The New Orleans Pelicans just hit a low point - and not because they lost, but because of how they lost. Dropping a game to a severely depleted Detroit Pistons team has forced a moment of truth for interim head coach James Borrego.
The Pelicans are stuck in a pattern: falling behind early, clawing back late, and asking Zion Williamson to do too much, too often. That formula isn’t working, and Borrego knows it.
“We’re playing from behind every night,” Borrego said after the game. “Thirteen-nothing tonight.
Twelve-two other nights. At some point, that group has to make a stand.
Or I’ll have to pivot.”
That’s not just coach-speak. That’s a warning shot.
The Pelicans’ current starting five - which includes rookies Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen - has struggled to set the tone early. And while developing young talent is essential, it can’t come at the cost of the entire season. There’s a fine line between player development and competitive collapse, and New Orleans is teetering on the edge.
One potential fix? Insert Yves Missi and Karlo Matkovic into the starting lineup.
The move would bring a jolt of energy and physicality to the frontcourt, giving the Pelicans much-needed rim protection and rebounding from the opening tip. At the same time, it would allow Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy III to take on more of the ball-handling responsibilities - a shift that could open up the floor and reduce early-game stagnation.
Sliding Fears to the second unit would ease the pressure on the rookie guard, letting him operate against opposing benches instead of being thrown into the fire against elite starters. Meanwhile, Queen would benefit from a slower developmental curve, facing less physically dominant matchups and avoiding the nightly grind that comes with a starting role in the NBA.
There’s also a strategic upside. Missi and Matkovic have already shown flashes of chemistry when paired together, especially in anchoring the paint. The Pelicans have seen what they can do - and more importantly, trust what they can do.
“When they’re in the game, especially defensively, I feel like the rim isn’t going to be as open,” Borrego said. “Rebounds are going to get gobbled up. Both guys are doing a really good job.”
Missi, for his part, is all in on the pairing. The connection with Matkovic didn’t start last week - it started last year, in offseason pickup games, where they consistently found themselves on the same team and building on-court chemistry that now feels ready for primetime.
“I was wondering when Coach would put both of us together on the court at the same time,” Missi said. “It finally happened.
I was so excited. I know I can trust him on defense.
I don’t have to be a second jumper - he can block shots. It helps a lot knowing there’s someone else who can protect the rim behind me.”
That kind of defensive trust is rare for young bigs. It allows both players to play more aggressively without overcommitting - a major issue for New Orleans earlier in the season.
Too often, gambles at the point of attack left the rim exposed and the defensive glass unprotected. But with Missi and Matkovic, the Pelicans have a chance to flip that script.
“When those two are in the game, our paint and rim change immediately,” Borrego said. “We’ve got to lean into that.
They’re athletic, they’ve got size, and they’re putting pressure on both ends. That’s got to continue.”
And it has to continue now. The Western Conference isn’t waiting for anyone.
Every loss to a team like Detroit - short-handed, out of playoff contention - is a missed opportunity that won’t come back around. The margin for error is shrinking, and the Pelicans can’t afford to waste another season of Zion’s prime waiting for things to “click.”
Borrego’s already acknowledged the problem. The next step is action.
Starting Missi and Matkovic, and shifting Fears and Queen into more manageable roles, isn’t about giving up on the future - it’s about protecting it. And maybe, just maybe, salvaging the present in the process.