In consideration of James Borrego
The running thought is that James Borrego is keeping the seat warm for the Magic’s next coach. But the way the team has responded makes you wonder.
The sample size remains small for James Borrego in his short 12-game tenure with the Orlando Magic as head coach. Things have looked good, but the current money is on the Magic not inviting Borrego back to coach the team next year. All indications are that the Magic want a coach with a little more experience in the lead chair to guide the team to a postseason berth immediately.
Even though James Borrego might have at one time been considered one of Gregg Popovich’s right-hand man and someone who worked closely with Popovich as a video coordinator and then an assistant coach, Borrego’s long-time run as an assistant has not netted him much consideration for the lead job. He has handled being the head coach, taking a team over at the middle of the season, about as well as you could.
Things have undoubtedly changed and changed for the better as the team has displayed that competitive fire and defensive effort that was missing in Jacque Vaughn‘s final days.
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As the Magic have discovered who James Borrego is, the question has to be asked: Can Borrego become the team’s next head coach? Can he get that coveted spot or at least an interview for it in the offseason? Is this finally Borrego’s time?
His peers certainly believe Borrego can be a head coach in this league, now that he is getting his chance.
Borrego was an assistant coach in New Orleans under Monty Williams. Williams told Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel Borrego has a great temperament to be a head coach:
"“He’s got great patience. He’s got a great way about him. Nothing rattles him, and he’s not afraid to speak his mind. He understands the game, and he’s been around so many good basketball minds, minus mine.”"
This seems to be exactly how Borrego has carried himself on the bench. Magic players have talked time and time again not only about the way Borrego relates to players but the way he holds them accountable.
Players remarked after the first game — a win over the Lakers before the All-Star Break — how Borrego asked for their input on plays and what they were seeing before getting into the adjustments they would make. He has put a lot of responsibility on the players and they have responded.
“That’s just the way he is,” Victor Oladipo said. “He holds you accountable but at the same time he is just so motivational and so positive. But at the same time, he knows what to expect from you. He knows what you are capable of and what you can bring to the table and he is not going to settle for anything less. He is patient. He is a great coach. I love playing for him.”
The question is whether this is all enough for him to gain serious consideration for the job.
Ultimately, results may tell that tale. The Magic have made it clear they are expecting to make the Playoffs next year, or at least be serious contenders to get a bid to the postseason.
The change has already been apparent on the defensive end. Players are responding to him.
“He’s really honest,” Vucevic said. “He is going to tell you what he expects from you and what he thinks. It’s all going to be in a nice way. You are going to know your role. You are going to know what you did good and what you did bad. I think guys respect that about him. You want a coach who is going to be that way.”
Borrego’s honesty has produced results.
In addition to a 6-6 record in his first 12 games, Borrego has overseen a vast improvement in defense. In the Magic’s first 52 games, they went 15-37 and posted a 106.1 defensive rating, 26th in the league. They had a -6.5 net rating, 26th in the league. To be sure, the Magic did not expect to be in the bottom five in the league in defensive rating.
Since Borrego took over, the Magic are 6-6 and have a 100.6 defensive rating, tied for 13th in the league since Feb. 8, and have a -0.3 net rating, 14th in the league and the best of the teams with a negative net rating for what that is worth.
Borrego came in preaching defense and his team has shown marked improvement (although they are starting to fall back to their mean from the beginning of the season). It seems like Borrego’s demeanor fits coaching. He said he is holding his players accountable, and his direct nature is reaching his team.
Of course, the question remains whether that can work in the course of an 82-game season. His peers and former co-workers believe so.
“JB’s temperament is one of quiet strength,” said Sixers coach Brett Brown, a former Spurs assistant with Borrego. “He is very well studied. If you look at his background. I always personally got time for people that come out of the video room. You are just in the cave your whole life. It is such a knowledge-based league. And he is in a good way, NBA-ed. JB from human aspects, he’s a great person. From a studied background and just his personality, I think he’s got what it takes.”
So Borrego’s bona fides seem to be in place for him to become a head coach. He is producing on the court.
The question remains for the Magic whether they would pull the trigger and keep him on.
In franchise history, an interim coach has been kept for the following season just once. That was Johnny Davis after the disastrous 2004 season. He was fired in the middle of the following season with Chris Jent taking over for him. The 36-46 Magic fell short of the Playoffs with Steve Francis and a young Dwight Howard.
The Magic would certainly take a jump to 36-46 next year if Borrego can deliver. But from all accounts it still seems the pressure and desire is to make the playoffs next season. And that might require a coach with coaching experience if the Magic had their way.
Borrego, at this point should not be completely forgotten in the Magic’s coaching search. If his team continues to build momentum and trend upward, he certainly should gain consideration or, at the very least, an interview for the head coaching job. He might even get the Kaleb Cannales treatment and be invited back as an assistant.
Through 12 games though, Borrego has reached his team and gotten them to play at a higher level. At the very least, he deserves the team’s consideration moving forward.