What Zion Williamson is ‘gambling’ amid the battle for the 2026 NBA playoffs

As the calendar turns to the new year, of the defeated New Orleans Pelicans they once again find themselves searching for relevance in the Western Conference standings. With a poor 8-26 record heading into New Year’s Eve against the Chicago Bulls, Zion Williamson and Derrick Quinn are languishing in last place. However, the dressing room showed glimpses of life under the interim coach James Borregoincluding a five-game winning streak that briefly ignited hope for a final Play-In berth.

The transformation did not come from major changes in their system. According to Borrego, the increase was less related to the reinvention of the scheme and more about collective buyout.

“What I saw, and that’s something we nailed, is we move the ball and share it. I think we had 19 threes in the half. A lot of corner threes, a lot of breakaway threes. That’s what we emphasized (before we played the Knicks),” Borrego explained. “Guys came in, believed in it, believed in it, and that was the catalyst for me the whole first half, it was just sharing the basketball. It’s as simple as that.”

The formula is consistent with Williamson gravity. When the Pelicans go downhill, especially with Williamson’s pressure on the rim, the offense becomes a series of reads rather than forced plays.

“We’re a downhill team,” Borrego suggested, “but can we trust him, get off the ball and get quality threes or the rim? Any of them that come up are good.”

That willingness to make the extra pass opened up the offense in ways that pure athleticism alone couldn’t accomplish. When the defense collapses on the drive, the Pelicans now consistently find open shooters instead of forcing contested finishes.

“In any NBA game against a good team, they’re going to pick up their defense in the second half. I thought we hung in, though. Our offense had plenty of fire. Our defense picked up, too, and we had a seven-point lead to start the fourth. We’ll take it, we just have to get close. Bottom line. We just have to get close.”

The final possession against the Knicks highlighted the delicate balance between coaching and player execution.

“Three-point play, we made the call,” Borrego replied. “We didn’t have a timeout with 16 seconds on the shot clock; we were trying to get a good look. We made a simple call. At that point, they (the players) have to go play. Obviously, I’m going to go watch and see what we could have done better, but it seemed to me (Jordan Poole) thought he could have fouled a three-point play there.”

As the Pelicans chase one of the final playoff spots, the margin for error remains razor thin. However, the foundation Borrego is building represents exactly the kind of sustainable approach that can carry the team through the pressure-filled final months of the season.

The question now is not whether the Pelicans can play winning basketball. Their five-game winning streak showed they could. The real test lies in their ability to consistently maintain that standard and, most importantly, execute it when games are on the line. If they can master the art of closing down, the offensive principles they’ve used all season will give them a real chance to extend their campaign into the postseason.