Adelman Returns

VF21

Super Moderator Emeritus
SME
A new blog entry has been added:

[drupal=28]Adelman Returns[/drupal]

He's coming home

Rick Adelman and the Houston Rockets come into Arco on Saturday and emotions are sure to run high as the Kings faithful welcome back the coach who took them so close to the top of the mountain. Along with Adelman, Bonzi Wells will be returning and will surely be out to show his former teammates that he has rehabilitated his image.

The Kings may be without the services of Ron Artest for the second time in as many weeks as he left today for Indiana to be with his daughter. Artest missed last Wednesday's game at Phoenix for similar "personal" reasons. Apparently his daughter has some medical issues and our thoughts are with him and his family

The Rockets may not be the best team in the Western Conference, but you can never count them out of a game. It will be interesting to see how effective Yao Ming is passing out of the high post to the cutting Bonzi Wells or to T-Mac virtually anywhere in the half court.

This is a game the Kings will need to be fully prepared for. We'll need to see maximum performances from the whole team - and hope it will be enough. A team like the Rockets, especially with Adelman and Wells in the mix, could ruin our Saturday night. Hustle and heart and ATTENTION to details is going to be paramount. And it might be nice if the Kings managed to hold onto the ball a little better than they did against the Warriors.

The game discussion thread and the PBP will be in the Kings Raps section.

Let's get ready for some Kings basketball!!!
 
for anyone attending, please give him the thanks that he deserves. from those of us who can't be there or see the game. ;)
 
I watched Houston and GSW last night from Fairfield on Bay Area Sports Net. A huge, noisy crowd showed up, many part of the annual Asian fan fest on hand to see Yao as much as just another Rockets/Warriors contest. A lot of them started to leave at the beginning of the 4th quarter as the W's were hammering the Rockets in a blow out.

Yao Ming was double teamed without the ball the whole night and TMac scored only 11 points. This is the same Yao that had just dropped 31 points and 16 boards on the Suns the night before in beating Phoenix.

Meanwhile, Don Nelson completely out-coached Rick Adelman who may soon be under the gun in Houston as his Rockets slide at or below .500. Even though neither coach has ever won an NBA championship in their long respective careers, last night ol' crafty Nellie had Adelman's number big time.

Why Adelman keeps Chuck Hayes in the starting line-up is mystifying? He's a huge offensive liability, yet Adelman keeps the Jeff Van Gundy created PF as his answer too. Luis Scola would be much better in that spot so big inside players like Golden State's Biedrins and Harrington can't double team Yao without the ball and leave Hayes uncovered grabbing a few rebounds. Even Shaq can't do anything when opposing teams are double teaming him without the ball. But Shaq always had a decent midrange shooting power forward playing with him.

For the Kings on Saturday, if Miller and Mikki double team Yao leaving Hayes the only other Houston body in the paint consistently, Sacramento has a decent chance to snag another home court victory. Maybe then we'll be taking about how rookie coach Reggie Theus out-coached the old, so-called master, Rick Adelman.
 
Meanwhile, Don Nelson completely out-coached Rick Adelman who may soon be under the gun in Houston as his Rockets slide at or below .500. Even though neither coach has ever won an NBA championship in their long respective careers, last night ol' crafty Nellie had Adelman's number big time.


Somebody expected Adelman to be an instant success? His style of play is almost a 180 for the Rockets. It is also a difficult style of play to learn. It will take time. As to their record, on 1140 radio this morning, they were discussing the fact that some sportswriter thinks Houston has had arguably the toughest schedule of any team in the NBA, so far.

Maybe then we'll be taking about how rookie coach Reggie Theus out-coached the old, so-called master, Rick Adelman.
"So-called" master? Adelman is one of the winningest coaches in NBA history. Even if Reggie "out-coaches" Adelman this game, I think I'll wait until Reggie reaches several hundred wins, before I make a comparison. And I like Reggie, so far.
 
for anyone attending, please give him the thanks that he deserves. from those of us who can't be there or see the game. ;)
I circled this date as soon as the schedule came out. I'll be on my feet and loud. He deserves nothing less from the Kings faithful.
 
Hmmm... I seem to recall Adelman's Kings pretty much dominating Nelson's Mavs in the playoffs. I doubt Rick is that worried about the appearance of being outcoached for this one regular season game.

I also haven't followed the Rockets that closely, but didn't they start 6-1 or something and then lose several games with their star player injured? If I were a Rockets fan I wouldn't be worried at all about the team being around .500 right now.
 
I watched Houston and GSW last night from Fairfield on Bay Area Sports Net. A huge, noisy crowd showed up, many part of the annual Asian fan fest on hand to see Yao as much as just another Rockets/Warriors contest. A lot of them started to leave at the beginning of the 4th quarter as the W's were hammering the Rockets in a blow out.

Yao Ming was double teamed without the ball the whole night and TMac scored only 11 points. This is the same Yao that had just dropped 31 points and 16 boards on the Suns the night before in beating Phoenix.

Meanwhile, Don Nelson completely out-coached Rick Adelman who may soon be under the gun in Houston as his Rockets slide at or below .500. Even though neither coach has ever won an NBA championship in their long respective careers, last night ol' crafty Nellie had Adelman's number big time.

Why Adelman keeps Chuck Hayes in the starting line-up is mystifying? He's a huge offensive liability, yet Adelman keeps the Jeff Van Gundy created PF as his answer too. Luis Scola would be much better in that spot so big inside players like Golden State's Biedrins and Harrington can't double team Yao without the ball and leave Hayes uncovered grabbing a few rebounds. Even Shaq can't do anything when opposing teams are double teaming him without the ball. But Shaq always had a decent midrange shooting power forward playing with him.

For the Kings on Saturday, if Miller and Mikki double team Yao leaving Hayes the only other Houston body in the paint consistently, Sacramento has a decent chance to snag another home court victory. Maybe then we'll be taking about how rookie coach Reggie Theus out-coached the old, so-called master, Rick Adelman.

If Adelman ends up with a sub .500 record with a team having McGrady and Yao, he might end up having another problem with ownership. All the pressure is on Adelman to win this game, none on Theus. It will be interesting.
 
If Adelman ends up with a sub .500 record with a team having McGrady and Yao, he might end up having another problem with ownership. All the pressure is on Adelman to win this game, none on Theus. It will be interesting.

Even Jeff Van Gundy with his slow down and grind it out Eastern Conf. style managed to get Houston 4th seed in Western Conf. last season. Management unloaded him because the Rockets dropped their opening playoff round to 5th seed Utah in 7 - losing final game at home. Rick Adleman is likely to be shown the door if he can't do better than that. Heck, he might not survive this season if his team flounders along at .500 or worse - currently 9-8.
 
Why Adelman keeps Chuck Hayes in the starting line-up is mystifying? He's a huge offensive liability, yet Adelman keeps the Jeff Van Gundy created PF as his answer too. Luis Scola would be much better in that spot so big inside players like Golden State's Biedrins and Harrington can't double team Yao without the ball and leave Hayes uncovered grabbing a few rebounds. Even Shaq can't do anything when opposing teams are double teaming him without the ball. But Shaq always had a decent midrange shooting power forward playing with him.

This is the risk of having any player on the court who has no shooting skills and that sure defines Hayes. His defender can double team and pretty soon you not only have one player that can't score but you have eliminated a second by a constant double team.
 
This is the risk of having any player on the court who has no shooting skills and that sure defines Hayes. His defender can double team and pretty soon you not only have one player that can't score but you have eliminated a second by a constant double team.

Maybe Jeff Van Gundy and now Rick Adelman thinks because his name is Hayes he can be like Elvin Hayes:rolleyes: I think Adelman might have played with "the Big E" when both were on the Rockets early in their careers.
 
for anyone attending, please give him the thanks that he deserves. from those of us who can't be there or see the game. ;)

Yeah. At times I hated Rick in the playoffs for his short rotations, and playing some guys even when they were horrible instead of subbing them out. IMO, he was part of the reason why the kings never won a chip, but they wouldn't have been there without him anyway. I will cheer for him when he's announced.
 
Even Jeff Van Gundy with his slow down and grind it out Eastern Conf. style managed to get Houston 4th seed in Western Conf. last season. Management unloaded him because the Rockets dropped their opening playoff round to 5th seed Utah in 7 - losing final game at home. Rick Adleman is likely to be shown the door if he can't do better than that. Heck, he might not survive this season if his team flounders along at .500 or worse - currently 9-8.


a) that is so ridiculous I'm going to just call it ignorant

b) it adds color and comic relief to the board to see an Adelman basher still droning onward. I had thought the great Muss/grass is not always greener extinction event of 06-07 had finished the breed.

c) I am quite sure Rick wil be crying into his 750 wins and wishing he too could have an awesome 6-10 career coaching record if the Kings win this one tommorow.

As for how Houston is doing -- they are still figuring it out, and clearly haven't acclimated to the offense yet. Probably aren't going to start to roll until after the new year. The schedule thus far has been brutal for them -- road heavy, almost all against the West, and losing TMac right before a critical stretch.
 
Last edited:
That's what Adelman said in his interview today on Sports1140 - that his team was still learning his ways, but implied with two superstars patience was in short supply in Houston. To quote a few choice exact words. "We hope we're not the third best team in Texas." He sounded very tired to me and I was rather amazed when he said that he was going to start using Steve Francis a lot more and that fans at home games were screaming loudly for it to happen:eek:
 
I wish I could go. The main reason is to see Adelman. I really hope that the arena bursts out for him. Like he said in the paper, fans usually give the players the greeting, but I think he really deserves a loud roar...man I miss him.
 
If anyone finds themselves at the last minute with an extra ticket for Rick Adelman's return, just let me know. I live close enough to ARCO that we could make sure the ticket was not wasted. :D


P.S. As usual, I'm pretty broke and could not afford much.
 
I circled this date as soon as the schedule came out. I'll be on my feet and loud. He deserves nothing less from the Kings faithful.

Good for you, KD. Greet him extra loud and with ethusiasm for those of us who can't be there.
 
a) that is so ridiculous I'm going to just call it ignorant

b) it adds color and comic relief to the board to see an Adelman basher still droning onward. I had thought the great Muss/grass is not always greener extinction event of 06-07 had finished the breed.

c) I am quite sure Rick wil be crying into his 750 wins and wishing he too could have an awesome 6-10 career coaching record if the Kings win this one tommorow.

As for how Houston is doing -- they are still figuring it out, and clearly haven't acclimated to the offense yet. Probably aren't going to start to roll until after the new year. The schedule thus far has been brutal for them -- road heavy, almost all against the West, and losing TMac right before a critical stretch.
Even if they do get used to his sytem who cares? They dont have the type of players to run the kind of offense adelman wants IMO.
 
Rest assured, Arco gave him a great ovation.

Thank you. Although Grant briefly mentioned it - and I stress BRIEFLY - it would have been nice to see. I just do not understand the MSE policy NOT to show any of the ovations we, the loyal fans, give to our former players and our most productive coach in the history of the Sacramento Kings. Seems like pettiness, IMHO.

Were the Maloofs on the sidelines?
 
Thank you. Although Grant briefly mentioned it - and I stress BRIEFLY - it would have been nice to see. I just do not understand the MSE policy NOT to show any of the ovations we, the loyal fans, give to our former players and our most productive coach in the history of the Sacramento Kings. Seems like pettiness, IMHO.

Were the Maloofs on the sidelines?


No!

Edit: Read Sam Amick's comments in the RSS.....I mean the Kings News Links.

Edit #2: This part was particularly disturbing to me:

"The seats typically belonging to Kings co-owners Joe and Gavin Maloof were given away on this night, perhaps coincidence and perhaps not as the contentious nature of their relationship - or lack thereof - with Adelman has been well-chronicled. There was even a directive of sorts from on high for the in-house media treat Adelman the same as any other opponent, with no pregame interviews taking place with the coach who led the Kings to eight consecutive playoff berths and within a Robert Horry three-pointer of the NBA Finals in 2002."..........Sam Amick
 
Last edited:
Thank you. Although Grant briefly mentioned it - and I stress BRIEFLY - it would have been nice to see. I just do not understand the MSE policy NOT to show any of the ovations we, the loyal fans, give to our former players and our most productive coach in the history of the Sacramento Kings. Seems like pettiness, IMHO.

Were the Maloofs on the sidelines?

Yea, I'm watching the 2nd showing of the game, and I am shocked they did not show the ovation. I also noticed as Brad walked towards the Rocket's bench to speak Adelman before the jump, it seemed like they(cameraman) directly cut Rick out.:mad:
 
Even Jeff Van Gundy with his slow down and grind it out Eastern Conf. style managed to get Houston 4th seed in Western Conf. last season. Management unloaded him because the Rockets dropped their opening playoff round to 5th seed Utah in 7 - losing final game at home. Rick Adleman is likely to be shown the door if he can't do better than that. Heck, he might not survive this season if his team flounders along at .500 or worse - currently 9-8.
adelman has done well at every club he's coached, but never in the first season (kings at just over .500 in '99 was his best first season). if the rockets thought they were going to get better, they didn't see the (good) rosters of the trailblazers, warriors, or kings.
 
Reggie did go over and greet Rick warmly. When Reggie first came out of the tunnel he headed toward the Rockets bench, and Rick wasn't out there. As soon as Rick came out Reggie went over and had a warm conversation with him.

The fan ovation was pretty good but cut short as they dimmed the lights and went to player introductions.

Reggie showed class.

Maloofs not so much. They were a noshow on the sideline. Brats.
 
adelman has done well at every club he's coached, but never in the first season (kings at just over .500 in '99 was his best first season). if the rockets thought they were going to get better, they didn't see the (good) rosters of the trailblazers, warriors, or kings.


It takes teams a while to get "Adelman" type of players IMO. When he started here it took us like 3 years to get him the PG he wanted, the SG he wanted, and for Peja to become the player Rick wanted him to become. Right now the only guys I see having a future on that team for sure are Mac and Yao. They don't have the score 1st PG with a nice J Adelman's teams need(Bibby/Porter). Alston's decent but he's more of a passer and his mid range J isn't great(more of a 3 point shooter). Bonzi and Battier seem like they could but they play the same position 2/3 and so does TMac so I don't really see why they'd keep both, especially when they need a real PF. Scola's a liability next to Yao and Hayes does nothing on offense. It'll take them a while to get Adelman's type of players. Right now I think it'd be best for them if they put a line up of Alston/TMac/Battier/Bonzi/Yao. Bonzi and Hayes are the same size and rebound well, but with Bonzi out there they gain a lot more ability to score.
 
Back
Top