Alvin Gentry extension in New Orleans deserved, needed for more progress

In the age of analytics in professional sports, the numbers have become dizzying, virtual paralysis by analysis.

In the final analysis, the only number that matters is wins.

As a head coach, if you have more victories than losses, chances are you will keep your job.

Over the first two years of his program in New Orleans, Alvin Gentry posted a less than impressive 64-100 record with the Pelicans.

While the vultures were circling what appeared to some to be an endangered species, Gentry forged ahead, kept the faith and continued to work hard.

Monty Williams had issues with keeping key players on the floor, resulting in losing seasons. That has nothing to do with coaching. Crippling injuries to key contributors will cripple any team. When Williams finally got pieces in place, the Pelicans made the playoffs.

It was not enough for Williams to retain his job.

It is great to see Williams, a superb person and solid coach, back on the bench as an assistant coach with Philadelphia. It is a good job with a very good young team. Williams endured the cruelest of fates with the loss of his beloved wife and the mother to their children. Perhaps he deserved a better fate in New Orleans.

In similar fashion, Gentry dealt with injuries to key players, along with a few bad contracts on the way to a pair of losing seasons.

This past season, Jrue Holiday was finally healthy and his mind was eased after a very serious year in dealing with the health of his beloved wife. His level of play rose dramatically.

Anthony Davis played like a genuine MVP candidate. Rajon Rondo provided solid leadership and made players around him better with his unselfish style of play.

The addition of Demarcus Cousins from the start of the season made New Orleans an interesting and solid, but not outstanding team.

Just when it appeared the Pelicans were figuring it out with Cousins, he went down.

Most wrote off the season, at that point. That was a solid rationale, particularly in the deep, talented Western conference.

Niko Mirotic arrived and infused offense, length and better than expected defense. New Orleans did not slip. In fact, the Pelicans played well and made an outstanding run to the playoffs.

Give Dell Demps credit for Cousins. Give him credit for Mirotic.

Give Gentry credit for not throwing in the towel or taking the “woe is me” approach after the loss of Cousins. Give him credit for quickly assimilating Mirotic into the offense.

Spacing improved, shooting improved and the style of play was fascinating, faster, fun to watch.

Any good coach adjusts to his talent.

In Miami, Don Shula was an NFL legend. He won Super Bowls by pounding the rock behind a brilliant offensive line, led by Larry Little, and a trio of brilliant running backs in Larry Csonka, Jim Kiick and Mercury Morris. Bob Griese was a leader and he could throw it, when necessary, to the likes of Paul Warfield.

With David Woodley of LSU, an average NFL quarterback, at the helm, Shula took the Dolphins to another Super Bowl in the 1982 season.

When those players aged and departed, Shula drafted Dan Marino and had Mark Duper and Mark Clayton to help the superstar passer shine and break records. Rather than force a square peg into a round hole, Shula had suddenly turned his offense into an aerial show. The Dolphins reached Super Bowl XIX in 1985.

Taking a page from Shula’s example, Gentry had his team adjust on the fly last year. The best coaches at any level, in any sport, scheme and plan to the strength of their talent, rather than trying to adapt the talent to an awkward system.

Unlike Williams, Gentry was able to win a playoff series, doing it without arguably the most talented center in the league.

If there is a separator, that may be the rub when comparing Williams and Gentry.

With a two-year extension, Gentry now has the freedom and power to approach free agents, with both sides secure in the knowledge that the coach has job security and the team, with the likes of Davis and Holiday (at the very least), will be competitive if not good.

The move by Gayle Benson, Mickey Loomis and Demps to extend Gentry was a solid, sound one. Now, we await the draft, free agency and a return on the investment while accruing interest and continuing to build fan interest, which peaked by playoff time this past season.