Pelicans smoothly pair stars
The New Orleans Pelicans’ offense has evolved greatly since the Rockets were their first opponent after the February trade to acquire DeMarcus Cousins and pair him with Anthony Davis.
The Pelicans came into Monday’s loss to the Rockets second in the NBA in points in the paint, averaging 51.3, with the New Orleans’ big men more effectively working to provide spacing for the other. Averaging 51.3 points per game between them, Cousins and Davis are the top-scoring combination in the NBA.
“They can play well together,” Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni said. “Both of them can shoot 3s. Both of them can stay out of the lane. A little bit of the best of both worlds; they can go big and a little bit of playing skill basketball. Both of them can post up. There’s a lot of possibilities, a lot of stuff that creates problems for us.
“Any time you have good players, they can figure it out, as long as they want to figure it out. It makes it easier on everybody, the more talent you have.”
D’Antoni has often made the same point about pairing James Harden and Chris Paul, saying they would be able to mesh because it is their priority. Though Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry said the process is very different for big men, the motivation with his All-Stars is the same as with the Rockets’.
“Both of those guys have made sacrifices in their game to make this work,” said Gentry, who didn’t have Davis available Monday night due to a groin injury. “The big thing is both are willing passers. They are both about trying to figure out how we can win games. That’s the most important thing.
“I don’t think there’s a comparison when you’re talking about comparing big guys to perimeter guys,” Gentry said. “There’s a whole different situation when you’re talking about spacing. Chris and James have done a great job. Obviously, DeMarcus and A.D. have done a great job. I think both (combinations) are willing. Winning is important to all four of those guys. CP thought this was a great situation for him. I know him. I coached him. I know what kind of competitor he is. His goal is to win a championship. I think James is the same way, and I know A.D. and DeMarcus are the same way.”
No mystery to D’Antoni
Having returned to Houston for a seven-game homestand with the NBA’s best record, Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni said the upcoming schedule would not necessarily teach the Rockets anything they have not already learned about themselves. That much had been accomplished, he said, with the 21-4 start.
“I don’t think we’re going to learn anything,” D’Antoni said. “I think at the end, it is either confirmed or we didn’t do it (in that game) I think we learned everything we need to learn about our guys. They’re in a pretty good spot.”
He said he is most proud of the commitment defensively, with the Rockets second in offensive rating and fifth in defensive rating going into Monday’s game, and with the toprated offense and defense during what became a 10game winning streak with a 130-123 win.
“For us to win, to know that’s what we have to win on, our defense,” D’Antoni said. “It seems weird because we average so many points, but we know if we hold teams under 100, we’re not going to lose. We have a goal and they take pride in it. I think the three guys we brought in (Chris Paul, Luc Mbah a Moute and P.J. Tucker) are defensive-minded guys first. They help with the overall concentration and overall theme of the team.
“We still have some work to do. We still can get better. We kept saying that we want to be in the top 10. Then we want to be in the top five. Actually, we really want to be best in both. That would give us a heck of a chance to win. That’s what Golden State does. They’ve been best in both. We want to be best in both.”