The offensive production, the enthusiastic bench, the All-Star caliber play on the wing and the rising confidence suggests an upward swing is on the doorstep. The win by the New Orleans Pelicans on MLK day over the rising Memphis Grizzlies also showed their ascension is real and now the Zion era can officially begin.
The calls for coach Alvin Gentry to be fired during the 13-game losing streak were as loud as the day is long, so when the team wins 11 of their following 16 games he deserves to be praised.