New Orleans Pelicans brain trust needs help not a pink slip

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Yes, the talent level and depth of the roster is undeniably superior to what it was three years ago. Ryan Anderson, Tyreke Evans, Jason Smith and Anthony Morrow are all quality NBA players. But are they Monty Williams-type players?

For me, that's the $64,000 question.

The day Williams took the job in 2010, he proclaimed, "Talk about offense all you want, but if you don't get stops, you're playing out of the net and you're playing against a set defense."

He said pretty much the same thing multiple times this past season.

The Pelicans are scoring nearly 5 points a game more than during Williams' first season in New Orleans, which just happened to be their only playoff appearance. But at the same time, they are allowing their opponents to score more than 8 points a game more.

There appears to be some kind of disconnect between the basketball philosophies of Williams and Demps, although both men insisted otherwise this week.

...Loomis knows good leadership when he sees it and has issued a vote of confidence to Demps and Williams – at least, for one more season.

And considering the snake-bit nature of this season, his support is understandable. Demps and Williams don't need to go. They need help.

Loomis will be the first to admit he's still learning the intricacies of NBA business. For better or worse, he's been forced to trust his GM and coach to this point. It wouldn't hurt to have another voice in the room. Someone who knows the NBA. Someone with a broader perspective. Someone unafraid to offer a dissenting point of view.

Williams and Demps might not like it but their futures might depend on it.

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