NEW ORLEANS (NEWS 15) — At the midpoint of the NBA season, the New Orleans Pelicans sit at the bottom of the league standings, struggling to overcome injuries and the challenges of playing under an interim head coach.
With key players sidelined for stretches of the season, New Orleans has leaned heavily on its young core to remain competitive. While the Pelicans average roughly 115 points per game offensively, defensive issues continue to plague the team, as opponents score about 122 points per contest.
Interim head coach James Borrego points to defense as the deciding factor in recent losses, despite productive offensive performances.
“Our offense would have ranked number one last night,” Borrego said. “That would’ve been the best offensive-rated team in the NBA. We did enough offensively. The problem was the defense.”
One of the most pressing concerns for New Orleans had been defending the paint. The Pelicans were allowing nearly 55 points per game in the lane, a figure that underscores breakdowns in interior defense and late-game execution.
Zion Williamson, who surprisingly has missed just 12 games so far this season, plays a central role in anchoring the paint. The starting center noted that his conditioning and workload has not been an issue.
“I feel like I’m in a great rhythm right now, especially with my minutes,” Williamson stated. “I don’t feel fatigued. I feel really good.”
Roster flexibility remains limited for New Orleans, as the team has already traded its 2026 first-round draft pick to the Atlanta Hawks in the deal that brought Derrick Queen to the Pelicans. That reality leaves the franchise with few options beyond internal improvement or trading a major contributor for additional help.
Borrego stressed that defensive effort, particularly in the fourth quarter, would be critical moving forward.
“No matter whether we’re making shots or not, our defense has to carry us down the stretch. That’s when our discipline, physicality, presence, rebounding, and effort all have to be at their best,” he added.
Williamson echoed those concerns, especially in close games and when defensive specialist Herb Jones was unavailable.
“We’ve got to close games better. When Herb’s out, our defensive presence has to improve. Late in games, teams are getting layups against us,” he expressed.
The Pelicans look to correct course as they prepare for upcoming matchups against the Denver Nuggets and Brooklyn Nets.
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