Intense present, uncertain future
Questions and answers with Kings coach Rick AdelmanBy Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Rick Adelman never has had trouble with winning.
The coach, who is nearing the end of his 16th season, holds a career mark of 748-480; his .608 winning percentage good for 10th place among 67 NBA coaches with 200 or more victories. With five regular-season games remaining in what could be his final season in Sacramento - if not ever - the coach whose contract is about to expire suddenly is sharing the hot seat with his team, as the Kings need just a few more wins to secure the seventh or eighth Western Conference playoff spot.
In Adelman's eyes, making the postseason would be a reward after what has been the most bizarre of his eight seasons in Sacramento. What happens after that? As he says, we'll see. The coach sat down before the Kings' game in Dallas on Tuesday to discuss the past, present and future of his tenuous situation.
Q: How are you going to handle these next few weeks personally? Regardless of what happens in the offseason, I've got to think that after so many years, you really want to end on a positive note.
A: I think you go in thinking that you want to have the team have the best year. To be in the playoffs would be a nice thing considering where we came from. But I'm sorry, the article that was in the paper (column April 3, "Adelman must prove himself now") - my career is not going to be defined by eight games. We just happen to (have played) two of the best teams in the Western Conference, and that's what's going to define you? I just think from my standpoint, I've got to just coach the team.
I want this team to finish on a positive note, for the team and the coaching staff and everybody. Because your goal is to get to the playoffs. And you know you're going to face a tough team, but that's what you want to get there for. And I don't even want to think about if we don't get it, what my reaction is going to be. Frankly, it's always been the same. I see the (Kings owners Joe and Gavin) Maloofs' comments about "Well, we'll decide (on Adelman's future) at the end of the year." Well, so will I. That's how I look at it.
Q: And you'll have a better position, I would think, if you made the playoffs, with them and leaguewide.
A: Position with them? I have no idea. And I don't worry about leaguewide. I've got 700-and-something wins, and almost 400 here. But you know, these (last games) are the ones that are going to do it (laughs). I think you're always looking short term, especially when you go through a situation like we've been through. You start off tough with the schedule and everything. You don't have a very good year. You make changes, then suddenly you get a nice roll going, then you stumble again. Right now, we've won three in a row. When we had really good teams, those three in a row wouldn't mean much. Or losing a couple in a row wouldn't mean much. But the situation we're in, it's like the world is OK. And if we lose tonight (the Kings lost 127-101 to Dallas), it's like, Holy Criminy, when are we going to get another win? And that's kind of what you face when you're in this situation. ... It's like a day-in-and-day-out grind right now.
Q: Is part of that because people don't know what to make of this team, don't know what it is?
A: I've tried to look at it in the three stages we've had. We didn't do well after we made the trade, and then we won, and then we had a tough stretch again, and now we've won three in a row.
You know, it's not surprising that our problems - for the most part - have been at the offensive end, because we don't have a real identity. With Ron (Artest) coming here, Bonzi (Wells) coming back (from his groin injury), Kevin (Martin) and Francisco (García) getting hurt. We've been so up and down offensively, but our defensive statistics are kind of the same all the way through that period.
It was our offense that gave us the most problems. But that doesn't surprise me. When you're putting a group together - especially with someone with as big an impact as Ron has on the team - that you're going to have ups and downs because he's not totally sure, and we're still learning about him. I think it's not unusual that we're having some problems offensively, but you've got to find an answer in these games.
Q: Are you starting to see trends and finding kinks that you need to work out?
A: Yeah, you do, but is it correctable? You know, I think this team, depending on what happens in the summer and everything else, is going to be much better off when you can evaluate the group you have, get yourself a training camp and change the philosophy. We've really gotten away from a lot of things we've done in the past. That is not only because of the new guy, Ron or whoever, but it hurts the guys who have been here, because they're used to doing those things, and now suddenly they're adjusting.
I think that's the one thing that people really haven't given the guys who have been here for most of the year (credit). They've really made the adjustments to try to make things different, and no one talks about that. Guys like Mike (Bibby) and Brad (Miller), guys like Shareef (Abdur-Rahim). Everybody's had to make adjustments with the changes we've made, and I think they've done a good job. Is it going to be enough? We'll see.
Q: Considering everything that this team has been through, you've got to be thankful that you haven't had flare-ups (from unhappy players). Bonzi has been the way he has, and Shareef has been the way he has, so you can do what you want to do.
A: The guys who haven't played at all haven't liked it at all, but I just had to make a decision to shorten the rotation to try to get some success. The least amount of people you have to worry about getting in and out of that lineup the better, plus the team is going to become better with the same seven or eight playing than if you tried to play nine or 10 and you don't get any consistency. That's been the biggest thing.
Guys who haven't played much, or been thrown in there or taken out, even though they don't like it, they haven't been a problem, which they could be. It's just the trials and tribulations of the season.
Q: I haven't asked you this for months, but I think a lot of people wonder: When that offseason finally rolls around, whenever that is, what is your mind-set going to be as far as everything you've been through. Basically, would your pride get in the way of you coming back to the Kings?
A: What's interesting is, everybody wants to ask the Maloofs what they're going to do. Has anybody thought that maybe I've already decided what I'm going to do? I'm not saying I have, but maybe I already have. But it's natural, because they're the owners. They're the ones who decide if they need a new coach or not.
Like you said, I don't think my pride is going to get in the way of anything, because I do like our young guys. I think Ron brings a different dimension to this team. This team could be, without going completely backward, start moving forward. I've said that before. Even if we don't make the playoffs, there's still things that could happen with this team where it could move forward and be a pretty good team again.
First of all, (the Maloofs have) to decide what they're going to do, but then I've got to figure out (if) I want to be part of it or not part of it, if there is a possibility. Or when the season ends, do I just want to say, "We'll see ya'?" Right now, I think all of your energy has to be on trying to win games. You can't be worried about that, even though it's there every day.
Q: But are you not saying because you don't want to say or because you don't know yet?
A: That's a good question. Is there an answer? (laughs) No, I don't think this is the proper time to address it. It's not the proper time to address it. Maybe I'm like the way everybody is around our team. When you lose, you have real negative thoughts, and when you win, everything seems pretty good. That's why I don't think it's the proper time to address it. When it's all said and done, and the dust has settled, then you sit down; my wife and I will sit down and say, "You know, what do we want to do?"
Questions and answers with Kings coach Rick AdelmanBy Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Rick Adelman never has had trouble with winning.
The coach, who is nearing the end of his 16th season, holds a career mark of 748-480; his .608 winning percentage good for 10th place among 67 NBA coaches with 200 or more victories. With five regular-season games remaining in what could be his final season in Sacramento - if not ever - the coach whose contract is about to expire suddenly is sharing the hot seat with his team, as the Kings need just a few more wins to secure the seventh or eighth Western Conference playoff spot.
In Adelman's eyes, making the postseason would be a reward after what has been the most bizarre of his eight seasons in Sacramento. What happens after that? As he says, we'll see. The coach sat down before the Kings' game in Dallas on Tuesday to discuss the past, present and future of his tenuous situation.
Q: How are you going to handle these next few weeks personally? Regardless of what happens in the offseason, I've got to think that after so many years, you really want to end on a positive note.
A: I think you go in thinking that you want to have the team have the best year. To be in the playoffs would be a nice thing considering where we came from. But I'm sorry, the article that was in the paper (column April 3, "Adelman must prove himself now") - my career is not going to be defined by eight games. We just happen to (have played) two of the best teams in the Western Conference, and that's what's going to define you? I just think from my standpoint, I've got to just coach the team.
I want this team to finish on a positive note, for the team and the coaching staff and everybody. Because your goal is to get to the playoffs. And you know you're going to face a tough team, but that's what you want to get there for. And I don't even want to think about if we don't get it, what my reaction is going to be. Frankly, it's always been the same. I see the (Kings owners Joe and Gavin) Maloofs' comments about "Well, we'll decide (on Adelman's future) at the end of the year." Well, so will I. That's how I look at it.
Q: And you'll have a better position, I would think, if you made the playoffs, with them and leaguewide.
A: Position with them? I have no idea. And I don't worry about leaguewide. I've got 700-and-something wins, and almost 400 here. But you know, these (last games) are the ones that are going to do it (laughs). I think you're always looking short term, especially when you go through a situation like we've been through. You start off tough with the schedule and everything. You don't have a very good year. You make changes, then suddenly you get a nice roll going, then you stumble again. Right now, we've won three in a row. When we had really good teams, those three in a row wouldn't mean much. Or losing a couple in a row wouldn't mean much. But the situation we're in, it's like the world is OK. And if we lose tonight (the Kings lost 127-101 to Dallas), it's like, Holy Criminy, when are we going to get another win? And that's kind of what you face when you're in this situation. ... It's like a day-in-and-day-out grind right now.
Q: Is part of that because people don't know what to make of this team, don't know what it is?
A: I've tried to look at it in the three stages we've had. We didn't do well after we made the trade, and then we won, and then we had a tough stretch again, and now we've won three in a row.
You know, it's not surprising that our problems - for the most part - have been at the offensive end, because we don't have a real identity. With Ron (Artest) coming here, Bonzi (Wells) coming back (from his groin injury), Kevin (Martin) and Francisco (García) getting hurt. We've been so up and down offensively, but our defensive statistics are kind of the same all the way through that period.
It was our offense that gave us the most problems. But that doesn't surprise me. When you're putting a group together - especially with someone with as big an impact as Ron has on the team - that you're going to have ups and downs because he's not totally sure, and we're still learning about him. I think it's not unusual that we're having some problems offensively, but you've got to find an answer in these games.
Q: Are you starting to see trends and finding kinks that you need to work out?
A: Yeah, you do, but is it correctable? You know, I think this team, depending on what happens in the summer and everything else, is going to be much better off when you can evaluate the group you have, get yourself a training camp and change the philosophy. We've really gotten away from a lot of things we've done in the past. That is not only because of the new guy, Ron or whoever, but it hurts the guys who have been here, because they're used to doing those things, and now suddenly they're adjusting.
I think that's the one thing that people really haven't given the guys who have been here for most of the year (credit). They've really made the adjustments to try to make things different, and no one talks about that. Guys like Mike (Bibby) and Brad (Miller), guys like Shareef (Abdur-Rahim). Everybody's had to make adjustments with the changes we've made, and I think they've done a good job. Is it going to be enough? We'll see.
Q: Considering everything that this team has been through, you've got to be thankful that you haven't had flare-ups (from unhappy players). Bonzi has been the way he has, and Shareef has been the way he has, so you can do what you want to do.
A: The guys who haven't played at all haven't liked it at all, but I just had to make a decision to shorten the rotation to try to get some success. The least amount of people you have to worry about getting in and out of that lineup the better, plus the team is going to become better with the same seven or eight playing than if you tried to play nine or 10 and you don't get any consistency. That's been the biggest thing.
Guys who haven't played much, or been thrown in there or taken out, even though they don't like it, they haven't been a problem, which they could be. It's just the trials and tribulations of the season.
Q: I haven't asked you this for months, but I think a lot of people wonder: When that offseason finally rolls around, whenever that is, what is your mind-set going to be as far as everything you've been through. Basically, would your pride get in the way of you coming back to the Kings?
A: What's interesting is, everybody wants to ask the Maloofs what they're going to do. Has anybody thought that maybe I've already decided what I'm going to do? I'm not saying I have, but maybe I already have. But it's natural, because they're the owners. They're the ones who decide if they need a new coach or not.
Like you said, I don't think my pride is going to get in the way of anything, because I do like our young guys. I think Ron brings a different dimension to this team. This team could be, without going completely backward, start moving forward. I've said that before. Even if we don't make the playoffs, there's still things that could happen with this team where it could move forward and be a pretty good team again.
First of all, (the Maloofs have) to decide what they're going to do, but then I've got to figure out (if) I want to be part of it or not part of it, if there is a possibility. Or when the season ends, do I just want to say, "We'll see ya'?" Right now, I think all of your energy has to be on trying to win games. You can't be worried about that, even though it's there every day.
Q: But are you not saying because you don't want to say or because you don't know yet?
A: That's a good question. Is there an answer? (laughs) No, I don't think this is the proper time to address it. It's not the proper time to address it. Maybe I'm like the way everybody is around our team. When you lose, you have real negative thoughts, and when you win, everything seems pretty good. That's why I don't think it's the proper time to address it. When it's all said and done, and the dust has settled, then you sit down; my wife and I will sit down and say, "You know, what do we want to do?"
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