Can Rick Adelman Get the Respect of his Players Like Popovich.....

[Purple Reign]

.....if not than it is time to find us another coach.

Note: Please moderators do not move this thread, the following article is relevant to the Sacramento Kings.

[font=Arial,Helvetica]Saturday, May 14, 2005[/font]
[font=Arial,Helvetica]By TED MILLER
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER[/font]

During Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals, Tim Duncan, perhaps one of the five greatest centers ever, jogged off the court while calmly absorbing a series of observations from San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich.

"You aren't doing (pooh)!" Popovich said.

How couples handle conflict reveals a lot about a marriage, and that moment illustrates the critical quality that makes the Popovich-Duncan union such a successful one.

When a coach can push and prod even his big-money stars without fear of revolt, he establishes a culture of accountability that is rare in the NBA.

A knowing grin spread across Sonics coach Nate McMillan's face while listening to a description of that exchange, which took place during a Spurs blowout victory.

"I saw that," he said a day after his squad captured a clutch win and closed the series deficit to 2-1 heading into Game 4 at KeyArena tomorrow.

A culture of accountability is a fluid, unofficial locker room contract that develops over time or arrives with a coach who owns a certain glorified stature (see, Phil Jackson Effect). A coach establishes a level of competence the players trust and respect, and they therefore agree to honor his authority, even if it means suffering through a few spittle-laced harangues or curious substitution patterns.

"No question, Pop has it," McMillan said. "I want to get there. When you're there, everybody is on the same page. Success is needed to get that. And longevity. It takes time to get there. I'm working on it."

San Antonio is the only NBA team to win more than 50 games every nonlockout season since 1997-98, Popovich's first full year as coach and Duncan's rookie year.

Only they remain from a team that established a league record with a 36-game turnaround -- from 20 to 56 victories that first season. Amid myriad roster changes, they captured a pair of championships.

It helps a coach, of course, to have a uniquely talented player propping up the lineup, but that is no guarantee.

Before Thursday night's game, Popovich was discussing perennial malcontent Glenn Robinson's recently inspired defense. If Robinson had previously played inspired defense over his 10-year career, no one can remember it.

Popovich said he made sure Robinson understood expectations before signing in April: either play tough defense or sit.

"We let him know what the deal was," Popovich said. "There would be no patience -- you do it or you're gone."

When Robinson earned a stupid technical foul Thursday for decking Rashard Lewis in the second quarter, Popovich benched him for the rest of the game. Of course, it's easy to kick around a player nobody wanted, particularly one trying to overcome a bad reputation who is desperate for a new contract.

Howling at Duncan is much different. It sends a powerful message that Popovich is an equal-opportunity ball buster.

"A lot of times, superstars don't get yelled at by their coach," said Sonics guard Antonio Daniels, a former Spur.

"But when you see Tim get yelled at when he goes off the court, that sets the tone for everybody else. It's like, 'God, if this guy's the MVP and he's getting yelled at like that, I better do my job.' "

And by respectfully honoring the coach-player relationship -- even though he makes $10 million more a season -- Duncan maintains Popovich's authority with the rest of the team.

"Pop refers to it all the time about guys having a corporate knowledge about playing the game," said Brent Barry, who left the Sonics for the Spurs this season. "Tim, I guess, would be referred to as the CEO of that corporation. Everybody sort of falls in line behind him, and that puts everybody in their place."

Establishing authority ... setting the tone ... putting people in their place ... making things work.

 

[Purple Reign]

I would rather see Rick Adelman stay than for the Kings to change for change sake. However, I have always felt that Adelman does not make his players accountable. You always get, "I tried to tell them, but they will not listen" dispositon from him and his coaching staff.

The only way the Kings will ever move forward in the Western Conference is that if they are led by someone who DEMANDS ACCOUNTABILLITY.

the experts said that the acquition of Skinner, Williamson and Thomas was going to make the Kings a better defensive team and a better rebounding team. But that never happened. To me that falls upon the coach!!!

When the Kings acquired Greg Ostertag, the critics said that getting him would make the Kings a better shot blocking team and rebounding. That never happened.

In my opinion it is because Adelman does not demand it from his players. He demands passing the ball, finding cutters, spacing the floor, being offensively agressive. If the Kings can upgrade at the coach, I say go for it. If Jackson or Larry Brown is available, i say that you try to get those guys if you can. If you can't, somebody is going to have to sit Adelman down and tell him he must get a handle on his defensive system through accountability.

 

[Bricklayer]

.

the experts said that the acquition of Skinner, Williamson and Thomas was going to make the Kings a better defensive team and a better rebounding team. But that never happened. To me that falls upon the coach!!!

I'm not sure which experts you were listening too, but if you are in the Sacto area I get the distinct feeling that you got blasted by a whole load of B.S. hype courtesy of the front office and the Maloofs (via Grant and Jerry of course) to justify the trade. Out in the rest of the world however, what we got was two undersized tweeners who have neither locked people up or blocked shots at ANY point in their careers, and one pretty decent PF defender playing out of position as a midget center. Those guys have never stopped anyone over their careers. Only Corliss has even so much as played for a good defensive team, and he fell out of favor and was traded for a decrepit Derrick Coleman of all people (a sign that you are really valued) in part because he could NOT play defense. The Sixers sucked at defense with all of those players before the trade. We sucked with all of them after the trade. Not a shocker unless you have a management yesman blaring out nonesense over the radio at you about what great defensive personnel we picked up. Yeah right.

To a certain degree I think maybe Rick really should move on -- go someplace fresh where they haven't won in a while and will appreciate having a top coach rather than linger someplace where every bad acquistion or player's limitation ends up getting dumped on his desk.

 

[Bricklayer]

In my opinion it is because Adelman does not demand it from his players. He demands passing the ball, finding cutters, spacing the floor, being offensively agressive.

As an aside, is that not accountability? I'll answer that for you -- of course it is. EVERY coach, and I do mean EVERY coach has areas he focuses on mroe than others. And the good ones demand accountability in the areas in which they specialize. But few, if any, actually work both sides of the ball equally.

 

[VF21]

I've read the article three times and I don't see anything relevant to the Kings. Why? Because the players DO respect Rick Adelman. His style is diametrically opposed to that of Popovich, but it doesn't make him wrong and Pop right. It makes them different.

If anything, the writer is saying Nate needs to earn the respect of HIS players. This is from a Seattle newspaper - written by a Seattle sports columnist - as his team is watching the Spurs pretty much show why they and not the Sonics will move on to the next round.

 

[Purple Reign]

I'm not sure which experts you were listening too, but if you are in the Sacto area I get the distinct feeling that you got blasted by a whole load of B.S. hype courtesy of the front office and the Maloofs (via Grant and Jerry of course) to justify the trade.

BINGO!!! Napear says that he has watched every single Kings game for the last 15 plus years. And he was exactly the one I was thinking of who said the Kings were a better team with these guys.

 

[sloter]

I'm not sure how much Hedo or Wallace respected Adelman ...

 

[VF21]

Grant Napear leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to objectivity about the Kings. He's either praising them to the sky and speaking the company line as he's doing a game telecast OR lambasting them (as with Bobby Jackson) and poking sticks at the Maloofs to promote his radio show. I wonder if he literally has two hats so he can switch them as needed to avoid confusion.

 

[VF21]

I'm not sure how much Hedo or Wallace respected Adelman ...

Hedo spoke of respect for Adelman. His main problem here was that he was stuck behind Peja and was never going to get adequate playing time.

As for Wallace, who cares? Have you seen him make stellar advances elsewhere?

I don't think naming role players who aren't even with the team any longer is really germane. Tony M. didn't care for him either... or, apparently, Jerome James.

On the other hand, Vlade, Doug, Chris, Bibby, Bobby, Lawrence and many others have spoken OFTEN of the high regard they hold for Rick Adelman.

 

[BigSong]

To a certain degree I think maybe Rick really should move on -- go someplace fresh where they haven't won in a while and will appreciate having a top coach rather than linger someplace where every bad acquistion or player's limitation ends up getting dumped on his desk.

It's funny you said that because I was thinking the same thing. Of course we don't need a coach who feels sorry for himself. Besides Adelman hasnt been much of a team-in-transition type of coach in his career. The parallels to his stint in Portland and here in Sacto are eerie.

 

[VF21]

It's funny you said that because I was thinking the same thing. Of course we don't need a coach who feels sorry for himself. Besides Adelman hasnt been much of a team-in-transition type of coach in his career. The parallels to his stint in Portland and here in Sacto are eerie.

OMG.

Note to Bricklayer: You really need to use more emoticons OR smaller words OR something.

 

[thesanityannex]

When the Kings acquired Greg Ostertag, the critics said that getting him would make the Kings a better shot blocking team and rebounding. That never happened.

.

couldn't that be because ostertag didnt play???

 

[SacTownKid]

I'm not sure which experts you were listening too, but if you are in the Sacto area I get the distinct feeling that you got blasted by a whole load of B.S. hype courtesy of the front office and the Maloofs (via Grant and Jerry of course) to justify the trade. Out in the rest of the world however, what we got was two undersized tweeners who have neither locked people up or blocked shots at ANY point in their careers, and one pretty decent PF defender playing out of position as a midget center. Those guys have never stopped anyone over their careers. Only Corliss has even so much as played for a good defensive team, and he fell out of favor and was traded for a decrepit Derrick Coleman of all people (a sign that you are really valued) in part because he could NOT play defense. The Sixers sucked at defense with all of those players before the trade. We sucked with all of them after the trade. Not a shocker unless you have a management yesman blaring out nonesense over the radio at you about what great defensive personnel we picked up. Yeah right.

To a certain degree I think maybe Rick really should move on -- go someplace fresh where they haven't won in a while and will appreciate having a top coach rather than linger someplace where every bad acquistion or player's limitation ends up getting dumped on his desk.

They are better individual defenders than Webber but there was zero chemistry this year after the trades.

 

[Bibby_Is_Clutch]

I've read the article three times and I don't see anything relevant to the Kings. Why? Because the players DO respect Rick Adelman. His style is diametrically opposed to that of Popovich, but it doesn't make him wrong and Pop right. It makes them different.

If anything, the writer is saying Nate needs to earn the respect of HIS players. This is from a Seattle newspaper - written by a Seattle sports columnist - as his team is watching the Spurs pretty much show why they and not the Sonics will move on to the next round.

Good point but If he is writing this article with the Sonics in mind then I can see the relationship towards the Kings. We both are offensive teams and SA is a defensive and offensive team. That doesnt mean to much but I think he is just showing how his style (which can be a bad one) of dealing with players after a bad play, good play, etc in a negative and offensive tone is good. Some players would take offense or get mad when a coach responds to them like that after a bad call but hes done a good job at making sure his players know it is only an attempt to motivate them. It may just be the players and how they themselves already find that coaching motivational.

Who knows... good article but like VF21 said... everyones coaching is different and our players respect adelman and if adelman started coaching like this I wouldnt expect to see any change in the team.

 

[uolj]

They are better individual defenders than Webber but there was zero chemistry this year after the trades.

You sure?? They are more active and more athletic, but they are also smaller and less experienced. They played a different style of defense, but I don't know if they are better.

 

[striker]

Pop is good and he's lucky. He'll readily admit the latter. During the time he's established himself in the league, he's had two players, David Robinson and Tim Duncan, both of whom are near unique superstars in terms of their combination of ability, temperment and maturity. How lucky can you get.

That doesn't take anything away from Popovich. He is who he is, what you'd expect of a graduate of the Air Force academy. He believes in team greater than person and his players have to believe in that and perform in that way. He believes in discipline. He believes in responsibility. If he hadn't been fortuante enough to have guys like Robinson or Duncan to set the tone with, if he'd had Iverson or most NBA superstars, to begin with, he'd be long gone by now. That rep is what McMillan is talking about.

Adelaman? He's a great Xs and Os offensive guy but I don't think he's set a tone to hold his players accountable. Too much crap has gone on on and off the court.

 

[Folsom Al]

I'm getting tired and bored of waiting .... I have ZERO basketball talk energy.
I'm spending more time in THE LOUNGE, than anything.

I'm sorry ... that's just the way it is for me right now.

Guess, I'm waiting for the Finals to come to an end, see if THIS LOCKOUT happens and take it from there.

Thanks for listening ...

I now tune you back to your NORMAL THREAD.

 

[Purple Reign]

I've read the article three times and I don't see anything relevant to the Kings. Why? Because the players DO respect Rick Adelman. His style is diametrically opposed to that of Popovich, but it doesn't make him wrong and Pop right. It makes them different.

The theme of the article is "A Culture of Accountability". In my opinion as much as I like Adelman (I am not one to blast his every move) he does not hold his players accountable to defend or rebound. Because if he did they would do so. So the problem with the Kings is one of three things:

1. Adelman does not hold his players accountable to defend or rebound.

2. The players do not listen to Adelman, when he does preach defense or rebounding because they do not do it.

or

3. They can't defend or rebound, and the fault is Petrie for bringing in players that can't do either.


We can not have our cake and the frosting too . We can not have a group of players that respect Adelman, who also listens to everything he says and believe that Petrie has brought in the proper players. You can't have all three.

 

[VF21]

PR - You're the one drawing the conclusions and parallels to the Kings, NOT the author of the piece.

I don't buy into your theory that "the problem with the Kings is one of three things," primarily because I don't think it's that simplistic. I'm simply going to agree to disagree with you because my thought is you cannot prove any of those three points. Since I cannot disprove them, however, future argument is futile.

Have a nice day.

 

[VF21]

P.S. My grandmother used to have a saying: You can dress a pig up in white tie and tails, but you still can't take it to the prom...