New Orleans Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry has been preparing for a matchup against the Golden State Warriors even prior to their eventual Game 5 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night.
“If there is any way (Curry) can play he will play,” noted Gentry, according to Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated. “I kind of laughed at the people that say, ‘Well, he is going to be a little bit rusty.’ I want to tell them, just remember now, the last time he sat out seven games he came back and had 39.”
Three years ago, Gentry won a championship as an assistant under head coach Steve Kerr, helping Curry into garnering the first championship for the organization in 40 years.
Gentry would leave for a head coaching opportunity with the New Orleans Pelicans, helping the one team he once helped sweep out of the playoffs in 2014-15.
Yet the long-tenured helmsman isn't afraid to joke around with his friend Kerr, entering an interesting plot in the Western Conference semifinals.
“I kid with Steve. I say, ‘You guys had a terrible year, you only won 57 games,’” Gentry said. “I think when you’re in that area right there, the job that Steve has done there has been amazing when you can say, ‘Hey, we won 57 games and it’s been the worst year that I’ve had after I’ve had the coach in there for four years.’ I’m happy for Steve, and I think it’s a tremendous challenge when you go and play the world champs. They’ve been there.”
Curry has that same championship pedigree, including the experience of coming back from injuries in the postseason and performing at an MVP-caliber level.
He is currently ramping up activity in his recovery, but will not be in the active roster until he's gone through a full contact practice.
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