James Borrego’s plans will be “as simple as possible” to close the season

With the playoffs out of reach and the final chapters of the season written, Zion Williamson’s gritty New Orleans Pelicans they don’t want to reinvent the wheel. Interim head coach James Borrego he just wants to keep this project on track to show some progress before the 82nd game. Data is more important than anything for a young team. That’s why the guiding philosophy for this final part of the lesson is borrowed from the Hall of Fame Gregg Popovich.

Based on his years with the San Antonio Spurs, Borrego believes that complexity isn’t always the answer. Tongue tying is not suitable for basement-dwelling pelicans either. The KISS method is more suitable for a team that has he struggled with consistency throughout the campaign.

“Learning from (Greg Popovic) in the world of San Antonio, we tried to keep it as simple as possible back then. I think that still resonates today,” Borrego admitted. “The less complicated your schemes are, the better. What’s most important to me is physicality, aggression, keep it simple and let the players play instinct.”

It’s a pragmatic approach for a franchise dealing with injuries and the mental challenge of coming off a disappointing season. Instead of flooding the locker room with elaborate schemes, Borrego wants Williamson, Derrick Queen and Jeremiah are afraid to focus on fundamental principles. The Pelicans are infected careless turnovers that encourage fast breaks, putting their defense in a compromising position before it can even organize.

“There’s no question that it’s holding on to the ball, not turning it over and picking shots,” Borrego noted. “A lot of our bad shots at the rim lead to turnovers the other way. Whether it’s blocked, I know it doesn’t show up in the stat sheet as a turnover, but a bad shot at the rim that gets blocked is basically a turnover that goes the other way. So, picking up shots in the paint is huge for us. If we don’t turn it over better. Called on half-court defense, if we can get the defense, a lot better.

As the Pelicans limp toward the All-Star break, this “as simple as possible” mantra is more about building momentum than chasing the final NBA Playoff spot. The Spurs’ Borgia-inspired draft may not save the 2025-26 campaign, but it could be the foundation for a postseason run next season.

The remaining games are now a laboratory for identity. If New Orleans can finish the year by valuing possessions, defending strength and believing in simple principles, wins could still be scarce, for sure. Habits, however, are the real target.