http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/14254134p-15069830c.html
Adelman details call that ended job
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Thursday, May 11, 2006
When Rick Adelman walked onto the floor of his former team's practice facility, there wasn't a Kings logo to be found on his frame.
Like so many other thousands of days in this same gym, the coach who was dismissed Tuesday wore a sweater vest. But this one was black and bland, pulled over a striped collared shirt, with neither article bearing the brand that he wore with so much pride for eight seasons. And while he spent nearly an hour talking about his time with the Kings in his exiting news conference Wednesday - his family on hand as he reflected on his role in the turnaround of a once-hapless franchise - Adelman admitted the obvious about his new existence: Something will certainly be missing.
"I've been really fortunate in my career," Adelman said. "I mean, 13 years in Portland (six as head coach), eight years here. In this league, that's a lifetime. There's a lot more positive things to remember than the phone call from (Kings president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie) telling me they didn't want me back."
The end of an era likely began months - perhaps even years - ago, with the distant relationship between Adelman and the team's owners at its core. But the pivotal phone call came Monday afternoon, when Adelman and co-owner Joe Maloof took all of five minutes to discuss the coach's future. Adelman - who said the Kings' late-season turnaround and future potential gave him more reasons to return than to depart - expressed his desire to come back, then tried to clear up any possible misunderstandings.
Namely, he reassured Maloof that he bore no grudges over the saga of last summer, when the Kings contacted Phil Jackson's agent about giving his client Adelman's job. Maloof, Adelman said, expressed his appreciation. Adelman then waited, hoping his instinct that the Maloofs had made up their minds before the playoffs even began was wrong.
"I think we wanted some resolution, and then (Joe Maloof) says they'll talk about it and get back to me," Adelman said.
Three hours later, Petrie called to inform Adelman that he was no longer the Kings' coach.
"I got my resolution real quick," he said.
But the Kings logo isn't the only thing missing from the Adelman picture. There's something missing, Adelman and his lead assistant coach Elston Turner said, from the logic behind the Maloofs' decision to change directions. The Maloofs have repeatedly expressed - both publicly and privately - a dissatisfaction with the alleged defensive struggles of the Adelman regime, all while forging a new defensive identity with the acquisition of players like Ron Artest, Bonzi Wells and Jason Hart, each known as defensive-minded players. The next step, the Maloofs contend, will be to sign a defensive-minded coach to continue the reformation. While Adelman is known as an offensive-minded coach, Turner and assistant T.R. Dunn are seen as defensive specialists.
But the Maloofs' contention left Adelman and his staff of four assistants not only unemployed, but offended, wondering why they were given mostly offensive players in the pre-Ron Artest era if defense was the owners' preference.
"We didn't have defensive players," Adelman said. "It's as simple as that. We haven't had defensive players the last two or three years. If you want a defensive team, then go trade for defensive players. Go get (players) like San Antonio has or Detroit has. I don't apologize for any of that.
"That team we had (in 2002-03) with Jimmy Jackson, Hedo (Turkoglu), Peja (Stojakovic), we had a lot of (defensive) flexibility on that team and we had the best (opponents' field-goal percentage) in the league. And we just didn't decide to go away from that.
"Our personnel changed. They let people go, traded people, and we had not as good a team as we had before. ... When we got Ron Artest (this season), suddenly our defense picked up and we started looking better."
Turner, who was a player known for his defensive prowess during his eight NBA seasons, was equally as defensive about the defense. He was with Adelman for the last six of his eight seasons.
"I'm looking at the players that come into uniform, and all of them had 'offensive' written all over them," Turner said. "And you've just got to squeeze some defense out of them. I just know that we all had to work with the cards that we were dealt. ... If they wanted defensive players, there were defensive players out there. Just sign them and we would've become better at it."
Turner said there was ample focus on defense during practices and planning.
"We did everything we could, defensively," Turner said. "(The Maloofs) put the smoke-screen out there that they want better defense. I don't take too kindly to that."
Adelman led the Kings to eight consecutive playoff appearances, including back-to-back Pacific Division titles in 2001-02 and 2002-03, while winning 50 or more games in five consecutive seasons from 2000 to 2005.
"(But) why beat your head over (the Maloofs' reasoning)? Adelman asked. "Whatever reasons they gave me, I could probably give them 10 reasons why they're wrong."
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at (916) 326-5582 or samick@sacbee.com
Adelman details call that ended job
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Thursday, May 11, 2006
When Rick Adelman walked onto the floor of his former team's practice facility, there wasn't a Kings logo to be found on his frame.
Like so many other thousands of days in this same gym, the coach who was dismissed Tuesday wore a sweater vest. But this one was black and bland, pulled over a striped collared shirt, with neither article bearing the brand that he wore with so much pride for eight seasons. And while he spent nearly an hour talking about his time with the Kings in his exiting news conference Wednesday - his family on hand as he reflected on his role in the turnaround of a once-hapless franchise - Adelman admitted the obvious about his new existence: Something will certainly be missing.
"I've been really fortunate in my career," Adelman said. "I mean, 13 years in Portland (six as head coach), eight years here. In this league, that's a lifetime. There's a lot more positive things to remember than the phone call from (Kings president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie) telling me they didn't want me back."
The end of an era likely began months - perhaps even years - ago, with the distant relationship between Adelman and the team's owners at its core. But the pivotal phone call came Monday afternoon, when Adelman and co-owner Joe Maloof took all of five minutes to discuss the coach's future. Adelman - who said the Kings' late-season turnaround and future potential gave him more reasons to return than to depart - expressed his desire to come back, then tried to clear up any possible misunderstandings.
Namely, he reassured Maloof that he bore no grudges over the saga of last summer, when the Kings contacted Phil Jackson's agent about giving his client Adelman's job. Maloof, Adelman said, expressed his appreciation. Adelman then waited, hoping his instinct that the Maloofs had made up their minds before the playoffs even began was wrong.
"I think we wanted some resolution, and then (Joe Maloof) says they'll talk about it and get back to me," Adelman said.
Three hours later, Petrie called to inform Adelman that he was no longer the Kings' coach.
"I got my resolution real quick," he said.
But the Kings logo isn't the only thing missing from the Adelman picture. There's something missing, Adelman and his lead assistant coach Elston Turner said, from the logic behind the Maloofs' decision to change directions. The Maloofs have repeatedly expressed - both publicly and privately - a dissatisfaction with the alleged defensive struggles of the Adelman regime, all while forging a new defensive identity with the acquisition of players like Ron Artest, Bonzi Wells and Jason Hart, each known as defensive-minded players. The next step, the Maloofs contend, will be to sign a defensive-minded coach to continue the reformation. While Adelman is known as an offensive-minded coach, Turner and assistant T.R. Dunn are seen as defensive specialists.
But the Maloofs' contention left Adelman and his staff of four assistants not only unemployed, but offended, wondering why they were given mostly offensive players in the pre-Ron Artest era if defense was the owners' preference.
"We didn't have defensive players," Adelman said. "It's as simple as that. We haven't had defensive players the last two or three years. If you want a defensive team, then go trade for defensive players. Go get (players) like San Antonio has or Detroit has. I don't apologize for any of that.
"That team we had (in 2002-03) with Jimmy Jackson, Hedo (Turkoglu), Peja (Stojakovic), we had a lot of (defensive) flexibility on that team and we had the best (opponents' field-goal percentage) in the league. And we just didn't decide to go away from that.
"Our personnel changed. They let people go, traded people, and we had not as good a team as we had before. ... When we got Ron Artest (this season), suddenly our defense picked up and we started looking better."
Turner, who was a player known for his defensive prowess during his eight NBA seasons, was equally as defensive about the defense. He was with Adelman for the last six of his eight seasons.
"I'm looking at the players that come into uniform, and all of them had 'offensive' written all over them," Turner said. "And you've just got to squeeze some defense out of them. I just know that we all had to work with the cards that we were dealt. ... If they wanted defensive players, there were defensive players out there. Just sign them and we would've become better at it."
Turner said there was ample focus on defense during practices and planning.
"We did everything we could, defensively," Turner said. "(The Maloofs) put the smoke-screen out there that they want better defense. I don't take too kindly to that."
Adelman led the Kings to eight consecutive playoff appearances, including back-to-back Pacific Division titles in 2001-02 and 2002-03, while winning 50 or more games in five consecutive seasons from 2000 to 2005.
"(But) why beat your head over (the Maloofs' reasoning)? Adelman asked. "Whatever reasons they gave me, I could probably give them 10 reasons why they're wrong."
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at (916) 326-5582 or samick@sacbee.com
