James Borrego in a pinch as rookies hit the wall

Zion Williamson‘s injuries The New Orleans Pelicans are stunning through the season, firmly rooted at the bottom of the Western Conference. James Borregopromoted from reliever on Nov. 15 after Willie Green fired in the middle of a 2-10 start, he went 8-25, hardly a record righting of the ship. Tasked with staying competitive for the NBA play-in, the interim head coach also faces immense pressure to prioritize development by Jeremiah Fears and Derrick Queen.

This tenure has locked Borrego into starting rookies and giving them 25-30 minutes per game in many outings, despite stats screaming that among the league’s worst starters. The on/off stats, defensive rating, shooting efficiency and turnover rates all underscore the brutal truth that Queen and Fears aren’t ready to win at a high level.

Jeremiah Fears, Derrick Queen fall

Borrego’s hands are tied, but it’s paying some dividends. Fears has nine 20+ point games before Martin Luther King Day; Kraljica leads all rookies in rebounds (329) and assists (190) with two triple-doubles. Unfortunately, New Orleans is last in defensive rating (DRtg) with 120.6 points allowed per 100 possessions, but an on/off breakdown of Fears and Queen reveals them as the main culprits.

Both have started most of their games (Fears in 43 of 45, Queen in 32 of 44), and their combined presence torpedoes the team’s effectiveness. Defensively, the rookie’s inexperience is striking. The team’s DRtg balloons to 123.7 with both on (up from the 30th-ranked Jazz at 122.3), versus 111.4 off, which would rank third in the league. In recent games (last 11 after Christmas), it’s 122.4 with Fears on (114.0 off) and 123.5 with Queen on.

Offensively, their shooting and ball security make the connection worse. Fears is shooting 43.4% from the field (121st among qualifiers) and 32% from three, with 2.4 turnovers per game, ranking him among the league’s sloppiest starters. Their combined 4.8 turnovers per game encourage opponent transitions, where New Orleans ranks poorly (bottom 10 in opponent turnover rate conversions).

It appears the Queen’s honeymoon is over. After suggesting early in the season that the Maryland product could confirm the controversial trade that cost New Orleans an unprotected 2026 first-round pick, the recent performance has swung dramatically in the opposite direction. He did better with 49.2% of total results from the field, but drops to 19% on triples (among NBA worst) and leads rookies with 107 turnovers (19th overall) and 126 fouls (9th overall).

The Pelicans were outscored by 15.8 points per 100 possessions with Quinn on the floor, the worst mark on the entire team. This represents a stunning turnaround from earlier in the season when Queen posted the best on/off rating among all rookies at plus-18 points per 100 possessions. Something has to give if the front office wants to fight out of the Western Conference basement.

Pelicans cannot move

Borrego is in an impossible position. After all, it’s hard to manage a ship with two gaping defense holes in the hull. Fears were reportedly considered “untouchable” in trade discussions, while Quinn cost the team their unprotected first-rounder in 2026. Development must remain a priority. However, the interim coach also has a responsibility to win. Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones deserve better than to be dragged down by ineffective supporting actors.

Watching rotation spots and minutes go to players whose immediate contributions are clearly costing games is the quickest recipe for locker room discontent. Borrego’s challenge is not just Xs and O’s; it’s managing morale and keeping a group of veterans involved while executing a plan they see isn’t working.

Bench the rookie, start a riot outside the office. Keep playing hard minutes, risk losing the locker room. Compromise? Start Jose Alvarado or Dejounte Murray upon his return from injury. Fears could benefit from facing other units where his athleticism and shot creation would stand out more. Give more opportunities to Karl Matković. The Queen could thrive in shorter spells where his passing can shine without exposing defensive limitations on longer runs.

One solution to the non-starting five was to turn to veterans at key moments. Alvarado, who has a plus-7.1 on/off rating (best on the team), has taken critical minutes from Fears. Yves Missy has emerged as a more reliable option for the big man. Borrego even benched both rookies to start the second half in favor of Alvarado and Misi, a tacit acknowledgment of lagging production.

The only way forward for Borrego is a public acceptance of the difficult task. There’s a fine line between somehow developing raw talent in the heat of the playoff race, coaching on the fly during timeouts, and hoping for rapid, unprecedented improvement. He must sell a vision of future payoff to a locker room suffering from current pain, while his job prospects hang in the balance.

James Borrego’s Pelicans are in rookie trouble, not because players are failing, but because the organizational timeline is at war with itself. And the interim coach, tasked with an unwinnable mission, is the one who will ultimately be responsible for the losses that have seemingly been woven into the season from the start.