Why James Borrego believes the NBA’s old school rules should be brought back

In today’s NBA, offenses have reached an unprecedented level of sophistication. Teams are averaging more points than ever before, using complex schemes that include constant movement, lethal three-point shooting and spacing that stretches defenses to the breaking point. Zion Williamson’s proud New Orleans Pelicans are losing ground just trying to keep up. That’s why James Borrego is among those advocating a subtle but significant philosophical shift back to a more physically permissible defense standard.

For Borrego, it’s not about returning to brutal, low-scoring attacks, but Fr establishing the necessary balance which allows defenders to act on instinct. A return to the days of hand checking may bring back more competitive basketball in the process. When defenders are forced to defend in space an entire possession without the ability to apply legal contact, the math leans decidedly toward the offense.

“I think when you don’t know how to analyze and (suffer from) analysis paralysis, when they can just be instinctive and use their God-given ability and force and aggression, you have a better chance of guarding in this league today,” Borrego noted. “The league probably allows us to guard a little bit more with our hands, and I think that’s a good thing.”

Boreg’s philosophy is not just nostalgia; it is pragmatic. Today’s offenses feature endless ball movement, off-ball screens and spacing that exploits every hesitation. Without the ability to use their hands or bodies more assertively, defenders are hesitant. That leaves the team dead on arrival at the NBA level.

“With the amount of offensive movement in space, if we don’t allow that (physical play), we’re going to see 150-plus (points) every night,” Borredo admitted. “So we have to defend with our hands, our physicality, our bodies in front of our bodies, which is similar to how it used to be. Now, you just have to do it for more possessions and, you know, probably with more speed.”

This does not mean eliminating freedom of movement, but recalibrating it. It’s about letting defenders use their strength and instincts to stay in front of offensive prodigies, fostering a more balanced, physically demanding and strategically nuanced contest. In Borrego’s view, enabling this defensive revival is essential not to stifle the offense, but to restore the competitive tension that makes the game truly compelling.

Maybe even help the Pelicans win a few more wins this season.