New Orleans Pelicans

Jordan Poole's role with the Pelicans, per Jamahl Mosley: Poole "is accepting the role of being able to defend at a high level, but also be able to come and score when needed to and playmake."

Bennedict Mathurin says the Pelicans have him in a different role: he'll "play off the ball a little bit more and trying to be a little bit more active offensively." From New Orleans' media availability, asked if more three-point attempts are an emphasis: "Of course."

Zion Williamson missed all four of his three-point attempts, and New Orleans coach Jamahl Mosley had no complaints: "Oh, I love that he shot it. Gosh, I love it. And they look good." Mosley credited off-court work and said Williamson shoots about 50% from three in practice.

"Our depth is going to be the key for us this year," New Orleans' Jamahl Mosley said, with his bench having won its minutes across four preseason games. Jeremiah Fears said Mosley reshuffles the practice groups every day so players get a feel for each other.

Jeremiah Fears says film study has slowed the game down for him. New Orleans' Jamahl Mosley called Fears' command of the floor the main gain of his offseason, as he balances scoring, setting up teammates and calming the game: "that's great growth for that young man."

Dejounte Murray sits New Orleans' preseason finale on Oct. 16, though Jamahl Mosley said he "was able to get on the floor and get some stuff done." Minutes will "look similar" to the regular season because players aren't yet in shape and need game reps, Mosley said.

Saddiq Bey says his New Orleans role may shift this season: "I try to be a Swiss Army knife, whatever the team needs. And this year might be a different role. It might be... more on the defensive side and more... being more of a connector."

Karlo Matkovic, shuffled between New Orleans' starting lineup and bench by Jamahl Mosley, likes it: "put guys in different situations, make you uncomfortable and stuff. I like that." He said spreading the floor opened "a little bit more space in the paint for other guys."

New Orleans' Dejounte Murray got on the floor for light shooting Oct. 15, Jamahl Mosley said. Mosley isn't satisfied with his players' minutes and conditioning, and given the roster's depth: "we won't ask those guys to play those heavy high minutes right away."

"Our guards are going to have to come in and get 7 and 8 rebounds together, and it'd be 20-plus between those guards." Because teams are shooting more 3-pointers, New Orleans' Jamahl Mosley said Oct. 15 that he wants a combined 20-plus rebounds from his guards.

Jordan Poole and Derik Queen are building a two-man game for New Orleans. Asked Oct. 15 about using different starting lineups, Jamahl Mosley pointed to the pair, who have been working on their pick-and-roll together after watching it on film.

Jeremiah Fears, in his second year, has "the green light" to direct his New Orleans teammates into position, Jamahl Mosley said: "that's a point guard's job." Mosley sees him growing into the team's floor general.

Zion Williamson's shape? "Great. Feels healthy," New Orleans' Karlo Matkovic said, comparing him with last year. Herb Jones says Williamson trusts his jumper more and is "competing a lot more defensively." Matkovic added that his voice and energy can be felt in the gym.

"Everyone was like, boo. I'm like, bro, it's not that bad of a dunk. It's decent." New Orleans' Yves Missi on the windmill he tried after a steal, graded 7 out of 10. Missi, who had 4 blocks, said in Jamahl Mosley's system "just being able to get a stop is the main thing."

From New Orleans's postgame: the locker-room talk after a win was end-of-game decisions and communication, from understanding the huddle to leaving it on the same page. "Yes, we did win the game, but there are so many things that we can clean up."

New Orleans' Jeremiah Fears played on his birthday, Oct. 14, and said he is "very" different from the player in last year's birthday game, crediting teammates for bringing him along every day: "Just a great feeling being able to step on the court and play the game I love."

Dejounte Murray is out for New Orleans on Oct. 14; Jamahl Mosley gave no reason before the game. He is also changing the starting lineup, citing 31 different lineups last year: "guys that originally started need to know what it's like to come off the bench."

Don't expect a settled rotation in New Orleans yet. Jamahl Mosley: "you're going to continue to see our process of finding different lineups... throughout the year." Jordan Poole said that with a new coach, the staff is still figuring out what it has.

Dejounte Murray (toe) and AJ Johnson (finger) sat out Pelicans practice. On Murray, Jamahl Mosley said "we're just going to continue to be precautionary." On whether Murray could play through it once games count, he wouldn't commit: "We're 10 days into training camp."

Zion Williamson as a shooter? Pelicans coach Jamahl Mosley wants him ready to catch and shoot so he doesn't have to barrel through defenders: "him being shot ready is necessary because the guys are going to close out short on him at times."

"Just selfish play, which led to them running out and get easy transition baskets." Jamahl Mosley, from New Orleans's postgame against Miami, on players trying to erase a late first-half deficit alone. On the 21 turnovers: "When we press, we wanted to do it on our own."

Bennedict Mathurin on the Pelicans' 18-0 third-quarter run in the Oct. 6 preseason opener: "everybody can get a bucket, but sometimes the defense is pretty much just packed. So we got to move the ball." On the second half: "it starts with defense, man."

From New Orleans's postgame: "A lot of it was the breakdown of individual defense. Now we're having to force help and now there's rotations. And that's why OKC shot the heck out of the basketball for the entire game." The problem "did start in that first quarter."

Karlo Matkovic has a green light from three. "Open shots, they told me like, shoot it, don't hesitate. I won't," the Pelicans big man said at practice, adding he feels no pressure even from the top. Jamahl Mosley wants feet-set threes, with no target number of attempts.

Everyone plays in the Pelicans' Oct. 6 preseason opener, Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy III included, coach Jamahl Mosley said at practice. Dejounte Murray is back from injury and scrimmaging daily against Jeremiah Fears, who added: "The guys not going to play a lot."

"Don't read into it all," Pelicans coach Jamahl Mosley said of keeping starters and bench intact at practice. The players just wanted a rematch. He changes lineups 5 to 7 times a game; preseason, opening Oct. 6 against Oklahoma City, is for "finding different lineups."

Pressure starts at half court: Pelicans coach Jamahl Mosley wants defenders picking up ball handlers there, "the initial start of the defense," and guards pushing the ball fast on offense. Late, he wants it slower: "you have to be surgical in the 4th quarter."

Zion Williamson is trying to shoot more, per Trey Murphy III, who works with him after Pelicans practice on keeping his mechanics consistent. Coach Mosley has shown Herb Jones clips of his gambling; he wants Jones in the gaps, not jumping passing lanes.

Mosley backed Yves Missi for the Defensive Player of the Year conversation, calling him special in practice. Missi's goal: "make all defensive teams." His late-season shot-blocking jump came from film study: "It's all scouted and you can just go from there."

Pelicans: Jamahl Mosley said everybody stayed healthy in the scrimmage. He's building Yves Missi as the defensive "anchor," guarding all five positions; Missi says he's being tried in varied coverages late in games. On Jordan Poole: "everybody here has a clean slate with me."

Derik Queen, who missed last year's camp with a hand issue, says this is his first training camp and he is participating in practice. He credited Jamahl Mosley for personally teaching him where and how to screen: "we didn't get that much last year from the head coach."

Mosley says they'll chase offensive rebounds, but pick who goes so they aren't exposed on fast breaks: "We're not doing it recklessly." Saddiq Bey says Yves Missi has "taken a leap already"; perimeter defenders are pressing their men knowing Missi is behind them.

From Pelicans practice: Dejounte Murray says the whole roster is healthy and together from day 1 of camp. Jamahl Mosley is testing two-center and small lineups, and teaching Zion Williamson to read defenses loading up on him and get comfortable taking mid-range shots.