Well, there went the honeymoon period. Jamahl Mosley’s New Orleans Pelicans are already under fire after losing to Tyrese Haliburton's Indiana Pacers on NBA Opening Night. A wave of criticism swept social media over his rotations, particularly the decision to leave Herb Jones off the court in the closing minutes.
As the game slipped away, fans questioned why Jones, one of the NBA’s best perimeter defenders, was not on the floor to close against a very hot Haliburton. A perennial NBA All-Defense Team candidate with a Not on Herb nickname, he also did not start. Mosley went with a smaller lineup, putting Dejounte Murray and rookie Jeremiah Fears in the backcourt.
When asked in the postgame press conference about Jones taking a step back, missing from both the starting lineup and the closing unit, Mosley praised the veteran's professionalism and communication.
“Herb is an ultimate pro,” Mosley told ClutchPoints. “Those conversations that we have on understanding the minutes and how he plays- he is asking what he needs to do night in and night out. He is going to be a doggish defender, night in and night out. Stepping into his shot, knocking it down when need be. But he is the ultimate pro. He is actually a coach's dream to be able to communicate at a high level with him about what he sees, how he understands the game, and what he knows is going on within the game.”
For a coach determined to establish a defensive identity, leaving Jones on the sidelines during the game's most important possessions created an uncomfortable contradiction that fans found hard to swallow. However, the more even-keeled, less reactionary side of the fanbase pointed to the great developmental minutes from Fears and Yves Missi.
Article Continues BelowOne game is hardly enough to declare Mosley's rotation philosophy a failure. He has promised to evaluate his team in five-game segments, allowing the coaching staff to identify trends and make adjustments before problems become permanent.
Nevertheless, the opening-night loss provided an immediate test of that approach. Mosley does not need to guarantee Jones 35 minutes every night. However, the Pelicans do need to establish which players are trusted when defensive stops become more valuable than offensive experimentation. It's the only way to win their way back into the postseason, and every close game matters.