Jamahl Mosley’s first night in charge of the New Orleans Pelicans didn’t take long to draw heat.
After a loss to Tyrese Haliburton’s Indiana Pacers on NBA Opening Night, the attention quickly shifted from the final score to Mosley’s rotations - and, in particular, his decision to keep Herb Jones on the bench late. As the game got away, plenty of fans were asking the same question: why was one of the NBA’s best perimeter defenders not out there to help slow down a sizzling Haliburton?
Jones, a perennial NBA All-Defense Team candidate with a Not on Herb nickname, was not only absent from the closing lineup - he also didn’t start. Mosley instead went smaller, pairing Dejounte Murray with rookie Jeremiah Fears in the backcourt.
That choice created a weird tension for a coach who wants this team to build an identity on defense. Leaving Jones off the floor for the most important possessions felt like a tough sell to a fan base watching a game slip away.
Still, not everyone was ready to tear down the whole approach. Some fans were more focused on the developmental upside, pointing to strong minutes from Fears and Yves Missi.
Mosley, for his part, addressed Jones after the game by praising his professionalism and communication when asked about the veteran taking a step back in both the starting lineup and the closing group.
It’s still far too early to make a final judgment on Mosley’s rotation habits. He has said he wants to review the team in five-game chunks, giving the staff time to spot patterns before anything hardens into a larger problem.
But opening night did put that plan on the spot. Mosley doesn’t have to play Jones 35 minutes every time out, but the Pelicans do have to figure out who gets trusted when defense matters more than experimenting on offense. Those are the calls that shape close games - and close games are the ones that decide whether they work their way back into the postseason.
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Jamahl Mosley has already framed the position as a center by committee, with the idea being that different matchups may call for different skill sets. That puts Matkovics role squarely in the spotlight, especially after his preseason showing and the shooting he flashed last season, because the Pelicans are clearly weighing more than one path as they decide how to build their rotation. [Read more 🡒]