Not many things are certain about the future of the New Orleans Pelicans, and with the trade deadline approaching, things could look very different in the Big Easy on February 5. However, one thing seems increasingly undeniable: Interim head coach James Borrego should be named the franchise’s next head coach.
The Pelicans have a 6-19 record since Borrego took over for Willie Green on Nov. 15, and while that may not seem like much of an improvement, the eye test says otherwise. In the Borrego era, the Pelicans are moving the ball at an incredible speed, and the offense is running better than it has in the last two seasons. Borrego has also done a great job of playing to the team’s strengths as he has them playing at an elite pace.
Borrego has always been coveted as an offensive genius, and we’ve seen that so far during his time leading the show in New Orleans. If you need proof, the numbers tell the story.
The figures support Borrego
Since Borrego, the Pelicans have seen an increase in almost every team statistic. Starting with their offensive rating, which was 108.1 (27th) when JB took over and is now 113.7 (19th). The same goes for their defensive rating, which is strange considering Willie Green was viewed as a defensive coach. The Pels previously had a defensive rating of 120.7 and now have a DEFRTG of 119.0. Obviously, these increases on either side of the bottom also mean the Pelicans’ Net Rating improved by 7.5 points.
A big reason for the Pelicans’ improved offensive rating is the pace at which they play and how well they move the ball. When Borrego took over, so were the Pelicans dead last in assists per match And 26th in terms of pace– now her his fifth in pace And 20th in assists per game.
The one major category in which the Pelicans have not improved since JB took over is three-point attempts, as they attempt 4.7 fewer threes per game. However, I see that as a positive as Borrego is only playing to the strengths of his staff.
These increases without roster changes are really encouraging and make Borrego the clear number one candidate for the team’s full-time head coaching spot. That being said, numbers aren’t the only thing coaching has to offer, but it’s clear that Borrego has done much more than just influence numbers.
The elite coaching decisions are already visible
In Sunday’s loss to the Miami Heat, Borrego made a decision that likely wouldn’t have happened under Willie Green. Karlo Matković performed 16 points and brought a lot of energy to the team’s game before Sunday’s match, so Borrego placed Matković in the team’s starting five. The move also helped the Pelicans better match Miami’s sizable frontcourt of Kel’el Ware and Bam Adebayo.
There have been countless other instances like this where Borrego has worked with different lineups based on matchups, and that’s what good coaches do. This match-by-match planning has helped Bryce McGowens establish himself as someone likely to upgrade this team from a two-way player to a standard contract. During Green’s tenure, McGowens only got minutes of garbage time – now it’s difficult for him to sit.
Based on what we’ve seen since James Borrego took over, not giving him the reins for a full season would be a costly mistake.
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