On Charley Rosen's analysis of NBA coaches:
http://msn.foxsports.com/story/3032102
Kings' cranky Adelman a top NBA coach
Charley Rosen / FOXSports.com
Posted: 3 minutes ago
Okay, so Rick Adelman's constant whining and bitching over virtually every call that goes against the Kings can be downright annoying. And if his play-by-play critiques do succeed in buying Sacramento a few short-term calls, it's also true that the league's refs feel that Adelman is "showing them up" — so the long-term result is that bang-bang calls frequently go against them in clutch situations.
Even so, Adelman's cranky (and ultimately self-defeating) bench demeanor should not detract from the fact that he's one of the best coaches in the business. The most characteristic example of Adelman's strategic genius is the Kings' open-floor offense. Most up-tempo teams initially look to fast break, but if nothing beneficial develops, they'll pull the ball back out, call a number, and move into a half-court set. Adelman's style is to flow directly from a fast break into a high-octane motion offense. Play calls are operable only after time-outs, quarter breaks, free throw attempts, and when the Kings are compelled to take the ball out of the net and move cautiously across the time line.
Assistant coach Pete Carril has rightly been credited with introducing Adelman to this perpetual-motion offense. The same gnarly, almost loveable character who coached the Princeton Tigers for as long as anybody living can recall. The same irascible, slightly misanthropic gnome who used to swear that he'd never coach in the NBA because the pros couldn't pass well enough to meet his demands. At the same time, Carril has been universally celebrated as the inventor of the so-called "Princeton offense" — move without the ball, cut, pick, and pass.
In truth, Carril learned his Xs and Os from one of the game's forgotten masters, Butch van Breda Kolff. (Yes, the same "Screaming Dutchman" who coached Bill Bradley at Princeton. Yes, the same cigar-chomping free spirit who also coached the LA Lakers and stubbornly refused to reinstate Wilt Chamberlain in the waning minutes of Game 7 of the 1968 NBA Finals, thereby enabling the Boston Celtics to cop the gold.) Way back in 1952, Carril was a senior at Lafayette when van Breda Kolff first became the Leopards' head coach. That's where Carril learned the intricacies of what van Breda Kolff modestly refers to as "the old-time game." So if Carril is Adelman's guru, then VBK is the guru's guru.
When the Kings are forced into a grind-it-out tempo, Adelman's repertoire includes a variety of splits, isolations off of staggered picks, freewheeling screen-rolls, and a series of two-man plays. On the run or slowed to a walk, scoring points is rarely a concern.
Rick Adelman gives one of his veterans, Doug Christie, some direction during a game last season. (Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE / GettyImages)
On defense, the Kings depend on fast hands up and down the lineup. However, they don't always hustle back on defense. Indeed, their desire to get out and go also hinders their defensive rebounding. Too many of them are so focused on scoring that they tend to leak downcourt and leave the rebounding to somebody else.
Sure, the Kings' light-footed cunning and sleight-of-hand is delightful to witness. But the cruel realities of NBA action often require brawnier skills. Like rebounding in a crowd, playing chest-to-chest interior defense, setting body-shivering picks, and committing hard fouls when appropriate. But don't blame Adelman for the Kings' pitty-patty game plan. He'll just shrug and say, "That's who we are."
In truth, every team has a front office overseer who's responsible for their team's personnel decisions. In Sacramento, the last words belong to Geoff Petrie (President of Basketball Operations), Wayne Cooper (Petrie's VP), and Jerry Reynolds (who doubles as Director of Player Personnel and TV color analyst). Adelman merely plays the cards that he's been dealt. And that's what the Kings are — as tricky and insubstantial as a game of Three-Card Monte.
Mike Bibby is a terrific spot shooter who wants to dribble right. He's more solid than clever. He's not a great finisher and traps can force him into mistakes. But Bibby has heart, and that sets him apart from his teammates.
Doug Christie is versatile and athletic at both ends of the court. His 3-point shooting has improved in recent years, plus he can post and spin, and drive (right) under control. Christie is a confident player and the team leader, but his prowess under extreme pressure has yet to be proven.
Brad Miller is strictly a hustle player and a good medium-range (read: from 17 feet) shooter. Unfortunately, he's also slow in transition, even slower moving laterally, and his screen/roll defense is unacceptable. Moreover, Miller is not the banger he appears to be.
Peja Stojakovic is a wondrous shooter during the regular season. Come playoff-time and he shoots mostly blanks.
Chris Webber is perhaps the most talented athlete on the team. Too bad he's another softie who can't hit a clutch shot to get into heaven.
Bobby Jackson can shoot and scoot, but can't make layups. In sum, while the Kings are still a dangerous outfit, unless they can find a group rate on heart transplants their reign as serious contenders for a championship is kaput. Credit Adelman for contouring a quick-‘n'-slick game plan to suit his available players. So, even though Adelman will ultimately be held responsible for the Kings' generic shortcomings by the Sacramento media, fans, and front office, the true onus lies elsewhere. Charley Rosen, former CBA coach, author of 12 books about hoops, the next one being A PIVOTAL SEASON — HOW THE 1971-72 LA LAKERS CHANGED THE NBA, is a frequent contributor to FOXSports.com.
http://msn.foxsports.com/story/3032102
Kings' cranky Adelman a top NBA coach
Charley Rosen / FOXSports.com
Posted: 3 minutes ago
Okay, so Rick Adelman's constant whining and bitching over virtually every call that goes against the Kings can be downright annoying. And if his play-by-play critiques do succeed in buying Sacramento a few short-term calls, it's also true that the league's refs feel that Adelman is "showing them up" — so the long-term result is that bang-bang calls frequently go against them in clutch situations.
Even so, Adelman's cranky (and ultimately self-defeating) bench demeanor should not detract from the fact that he's one of the best coaches in the business. The most characteristic example of Adelman's strategic genius is the Kings' open-floor offense. Most up-tempo teams initially look to fast break, but if nothing beneficial develops, they'll pull the ball back out, call a number, and move into a half-court set. Adelman's style is to flow directly from a fast break into a high-octane motion offense. Play calls are operable only after time-outs, quarter breaks, free throw attempts, and when the Kings are compelled to take the ball out of the net and move cautiously across the time line.
Assistant coach Pete Carril has rightly been credited with introducing Adelman to this perpetual-motion offense. The same gnarly, almost loveable character who coached the Princeton Tigers for as long as anybody living can recall. The same irascible, slightly misanthropic gnome who used to swear that he'd never coach in the NBA because the pros couldn't pass well enough to meet his demands. At the same time, Carril has been universally celebrated as the inventor of the so-called "Princeton offense" — move without the ball, cut, pick, and pass.
In truth, Carril learned his Xs and Os from one of the game's forgotten masters, Butch van Breda Kolff. (Yes, the same "Screaming Dutchman" who coached Bill Bradley at Princeton. Yes, the same cigar-chomping free spirit who also coached the LA Lakers and stubbornly refused to reinstate Wilt Chamberlain in the waning minutes of Game 7 of the 1968 NBA Finals, thereby enabling the Boston Celtics to cop the gold.) Way back in 1952, Carril was a senior at Lafayette when van Breda Kolff first became the Leopards' head coach. That's where Carril learned the intricacies of what van Breda Kolff modestly refers to as "the old-time game." So if Carril is Adelman's guru, then VBK is the guru's guru.
When the Kings are forced into a grind-it-out tempo, Adelman's repertoire includes a variety of splits, isolations off of staggered picks, freewheeling screen-rolls, and a series of two-man plays. On the run or slowed to a walk, scoring points is rarely a concern.
On defense, the Kings depend on fast hands up and down the lineup. However, they don't always hustle back on defense. Indeed, their desire to get out and go also hinders their defensive rebounding. Too many of them are so focused on scoring that they tend to leak downcourt and leave the rebounding to somebody else.
Sure, the Kings' light-footed cunning and sleight-of-hand is delightful to witness. But the cruel realities of NBA action often require brawnier skills. Like rebounding in a crowd, playing chest-to-chest interior defense, setting body-shivering picks, and committing hard fouls when appropriate. But don't blame Adelman for the Kings' pitty-patty game plan. He'll just shrug and say, "That's who we are."
In truth, every team has a front office overseer who's responsible for their team's personnel decisions. In Sacramento, the last words belong to Geoff Petrie (President of Basketball Operations), Wayne Cooper (Petrie's VP), and Jerry Reynolds (who doubles as Director of Player Personnel and TV color analyst). Adelman merely plays the cards that he's been dealt. And that's what the Kings are — as tricky and insubstantial as a game of Three-Card Monte.
Mike Bibby is a terrific spot shooter who wants to dribble right. He's more solid than clever. He's not a great finisher and traps can force him into mistakes. But Bibby has heart, and that sets him apart from his teammates.
Doug Christie is versatile and athletic at both ends of the court. His 3-point shooting has improved in recent years, plus he can post and spin, and drive (right) under control. Christie is a confident player and the team leader, but his prowess under extreme pressure has yet to be proven.
Brad Miller is strictly a hustle player and a good medium-range (read: from 17 feet) shooter. Unfortunately, he's also slow in transition, even slower moving laterally, and his screen/roll defense is unacceptable. Moreover, Miller is not the banger he appears to be.
Peja Stojakovic is a wondrous shooter during the regular season. Come playoff-time and he shoots mostly blanks.
Chris Webber is perhaps the most talented athlete on the team. Too bad he's another softie who can't hit a clutch shot to get into heaven.
Bobby Jackson can shoot and scoot, but can't make layups. In sum, while the Kings are still a dangerous outfit, unless they can find a group rate on heart transplants their reign as serious contenders for a championship is kaput. Credit Adelman for contouring a quick-‘n'-slick game plan to suit his available players. So, even though Adelman will ultimately be held responsible for the Kings' generic shortcomings by the Sacramento media, fans, and front office, the true onus lies elsewhere. Charley Rosen, former CBA coach, author of 12 books about hoops, the next one being A PIVOTAL SEASON — HOW THE 1971-72 LA LAKERS CHANGED THE NBA, is a frequent contributor to FOXSports.com.