It was David Griffin who first uttered the phrase "sleeping giant" in reference to the Pelicans roster Willie Green is set to take over, but the newly hired coach drove it home with one, specific ringing endorsement.
This New Orleans roster, he said, reminds him of the Phoenix Suns team he coached for the last two seasons and helped lead to the NBA Finals earlier this month.
"Number 1, it’s great people here and that’s the start: high character," Green said at his introductory press conference. "People that are all working together, connected, a partnership, and raising the level here in New Orleans."
Griffin lauded the fit for Green in New Orleans, an idea the coach himself echoed. The former NBA player felt there was a similarly good fit in Phoenix, where he and head coach Monty Williams turned a fringe playoff team into a Western Conference power in one season -- and with the added services of Chris Paul.
Griffin appears to be betting on that type of fit paying similar dividends with a similar roster setup and different approach to what was seen last year with one-and-done coach Stan Van Gundy.
"[This roster has] really high, talented players. The staff, same thing. High character. People that love to come to work, love to work together," Green said. "And we’re really close to taking the next step. And I believe going into next season that’s our goal, that’s our mindset, and that makes it a sleeping giant. You have two young all stars, putting a lot of talent around those guys and really just making the team go.”
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