Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry: ‘We are not a good team’

The Dallas Mavericks broke the New Orleans Pelicans. Following a loss to the Mavericks — who were resting four starters — Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry decided he’d run out of excuses.

Gentry continued, stating the team must try to find the currently unknown answers to its very real problems. According to John Reid of the Times-Picayune, Gentry said:

“I don’t really know, to be honest with you. I wish I had answers. I don’t have answers, but we’re going to come up with answers. It’s not fair to the fans. It’s not fair to anybody for us to come out and have that kind of effort. It really isn’t. And when I say ‘us’ I mean all of us: coaches, players, everybody. It’s just not good.”

Losing to a potential playoff team is one thing. Losing to a team you had beaten four nights before that was now playing the second portion of a back-to-back and down four starters is another thing.

And it’s not good.

None of Dirk Nowitzki, Deron Williams, Zaza Pachulia and Wesley Matthews played in Wednesday night’s game where the Raymond Felton-led Mavericks edged the Pelicans 100-91. Chandler Parsons added 21 points, and Dwight Powell netted 13.

Yes, New Orleans lost when Dwight Powell was the third-leading scorer.

Anthony Davis racked up 26 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists and three blocks, but it wasn’t enough. The Pelicans shot 37 percent from the floor — including a porous 23.3 mark from three-point range — while the Mavericks used a 51-41 second-half advantage to steal a road victory.

When injuries depleted New Orleans’ roster early this season, the best guess was the Pelicans would return to form when Tyreke Evans was back on the floor and Jrue Holiday could play consistent minutes. Unfortunately for the team, it’s 7-10 since Evans came back.

The time for excuses and unfounded hope about New Orleans ended a couple weeks ago. Not even the Pelicans head coach can keep a happy face anymore.