The Pelicans showed they could fight their way back against Oklahoma City. Their next assignment is to give themselves less ground to recover.

New Orleans visits the Miami Heat at Kaseya Center on Thursday, October 8. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Central. After a dramatic comeback in the preseason opener, the evaluation shifts from the excitement of the finish to the quality of the next performance.

Start with the possessions that built the deficit

A comeback is encouraging, but it should not erase the reasons a team fell behind. The coaching staff has an opportunity to identify which early problems came from execution, which came from unfamiliar combinations and which require a tactical adjustment.

Against Miami, watch how the Pelicans begin each half. Are they getting organized quickly? Are defensive assignments clear? Does the first action create an advantage, or does the offense have to restart late in the shot clock?

Evaluate connected defense

Jamahl Mosley’s group should be judged on the entire defensive possession. Containing the ball matters, but the next rotation, the closeout and the rebound determine whether the work produces a stop.

A useful sign of progress would be fewer possessions in which one defender’s recovery forces several teammates into emergency decisions. Communication should help players move early, rather than simply explain what happened after an open shot.

Watch roles, not just point totals

Preseason creates opportunities to experiment. The most productive lineup may not be the one with the most recognizable names, and a player’s value may be more visible in spacing, screening or defensive positioning than in the scoring column.

The relevant question is whether each combination has enough ballhandling, shooting and rebounding to function. When a unit struggles, it is worth separating poor shotmaking from a lineup that is having trouble generating useful shots at all.

Closing possessions deserve attention, too. A good late-game offense needs a first option, a second action and players prepared to make a quick decision when the defense removes the original plan.

The next step is consistency

This game does not need to settle the regular-season rotation. It should provide clearer evidence about which habits are taking hold and which combinations deserve more time.

Gee Bino’s evaluation: A sharper start and sustained defensive organization would be more informative than another escape act. Enjoy the comeback, then ask New Orleans to build a performance it can repeat.

Join Big Q and the Pelican Post Game Report for the live watch and postgame discussion. Which lineup do you want to see get a longer look?

Reporting references: NBA matchup listing • Venue event page • Previous Who Dat Daily recap