West Notes: Pelicans, CJ McCollum, Timberwolves, Grizzlies

Pelicans

Point guard Jose Alvarado has become one of the NBA’s most underrated players and wants to keep it that. He indicated as much in a wide-ranging interview with Will Guillory of The Athletic.

“A lot of people told me that the sophomore year is a slump year for some guys. I didn’t want that to be on my name. I wanted people to say, ‘Oh, he improved. What else can he do?’” Alvarado said, via Guillory. “Obviously, the GTAs and playing defense is who I am. I accept that. But I’m also a complete basketball player. I can be a great point guard. I’m a knockdown shooter. I think there are a lot of things I can do on the court to help this team.”

Alvarado has become particularly known for his backcourt defense. It’s a label he sports with pride.

“I want to be in the conversation for the All-Defensive team and things like that. I want to be one of the best point guards in the league,” he said, via Guillory. “Even if it doesn’t happen this year, I want people to know I’m one of the guys they should put in that category. I have those goals in front of me and I’m always chasing them. That’s part of the fuel that keeps me going.”

• In case you missed it, shooting guard CJ McCollum entered health and safety protocols and is out indefinitely, the team announced.

Timberwolves

Center Rudy Gobert and shooting guard Anthony Edwards recently spoke on fans who boo the team during poor stretches during home games.

“I just don’t appreciate people that come in to boo your team. When you’re a fan, you gotta support your team in the tough or the good moments,” Gobert told reporters. “There’s no team in NBA history that only had good moments, so if you’re not going to support us in the tough moments, just stay home. I think if you’re going to embrace us in the tough moments, then come and then we’re going to love the support.”

Meanwhile, Edwards suggested the Wolves may have had it coming.

“We’re getting booed at home. It’s crazy,” Edwards said. “We gotta find ourselves … It feels crazy. I be wanting to say something, but the fans are not wrong. We look bad. I definitely don’t ever want to get booed again at my home.”

• The Timberwolves have sent center Luka Garza, small forward Josh Minott and guard/forward A.J. Lawson to the Iowa Wolves of the G League, as relayed by Dane Moore.

Grizzlies

• The Grizzlies’ defense has been uneven to start the season and some lineup changes may be in order because of it, wrote Nathan Chester of SB Nation.
• Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant is ninth in the NBA in both scoring (28.6) and assists (7.1).