SPIRITED: Pelicans’ Competitive FIRE Returns Under James Borrego—What’s NEXT for New Orleans?
New Orleans Pelicans shake things up with James Borrego’s first game as interim head coach, exposing both fresh energy and lingering weak spots after a 124-106 loss to the Golden State Warriors. Are brighter days ahead, or is this just a short-lived boost? Jake Madison spotlights significant changes in team spirit, aggressive play, and lineup adjustments—like starting Derik Queen and sidelining Kevon Looney—while questioning whether improved vibes can overcome persistent defensive and rebounding woes.
Key analysis zeroes in on standout defensive work from Herb Jones against Steph Curry, the team’s ongoing struggle to secure defensive rebounds, and the prospects of a new-look starting lineup once Zion Williamson returns. Jake Madison also weighs the impact of Borrego’s “speed and violence” mantra, rookie development, and what the Pelicans must fix to re-enter the play-in chase. Can these bold changes spark a late-season surge in New Orleans?
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31 Comments
Wtf game were you watching?
everydayer congrats on ur marriage 🎉🎉
Every dayer
Zion is ready to come back… he’s just making sure Willie don’t come back first 🤣🤣🤣
Same shit, different coach. We all saw it.
The roster is the roster. Zion is an anchor around this team not to mention bad moves from the front office.
Every team plays hard after a coach is fired. Let's see what it looks like ten games in.
But at least they own their pick this year, right? Right?
I gave you a like for being able to manufacture positivity out of what's going on with the Pelicans right now.
Hi Jake
i’m not an overly optimistic pels fan. but i do think it was a breath of fresh air considering they had one practice. JB experienced with lineups, yeah it was still a blow out but a team without zion and poole against a rested warriors team will lose, i don’t think JB is going to turn the season around. but you can’t deny the players played harder then they have this season. and at least he was willing to change things up (he played jose and fears together and willie would never) i think they need to lean into yves and queen minutes because i believe queen at the 4 is a natural mismatch (sengun type) i mean look at how better KAT got going from the 5 to the 4.
Curry had a bad game and they won by 20….
This team looked really good. They're going all the way….
To Cancun.
Y this city doesn't hav atop tier team last 6yrs pels had 25 1st round picks 20 2nd rnd picks OKC had all them picks also n look at them
Congratulations Jake 🎉🎊
The officiating was more than “weird”…. It was better than Friday though. After the Friday game the officials should’ve been investigated by the FBI…
Every dayer comment
They looked exactly the same lol
Brother we actually looked worse… people keep saying Borrego has a great offensive mind…but I seen nothing… some say it’s his first game… he been with the team 3 years please.. if we don’t at least make the play in the Willie firing was for nothing!!!
Lost by 18 but competitive? Nah. No moral victories here. This team is cooked.
You need to stop lying to the people who was at the game and stop lying about the effort from the team they looked exactly like they have all year and lost by their usual 20 points and I don’t see any change in the effort from the players who played
James Borrengo has been leading this team offensively this year so what’s going to be different this is a shame but they got my money already so I’m gonna continue to support this team but honestly
Let’s face the facts Willie Green gave up and turned the team over to Borrengo long ago so if you’re looking for something different you are going to be disappointed it’s just more of the same
Do the Pelicans have a coach who has been a good player in the NBA the answer is no they need at least one player who was a good player in the league to teach this team how it’s done
There are lots of voyeurs who like to watch other people do things but they don’t try to teach others what they’ve watched until they actually know what they’re talking about by doing it
Somebody please tell me what was Borrengo watching for his time as assistant coach if he is going to be the next head coach he should already know this team
When can we expect the pelicans to win a game
So now you got your wish now how long are you going to make excuses for this stupid decision to keep this guy that you have lobbied for he needs to be gone ASAP and we need a real NBA caliber coach for our team
0 shot this team makes the play in
Sorry ass franchise blamed Ingram for Years
Worst management in the league
Worst medical staff in the league
Pels fans gotta start coming for management Dallas style if they want results
Not to mention trading a potential franchise altering player in this years draft for what Discount Domantis Sabonis ?
Finally a new coach. Pelican's been having the same coach ever since monty left coach after coach that don't have sense enough to know when to call a timeout.I'm happy with the way 😊 coach handled the game
Speaking of green, how many coaches you know, call timeout when their team is on a run green was known for doing that😢
the run.