Pelicans emphasize finish of recreation conditions after loss to Timberwolves – NOLA.com

New Orleans Pelicans interim head coach James Borrego talks with the group throughout a play evaluation in the course of the first half of the basketball recreation in opposition to the Golden State Warriors on the Smoothie King Heart in New Orleans, Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025. (Workers Photograph by David Grunfeld, The Instances-Picayune)
The New Orleans Pelicans’ movie session Wednesday morning was the nineteenth one this season that got here after a loss.
This one was maybe the hardest one to observe.
Lots of the different 18 losses had been blowouts or video games that had been determined by the point the top of the fourth quarter got here round.
Tuesday’s time beyond regulation loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves was not solely a recreation the Pelicans might have received, but it surely was one they need to have received.
The Pels led 129-125 when Jose Alvarado rebounded a missed shot by Minnesota’s Donte DiVinceno with simply 46.4 seconds remaining. However Alvarado turned the ball over, resulting in a Timberwolves’ basket to make it a 2-point recreation. Jeremiah Fears missed a contested layup with 13.6 seconds left. Minnesota, trailing 129-127, referred to as a timeout with 7 seconds left. Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards drove to the basket for a lay-up to ship the sport to time beyond regulation and Minnesota pulled away. The Pelicans had a foul to offer on the Edwards drive, however didn’t use it.
New Orleans Pelicans interim head coach James Borrego talks with the group throughout a play evaluation in the course of the first half of the basketball recreation in opposition to the Golden State Warriors on the Smoothie King Heart in New Orleans, Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025. (Workers Photograph by David Grunfeld, The Instances-Picayune)
So its simple to grasp why Pelicans’ interim head coach James Borrego used Wednesday’s apply to focus solely on finish of recreation conditions.
“(It’s an) space of  development,” Borrego stated. “You place your self in these positions and now you’ve obtained to shut. We’re on the aim line and we’ve obtained to determine the right way to shut. It’s maturity. It is execution. It’s poise. It’s confidence.”
The Pelicans (3-19) don’t have to attend lengthy to see if the apply helped. They get one other shot on the Timberwolves (13-8) Thursday at Smoothie King Heart.
Losses within the clutch function teachable moments for a younger group, notably rookies like Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears.
“Simply be extra disciplined,” Queen stated. “Shut out the sport higher. No turnovers. No second possibilities for them. And simply execute.”
Borrego’s Wednesday apply consisted of the group going by means of numerous finish of recreation situations. It ranged from being up by two with 30 seconds left to being down by 2 with 30 seconds left and every little thing in between.
“Do it till you want what you see,” Borrego stated. “Be sure we’re all speaking about it what we’re on the lookout for and attempt to replicate it as a lot as attainable. You may’t get the stress degree or stress degree that you simply’ll get tomorrow night time or in a recreation, however you’ll be able to definitely simulate it as a lot as you’ll be able to.”
Borrego focuses on the small print and is all about repetition till the group will get it proper. Due to the way in which the schedule has performed out, this was simply his fourth precise apply with the group since taking on for Willie Inexperienced. A whole lot of the apply time has centered on what Borrego calls “extra foundational stuff.”
“This group has to dominate the margins,” Borrego stated. “That’s the aim proper now.”
The margins are how the group does after a timeout. And on the finish of quarters and finish of video games.
“These conditions we wish to dominate,” Borrego stated. “It’s very doable. It’s not rocket science. (It takes) some focus. You’ve obtained to offer it consideration. You’ve obtained to take care of it. Ensuring guys know the place they must be. All of it comes right down to the small print there. (Wednesday) was most likely probably the most detailed, finish of the sport apply I’ve had shortly. It’s been a minute. It felt good. We felt the ache of final night time. We owned it. That’s the fantastic thing about this group. No one’s hanging their heads.”
{{description}}
E-mail notifications are solely despatched as soon as a day, and provided that there are new matching objects.
Information Suggestions:
nolanewstips@theadvocate.com
Different questions:
subscriberservices@theadvocate.com
Need assistance?
Your browser is outdated and probably weak to safety dangers.
We advocate switching to one of many following browsers:

source