Breton: Kings have right man at the wheel

[playmaker0017]

You do realize that Artest won't work with every coach.

He's only had two coaches, right?

He seemed to get along fine in Chicago. He was just a bit ... off.

Either way, I think Artest is overrated as a "trouble spot" and I think Adelman might be a bit overrated right now as the "soothing point" for him. Artest is in his honeymoon right now, but I think as long as he's a major focal point, he's going to be fine.

Adelman's "soothing" powers seem to be limited to starting people who whine and give in to everyone. Not exactly what you want or need out of a coach.

Again you point out that are coach is incompetant

Far from incompetent. He's a good offensive coach for the right players.

I think he's not maximizing this teams output by using his system. It's not really a system designed to take advantage of talented players that are either post players or great one-on-one players. While one-on-one play taken to an extreme is detrimental ... I think this team would be better served doing a bit more of it while sprinkling in cutters.

yet you don't give any plausible guysthat will both suit the needs of team and Artest. Suiting Artest right now has to be our greatest need.

Just because Artest is functioning and not freaking out is not really a "feat" by Adelman. Artest goes in spurts.

I don't know who I'd get as coach. Perhaps it's time to give the reigns over to a new guy or something. I'm not sure.

Again, it's a comfort thing with Sacramento fans, I think. You all have grown comfortable with Adelman and comfort leads to complacency.

 

[bigbadred00]

Hmmmmmmmmmm.................All I know is we've never had problems with trouble makers on the Kings. What I mean is past trouble makers. Once they became a Kings, for some reason or another they settled down. There's a reason why Webber was traded for Richmond, there's a reason why Webber was shipped out of Golden State quickly, it's because he didn't get along with coaches. Guess what he got along with Rick. I don't have great stories about other players. But I know Jim Jackson hasn't always been great with coaches, yet he worked. I've heard Vernon Maxwell. I'm probally missing others, but Adelman seems to get along with players.

Your right, Adelman isn't the best defensive coach in the league, but if his players have adequete talent on D, I'm pretty sure he would place the team in that direction.

Just look at the makeup of the team the last 2 years, noone has been that great defensively until Artest got here.

Bibby is not athletic enough, neither is Miller.

Kenny is too small. SAR isn't that tall but a pretty solid defender.

Bonzi got hurt.

Kevin is still basically a rookie and Garcia has gotten better since Artest has gotten here.

Webber's got 1 leg.

Christie had foot problems.

Mobley was short.

Songalia was solid but we let him go.

Skinner was solid but didn't play that much e/c when Brad was hurt.

So we didn't have the capability. Yes Adelman isn't going to instill his players like some coaches will, but if his players have the abililty, like they did in 2002, he will let them play D.

You can't mold clay into gold. Adelman did the best with what he had, a bunch of average defenders at best and a bunch of below average defenders.

 

[playmaker0017]

You can't mold clay into gold. Adelman did the best with what he had, a bunch of average defenders at best and a bunch of below average defenders.

No, you can't. That's true.

But, I also have issues with his offensive style and what he allows from his players.

For instance, I just can't understand our complete role reversal. We've got our PF/Cs sitting out near the 3 point line and our SG/SF posting up. We've got a PG that leads the team in shots and isn't getting assists.

It's not my cup of tea. I'd prefer us to get back to the basics. Granted, I can deal with a little mixup now and again. Artest/Bonzi are decent post players, getting them the ball a few times in the post is probably smart. But, we need to get dirtier. We need to quit taking jump shot after jump shot. It's not going to get us anywhere.

 

[ForlornKing]

I love Adelman. He is one of the best at making plays in the crunch time.
He just needs to learn how to stress defense in the low post, or play players that bring a lot of defense and little offense.

 

[chelle]

I SELDOM agree with Breton, but he actually got it right. I'm impressed. He did not really mince words. I liked it and support what he wrote! Good job!

 

[kennadog]

Playmaker: I think you are wrong that Kings fans are comfortable or complacent and that's why they may prefer to keep Adelman (at the moment). After many years of being the hell of the NBA and going thru plenty of coaches, we know all too well that really good coaches don't grow on trees. I don't see a better coach out there, that is available. As a matter of fact, I don't see that many clearly better options out there, available or not.

And I agree with Breton.

 

[Sac.Kings]

Adelman is our coach and whatever chemistry the Kings started to develop would be lost if Adelman left. If he was to be "kicked out the door" it would have happened when we traded Webber or in the previous summer.

 

[swisshh]

Adleman has needed to go for awhile. This is an un-Breton like article from Breton. As in it's just not insightful.

 

[Bricklayer]

Adleman has needed to go for awhile. This is an un-Breton like article from Breton. As in it's just not insightful.

As in you don't agree with it, or as in he doesn't come off like a self-important whiny little *****?

 

[swisshh]

As in it's very in-the-now, much as a usual Kings fanatic POV. Adleman has never been able to overcome his faults or even face them. The team has often faltered for these things and I really feel the franchise never getting to the finals has a lot to do with Adleman's stubborn ways.

Has this team even looked well coached this year? I wouldn't say so.

Breton's article's normally are less in the moment, and have a wider perspective than the Bee usually puts to print. This article just lacks that. You have to ignore years of bad trends and wasted oppurtunities to say "Adleman is the right man".

 

[Warhawk]

Adleman has never been able to overcome his faults or even face them. The team has often faltered for these things and I really feel the franchise never getting to the finals has a lot to do with Adleman's stubborn ways.

Has this team even looked well coached this year? I wouldn't say so.

You have to ignore years of bad trends and wasted oppurtunities to say "Adleman is the right man".

OK, but I guess you can also say that only 2 teams a year make it to the finals, and we have been stuck with battling the Lakers and Spurs "dynasty" teams and other tough Western teams while at our peak. Does some of the blame fall Rick's way for that? Maybe. I think more falls on the players themselves for botching Game 7 and other, um, "external" influences for not making it that year. We've been good, but Rick isn't missing free throws, players are. And I am sure Mike had a better way of fouling Kobe than by using his nose.

And how many different coaches have been there recently? And how many different ones have won? Be realistic.

 

[kennadog]

Only 4 active coaches have rings. And its only 4, because Riley came back. And of possibly available inactive coaches, I can't think of any with a ring (Wilkins, Nelson or ? and BTW...yuck).

Brown finally got his ring with the Pistons and Saunders may get one with the same team. Maybe the players have something to do with that? Notice that Brown could not miraculously turn the Knicks into a much improved team.

Sloan worships the gospel of defense, had Malone and Stockton and still couldn't get a ring. Wonder what the heck's wrong there? Could be they ran into Jordan and the Bulls. Like we ran into Kobe, Phil and Shaq?

Currently the teams with the longest playoff apperance streaks in the league thru 2005 are: Indiana Pacers - 8, San Antonio Spurs - 8; Kings - 7. The next closest is Dallas with 5. That doesn't happen by accident.

Give me a really good, plausible alternative to Rick. He should get combat pay for some of the injuries, bombshells and bad luck he's had to deal with.

 

[chelle]

Only 4 active coaches have rings. And its only 4, because Riley came back. And of possibly available inactive coaches, I can't think of any with a ring (Wilkins, Nelson or ? and BTW...yuck).

Brown finally got his ring with the Pistons and Saunders may get one with the same team. Maybe the players have something to do with that? Notice that Brown could not miraculously turn the Knicks into a much improved team.

Sloan worships the gospel of defense, had Malone and Stockton and still couldn't get a ring. Wonder what the heck's wrong there? Could be they ran into Jordan and the Bulls. Like we ran into Kobe, Phil and Shaq?

Currently the teams with the longest playoff apperance streaks in the league thru 2005 are: Indiana Pacers - 8, San Antonio Spurs - 8; Kings - 7. The next closest is Dallas with 5. That doesn't happen by accident.

Give me a really good, plausible alternative to Rick. He should get combat pay for some of the injuries, bombshells and bad luck he's had to deal with.

AMEN!!! Great Post!

 

[VF21]

I applaud Breton, although I have to wonder if someone has taken over his persona. Two columns in a row that are right on? Nice...

As far as Adelman goes, I think it's abundantly clear that given the proper tools he can, just like any true craftsman, use those tools to perfection.

I am especially glad that he's stuck to his guns and kept SAR coming off the bench. Thomas is getting the job done for us and we need both of them to continue being successful in their roles as PLAYERS on the Sacramento Kings.

Yes, Adelman makes mistakes. But he also gets the most out of players and you cannot argue with that. I truly hope the Maloofs make him an offer he can't refuse.

Once again, thanks to Breton for a pretty straight-forward article.

 

[Insomniacal Fan]

I truly hope the Maloofs make him an offer he can't refuse.

Sounds like you want 'em to use some of their Las Vegas connections there. The Maloofs being a 'family business' after all.

 

[VF21]

Nah, I was thinking more along the line of lots and lots and lots and "incentives" like CASH!!!

 

[ParniValjak]

Start Rahim
Bench Thomas
Start SAR
Bench K9
Start Reef
Bench Kenny

I thought I would answer your question on playmakers behalf

Harsh!

But FAIR!!!!!!

Quite simply we muct keep Adelman. There is a light at the end of the tunnel with RA hinting that he would like to stay. Hopefully Maloofs are listenting and drawing up his new contract.

 

[tubiscus]

In January, when the Kings were incredibly inconsistent, I was convinced the Maloofs were going to pull the trigger and fire Adelman, then install Elston Turner as interim for the rest of the season. I just couldn't figure out why, because it just didn't make sense, other than to demonstrate to the players that any "comfort zone" they had was a figment of their imagination.

Rick Adelman is an excellent coach who gets more from most of his players than at any other time in their careers. How many times have we seen this demonstrated. Players tend to have their best years here. When they leave, they don't play as well. How many players shooting percentage and free throw percentage have jumped significantly while they play here? Adelman and his staff have also proved to be excellent developers of players. The progress of our young players this season bears this out.

I've disagreed with some decisions Adelman has made, in particular about substitutions, but they are his decisions to make. The injuries alone would've tanked most other teams for the season. He has the ship righted, and under its own power. I doubt any other coach, including Larry Brown, Phil Jackson, or even Red Auerbach could have done as well. In my opinion, the Maloof's would be wise to settle the issue soon, and offer him a two-year extension. My prediction is, it will happen within the next two weeks.