Pelicans coach's final words: '1-2-3, Cancun'

At least Alvin Gentry still has his sense of humor after the Golden State Warriors eliminated his New Orleans Pelicans.

His postgame press conference ended with a wink to Inside the NBA:

"What is it? 1, 2, 3, Cancun."

That's how Charles Barkley, Shaquille O'Neal and Co. celebrate a team that's "gone fishin'" after elimination:

There's actually a story behind the chant. The Los Angeles Times reported in 1999 that Nick Van Exel once broke a huddle that way with the Lakers the year before:

Van Exel said and did a lot of dead-serious things as a Laker, some wild, suspension-provoking things, and this is what he's going to be remembered for?

"1-2-3 . . . Cancun!"

It was a cold, cold time for the Lakers. They were trailing Utah badly in the Western Conference finals-on their way to being swept-and at the end of practice, Van Exel joked about retreating to somewhere warm and sandy while his teammates chanted a rallying cry.

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