The New Orleans Pelicans have been anything but "defense first" over the past few seasons, and that's going to change quickly, promised new head coach Jamahl Mosley in his introductory press conference this week.
The Pelicans ranked 29th and 23rd in the NBA's defensive rating metric over the past two season while stumbling to combined record of 47-117. Mosley's Orlando Magic teams have ranked 2nd, 3rd and 13th each of the past three seasons, with his team reaching the postseason in all three.
"Before I get the questions going," Mosley told the assorted media on hand, "I’m going to let us know that we’re going to do it defensively. So you can ask about the offense all you want, we’re going to do it defensively. We’re not going to skip steps and it’s going to be a daily set of work.”
It was a take that felt almost as much for his new roster as anything else, and three of those players -- Derik Queen, Yves Missi and Micah Peavy -- just so happened to be in the audience to hear it. He said he wants his new team to be "unapologetically physical," and praised the defensive versatility of the Pelicans roster. Mosley said he's spoken to players individually and on a larger Zoom call, and these messages have been communicated.
"You have high-level defenders like that right there," Mosley said, referencing Queen and Missi, "you’re going to do something different, and then part of the defensive struggles were protection at the rim, paint points, three guys that are not going to allow that ball to get into the paint. ... That’s part of what we scheme, what we’ll look at, but then there’s the will and the want to defend and what’s going to be demanded.”
That's the concept, and the proof isn't difficult to find, as Mosley pointed out. Of the three teams still alive this postseason in the Spurs, Thunder and Knicks, all three rank in the top 7 of defensive rating.
“It keeps you on the floor, it gives you an opportunity every single night no matter what’s happening," he continued. "Shots falling, shots not falling, you give yourself a chance to compete every single night by defending at a high level, because when you check, it’s who scores more points, you’re going to have to put the points on the board, but if you can stop that opponent from getting two more, you’ve done your job.”
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What drew you to this job so quickly?
Mosley is taking over the Pelicans less than a month removed from being fired by Orlando, who held a 3-1 series before falling in 7 games against the No. 1-seeded Pistons.
“When you talk about the genuine nature of someone and the care factor that they have for their team and the organization and community, it makes it easy," Mosley said, reference Joe Dumars and team owner Gayle Benson, "and like Joe said, the alignment. There was not one part of a conversation that felt what I didn’t believe in my core, the hard work, the communication, the vision, the defense, the consistent work ethic every day, and I think sitting with Troy and Jordan in one of the meetings we talked a little bit about what does that take and then it goes back to habits, what are our daily habits ... we’re not skipping steps in any of those things. And that’s what made it easy to jump back in, because of the people that are around you and that you see where that vision is going and the culture that is being created.”
How do you plan to use Zion Williamson?
“I think capitalizing on it and then he hasn’t even scratched the surface of things he can do. I really do believe that and I think being able to open the floor up more for him, attacking, being able to play him in different positions, because he’s an excellent basketball player with a high IQ for playmaking, for making guys around him better, knowing when to make plays and the right passes to make, but I think just opening the floor a lot more for him to attack the basket, giving space, being able to live at the free throw line consistently. Some of the things he’s done here have been obviously spectacular, so being able to continue that, along with just being healthy.”
Outlook for Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen
“I think those two guys, watching them on film, talking to them, obviously Jeremiah has the last name that fits him perfectly, in being fearless and I know that we’ve used that and he’ll probably run with that until he can’t anymore, but there’s a toughness about him, there’s a seriousness about him, there’s a focus about him that he just wants to be great, and same thing with DQ, you can see it on him, and he’s not afraid. I’m watching some games back and you can see he’s probably the first one, something goes on, he’s the first one in there and that’s what we want, guys that aren’t afraid. And his skillset, his basketball IQ, knowing the game, how to play, where to play, the right reads to make, selflessly, I think that’s what you have in both of those guys and they have — they’re young and so their ability to create these habits and the daily routine, the consistency of real work is exactly what these guys are capable of doing.”
What does accountability look like to you
“I’ve told the guys ... there’s four things that we’re standing on as non-negotiables. 1. Respect your teammates by being on time. You’re on time in this building. You’re on time on the court. You’re on time on passing. You’re on time on rotations. That’s part of being on time. Second piece, outwork. We’re not just coming to the gym to get shots up. … We’re going to outwork every team that plays and steps on this court. We’re not going to be outworked. Third thing, how you present yourself to your teammates every day is important, so your body language and your attitude. We all have things going on off the court, but when we step on this floor, how we present and the energy that we bring to the table is important. And the fourth … it starts with communication. Real, honest conversations. I’m not going to ever ask them to do anything that I wouldn’t do, and so that’s where the accountability starts, and in a system of defense and offense, none of it is personal. It’s about getting a job done, it’s about creating a standard of where you’re trying to go and what you’re trying to accomplish, and if you can look at it that way, then you have a chance to play at a high level.”
