'The tension's there and we like it': Jose Alvarado on Suns-Pelicans rivalry, facing Chris Paul

The regular-season series between the Phoenix Suns and New Orleans Pelicans has become the NBA Western Conference's biggest rivalry since their physical, gritty six-game first-round playoff series, which the Suns won last season. Pelicans' backup point guard and their former two-way player Jose Alvarado emerged as one of their catalysts during that series. He actualized his nickname "Grand Theft Alvarado" for his sweltering, pesky full-court defense against Suns All-Star Chris Paul, the pair engaging in constant verbal sparring.

The Suns-Pelicans and Alvarado-Paul matchups went viral again last Friday as the Suns lost in New Orleans, 128-117, when Pelicans' All-Star Zion Williamson did a 360 windmill dunk in the closing seconds. Several Suns including Cameron Payne and Paul took exception to that play. Plus Paul and Alvarado got into a spat in front of the Pelicans bench as well, and Paul's antics against Alvarado surfaced on social media as well.

Alvarado, who was listed as "probable" (right rib contusion) for the rivals' fourth and final regular season matchup on Saturday, spoke to The Republic at the Pelicans' pregame media availability earlier that day about facing the Suns for the third time within eight days (Pelicans won the last two), what drives him in facing Paul, and more.

What Alvarado anticipates from Suns-Nuggets final regular season matchup: "We're gonna want to compete. We know how they're gonna compete with us. We know the tension's there and we like it. Obviously, the (2022) playoffs, we're never gonna let that go until — I think I said that before — hopefully we play them in the playoffs and we send them home, or they're home watching us. Because it's just something that it's nothing personal, it's just something we're competing about. They're a good team and we know how good they are, and we know how good we are. So (if) we beat them, we know we can compete with the highest level of teams."

On what particularly motivates Alvarado when playing against Chris Paul: "I think before, but now it's just more about just competing. He a Hall of Famer, right? And he’s still in the game and, you know, I’m trying to compete with one of the best. So me just going at him and getting the best of him and be the best. That’s the whole thing of this game and obviously winning.”

Best career advice from his Georgia Tech head coach, former Arizona Wildcats assistant coach Josh Pastner: "Only thing I can really say about what Pastner told me and I took for life forever with me I'm always gonna have is control the controllables. Control what you can, and the rest will take care of itself.

Continuing Christ The King (Queens, NY) High School's basketball legacy with its alumni such as Lamar Odom, ex-Arizona All-American Khalid Reeves, WNBA legends Tina Charles, Chamique Holdsclaw, and Sue Bird: "Those are big, big shoes to fill. ... Obviously, there are great players who came out of that high school. Just competing and trying to build my own legacy, and hopefully fill those shoes in but just try to be Jose at all times."

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Pelicans' Jose Alvarado talks rivalry with Suns, Chris Paul