:
“When you go from giving up 19 offensive rebounds to giving up five, that’s a whole different level. Now we’re getting out into open court and we’re running in transition and now they have to get back. We just have to continue to try and improve in that area as far as rebounding the basketball. Like I said, I love the pace that we started the game with and I thought we maintained that pace throughout. There was only one short segment in there where we started a little bit of isolation basketball but I think we quickly got into what we were trying to do.”
Pelicans Guard Jrue Holiday
On how it feels to be back after his injury:
“It felt good. I think anytime you get injured and see the team fighting out there, you want to fight with them so it felt good to be back.”
On if he thinks the change in defensive strategy helped the team tonight:
“I think so. Just being able to play solid and keep guys in front of us. When you keep guys in front of you I think it helps on the offensive rebound or the defensive rebound. I think all together we were just using our instincts and trying to gauge the distance between a player on a close-out or on an iso situation.
Pelicans Guard Lonzo Ball
On what the strategy was to play against Nikola Jokić:
“Just effort. We’ve been getting out-rebounded a lot lately and that was a big emphasis for us today. Jokić is one of the best playmakers in the league, even at the center spot. Just getting guys out to the perimeters, trying to keep guys in the front and just go from there.”
On how having Jrue Holiday back impacted the team tonight:
“Tremendously. We were missing him. Obviously he came to play today and we got the win.”
