Pelicans' Gentry to use Anthony Davis as center, ask him to develop 3-pointer
When Anthony Davis was a junior in high school, he was a scrawny point guard, standing only 6-foot-3 - relatively short in basketball terms.
As a senior, he measured 6-foot-10, having gone through a dramatic growth spurt. As a result of this bodily transformation, he had to adapt his skillset in order to become an effective post player.
Thankfully for the New Orleans Pelicans, Davis did indeed improve his big-man skills, and newly minted head coach Alvin Gentry told reporters he plans to take full advantage of his superstar's talents.
Gentry said he'll play AD at the 5 quite often but wouldn't call it "small ball" b/c #Pelicans can play big but guard small.
— Scott Kushner (@ScottDKushner) July 8, 2015
Although Davis is a virtual lightweight at 220 pounds, recent changes in the style of play throughout the league lend themselves perfectly to Gentry's plan. As evidenced by the champion Golden State Warriors, a large, traditional big man is no longer a necessity. Rather, the league seems to be trending toward the use of mobile and dynamic centers.
That includes shooting from outside to stretch the floor, something Gentry needs from his bigs if he's going to utilize the spread pick-and-roll to full effect.
"That's got to become a consistent short for him," Gentry said, while adding that Davis shouldn't leave the gym until he's made 150 threes from each corner. "I don't think he's going to have any problem doing it ... We want him to shoot that shot."
Davis is 3-of-27 from outside for his career but shot 41.9 percent on 2-point shots from 16 feet or further, an encouraging sign about his ability to stretch his range. He shot 45.9 percent on catch-and-shoot jumpers, too, and while it's unlikely he's asked to spot up much - that would waste his otherworldly talents inside the arc - the addition of a 3-point shot has to be a terrifying proposition for opponents.
While Davis has become increasingly adept at shooting from long distance, he proved himself capable of mixing it up in the paint last season (641 two-point field goals made - No. 1 in the league) as well as providing superior rim protection (200 blocks in total, translating to 2.9 per game - also No. 1).
Only three years into his pro career, "The Brow" has become the most efficient offensive player in the league, by one measure, at least. In 2014-15, Davis ranked No. 1 in the NBA for player efficiency rating with a mind-boggling 30.8, a mark more than double the league average, as he led his Pelicans to the playoffs.
The 2015-16 version of the Pelicans will yield a variety of plays for Davis as Gentry, a former Warriors assistant coach, will likely feature their franchise player prominently in each of their offensive sets. That's the beauty of a singularly talented and versatile star like Davis, with a creative offensive mind like Gentry coaching him.
One thing is for certain: With the continual rise of Davis' legend, the Pelicans will be one of the hottest tickets in each town they visit.