After injury-riddled season, Pelicans coach, GM, still trying to gauge potency of young roster

New Orleans Pelicans head coach Monty Williams, second from left, reacts as the clock expires to end their season in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets in New Orleans, Wednesday, April 16, 2014. The Pelicans won 105-100. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) (The Associated Press)

The way Anthony Davis blossomed into an All-Star in his second pro year provided the New Orleans Pelicans with hope for the future during an otherwise bleak season.

But to lead New Orleans back to the playoffs for the first time since 2011, Davis will need a lot more help than he's gotten so far. The Pelicans went 34-48, finishing 15 games behind Dallas, the eighth and final playoff team in the West.

Coach Monty Williams and general manager Dell Demps aren't certain how much of the help Davis needs is already on the roster. The Pelicans' top six scorers combined for 202 missed games because of various injuries.

Demps says he likes the Pelicans' young core of top players and says they need more time to grow together.