This game is a STATEMENT GAME for Frank Jackson. However, the statement isn’t being made to NBA fans or even Pelicans fans. Those groups don’t care enough about Frank Jackson to heed a statement from him no matter how emphatically it is delivered. No, the statement is being made to Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry, and the statement is this:
“I deserve minutes.”
The actual statement which resides in Jackson’s heart uses much more colorful language than what I wrote above. His minutes have been reduced to basically nothing, so he would understandably be frustrated at his role on the team. With Jrue Holiday out, he finally got another chance to show off his scoring ability, and he took full advantage of that opportunity. While Gentry stared disbelievingly from the bench, slack-jawed in awe, Jackson poured in bucket after bucket, proving that he’s more than just some end-of-bench scrub who would be better served playing in China.
There’s no guarantee that Gentry heeds the statement that Jackson made to him. If that’s the case, I consider Jackson empowered to leave copies of the boxscore of this game in strategic locations in Gentry’s office. Jackson’s statline should be circled in red sharpie on these printouts so Gentry understands the implication. And if that additional step also proves ineffective at rescuing Jackson from the purgatory of the bench, then I hereby authorize him to slap Gentry one (1) time in the face.