Pelicans Surge Under James Borrego, Who’s Coaching Like the Job Is Already His
Don’t let the “interim” title fool you - James Borrego is coaching like a man with full command of the New Orleans Pelicans. And after Monday night’s comeback win over the Mavericks, it’s getting harder to argue he shouldn’t have the job outright.
The Pelicans ran their win streak to five with a 119-113 victory over Dallas, fueled by a dominant fourth quarter where they outscored the Mavs 40-26. This wasn’t just a win - it was another example of how Borrego’s fingerprints are all over this team’s turnaround.
Let’s start with Zion Williamson. Since returning from a hamstring injury, the former No. 1 overall pick has been coming off the bench - a bold move by Borrego that’s paying dividends.
Against Dallas, Zion led the team with 24 points on an ultra-efficient 10-of-14 shooting, including 10 critical points in the final frame. Two games ago, Borrego didn’t even play Zion in the fourth quarter, opting instead for a hot-shooting lineup that helped New Orleans storm back against Houston.
That’s not just gutsy coaching - that’s a coach who’s reading the game in real time and making the right calls.
And then there’s rookie Derik Queen, who continues to look like a future star. Queen poured in 19 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, and filled up the box score with six assists, two steals, and a block - his third straight double-double. He’s not just putting up numbers; he’s impacting winning, and Borrego is putting him in positions to thrive.
Since taking over for Willie Green after a rough 2-10 start, Borrego has helped the Pelicans (now 8-22) find their offensive rhythm. The numbers speak loudly: New Orleans was averaging just 108.4 points per game over the first 12 games.
Under Borrego, that number has jumped to 120.1. That’s not a small bump - that’s a team finding its identity.
And that identity starts at the rim. The Pelicans are attacking the basket more than any team in the league, taking 42.7% of their shots at the rim, per Cleaning The Glass.
For context, the league average is 31.6%. They’re still working on finishing consistently - they ranked 26th in rim field goal percentage heading into Monday - but even that’s been trending upward under Borrego.
What’s most impressive is how this team, which looked dead in the water just a few weeks ago, is now playing with purpose. Only the Spurs have a longer active win streak (six games), and while New Orleans still has a long climb ahead, there’s real optimism brewing.
Rookies like Queen and Jeremiah Fears are giving the Pelicans a jolt of energy. Fears added 12 points against Dallas and is averaging 15 per game - not bad for a first-year guard finding his footing in the league.
Meanwhile, veterans like Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones are stepping into bigger leadership roles. Borrego noted recently that they’re “growing into their roles,” and it’s clear he’s empowering them to lead both on and off the court.
Borrego himself is growing into his role, too. But if this keeps up, he won’t be growing into it much longer - he’ll just be the Pelicans’ head coach. Interim in name only, indeed.