Dell Likes Our Core . . . No Worries

As long as Tommy sees what we see in Monty, we will be good

This seems like an accurate assessment, though what else would he have said to us / the fans on these topics?

If my assessments of Monty, the team performance, etc. were other than what they are, my assessment of what Dell said would be the same . . . marginally informative in that he was composed.

Dell is a pretty straightforward guy, but he also keeps his business close to vest.

ETA: Note the agreement with Pierre Jackson.

Fletch tweeted this link (dont worry, he didn't write it). It's nothing earth shattering but I thought I'd add it to the discussion.

LINK

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The Pelicans signed Tyreke Evans this past summer to a four-year, $44 million free-agent deal and then added veteran PG Jrue Holiday via a trade with the Sixers to join Eric Gordon and Anthony Davis. But all the moves haven't exactly clicked. In fact, they've backfired, with New Orleans losing 13 of its last 17 games after starting out 11-10. The front office's take? Team execs are saying at least those are assets that can be moved. Davis and Holiday are the keepers.

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As long as Tommy sees what we see in Monty, we will be good

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Could all of this just be GM speak? Yes, I really wouldn't have expected Demps to say anything other than what he said. But there also are reasons to think he's being 100% honest.

1) Tommy just gave Monty a 4 year extension. Have we really seen anything different from Monty this season? Most of us are ready to move on because we feel like not enough has changed. If not enough has changed maybe Benson feels the same way he did when he extended him?

2) The injuries and youth are definite factors that people ready to fire Monty aren't even entertaining. If this was year 1 or 2 instead of year 4, he'd probably be getting a lot more leniency from the fans. We are tired of giving out grades of Incomplete to Monty, we feel we've done 2 maybe 3 times already if you count CP3 + Mike Malone as making it hard to evaluate what was Monty. Benson has only been around for 1 grade of incomplete, which he felt good enough about to give a 4 year extension.

3) Part of why many of us are ready to move on is that we see George Karl as a viable alternative. But his age is a definite issue because it is likely that even if he does a great job, you will have to switch coaches at the very delicate time between Anthony Davis' 2nd and 3rd contract. If you pick wrong there you could chase the franchise player away. So maybe Karl isn't a viable alternative, and if he's not then maybe Monty is safer than we think.

4) Is Monty down with the tank? Having no emotion over the obvious Rivers foul got me wondering. The talking point after that was Monty "never" argues with the refs which is absurd. He's constantly arguing for calls from the bench, so it's pretty peculiar that he wasn't going crazy in this situation. I didn't think him looking like he was ready to leave was normal at all, I was expecting him to at least react like David Wesley reacted. If Monty's down with the tank, then he has to think he has job security.

I'm officially ready to give another coach a try, but long term all that really matters this year and next year is Anthony Davis' development and finding most of his major sidekicks going forward. Even if everything the Monty haters say is true about him, Monty staying the next year or 2 is not the end of the franchise. Just keep that in mind before going off the deep end if Monty doesn't get fired this year.

shhhh…don't let those kinda facts get in the way of them trying to make a story.

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4) Is Monty down with the tank? Having no emotion over the obvious Rivers foul got me wondering. The talking point after that was Monty "never" argues with the refs which is absurd. He's constantly arguing for calls from the bench, so it's pretty peculiar that he wasn't going crazy in this situation. I didn't think him looking like he was ready to leave was normal at all, I was expecting him to at least react like David Wesley reacted. If Monty's down with the tank, then he has to think he has job security.

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He argued plenty last night. But he does it under control and doesn't really make a big scene. I thought I remember seeing Monty bolt out of there after the no call on Rivers. I saw that as him getting out of that situation before he said/did something he'd regret later.

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"The one thing is players are developing under Monty. Players are getting better. He is doing a good job of developing guys and translating that on the court.

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I thought I remember seeing Monty bolt out of there after the no call on Rivers. I

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I checked the replay before posting and he just kind of stood there and talked to his assistants. Wasn't trying to talk to the officials at all like you'd think when your player gets blatantly fouled in a close game. Tank On or Monty having a bad angle and missing the foul are the most reasonable explanations I can come up with.

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I checked the replay before posting and he just kind of stood there and talked to his assistants. Wasn't trying to talk to the officials at all like you'd think when your player gets blatantly fouled in a close game. Tank On or Monty having a bad angle and missing the foul are the most reasonable explanations I can come up with.

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I just rewatched it too. It doesn't show much but yeah he didn't look like he was trying to hurry out like I originally remember. But according to this link, monty argued with officials as they left and he called it embarrassing in the post game interview.

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Pelicans coach Monty Williams argued for a foul as the officials left the court. He later said it was "embarrassing" that there was no call.

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I'm sure monty realizes the tank is on to some degree though. But I dont think he's losing on purpose or anything.