XPost: alt.gossip.celebrities, alt.politics.democrats.d, sac.general   
   XPost: alt.rush-limbaugh   
   From: black.felons.matter@nba.com   
      
   Gentry went 175-225 since his hiring by former Pelicans general   
   manager Dell Demps after the club fired Monte Williams following   
   the 2014-15 season   
      
   The New Orleans Pelicans fired coach Alvin Gentry on Saturday   
   after the club missed the playoffs for the fourth time in five   
   seasons.   
      
   The Pelicans went 30-42 this season, finishing with just two   
   victories in their final eight games despite the presence of top   
   overall draft choice Zion Williamson and first-time All-Star   
   Brandon Ingram in the lineup until the club was eliminated from   
   playoff contention with two games to play.   
      
   “These types of moves are often about fit and timing,” Pelicans   
   basketball operations chief David Griffin said in announcing   
   Gentry’s termination. “We believe now is the right time to make   
   this change and bring in a new voice.”   
      
   Gentry went 175-225 since his hiring by former Pelicans general   
   manager Dell Demps after the club fired Monte Williams following   
   the 2014-15 season, when Anthony Davis was the face of the   
   franchise.   
      
   The Pelicans made the playoffs in Gentry's third season,   
   sweeping Portland in the first round before falling to eventual   
   champion Golden State in the second. But the Pelicans were   
   derailed the following season by a combination of injuries and   
   Davis' trade demand, which precipitated Demps' firing.   
      
   Gentry was retained even after Demps was replaced by Griffin and   
   the coach's contract was extended through the end of next season.   
      
   But the Pelicans faltered once again this season, starting 6-22   
   and laboring through a franchise record 13-game losing streak   
   while top overall draft choice Zion Williamson missed the first   
   44 games of the season with a knee injury.   
      
   The Pelicans rallied back into contention for a playoff berth   
   and were fully healthy when the season resumed in central   
   Florida late last month after a hiatus caused by the coronavirus   
   pandemic.   
      
   Odds makers favored the Pelicans to make the playoffs, but   
   losses in four of six after resuming their season eliminated   
   them from playoff contention.   
      
   “I want to thank Alvin for his contributions to the Pelicans and   
   the New Orleans community,” Pelicans owner Gayle Benson said.   
   “We believe that making a head coaching change is necessary at   
   this time. I truly appreciate Alvin’s leadership, dedication and   
   perseverance through some challenging circumstances over the   
   past five seasons.   
      
   “Our intention moving forward is to find the right head coach   
   that will guide this Pelicans team to compete for   
   championships,” Benson added. "That is what our fans deserve.”   
      
   Gentry came to New Orleans from Golden State, where he was a top   
   assistant under Steve Kerr when the Warriors won the 2015 NBA   
   title.   
      
   New Orleans was the fifth head coaching stop for Gentry, who is   
   65. He also has served as a head coach with Miami, Detroit, the   
   Los Angeles Clippers and Phoenix, compiling a career coaching   
   record of 510-595.   
      
   https://www.foxnews.com/sports/pelicans-fire-alvin-gentry-after-   
   5-seasons-as-teams-coach   
        
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)