Eating crow RE: Rick Adelman

[king07]

Now this is not about Reggie but just wanted get this off my chest. I was the one of those people who believed that Adelman had to go. Now after two years, i realize what we had and lost. Rick Adelman without a doubt is one of the top 5 coaches in the league. He knows how to get the most of out of his guys, know how to develop and push young guys. Maloofs made a mistake letting him go, Kings will never get another coach of his caliber ever again.

 

[RalphySampson]

But next year we can get Larry Brown!! Oh wait...

 

[Bigkingsfan]

Lets see him get the rockets out of the first round.

 

[Lupin]

Lets see him get the rockets out of the first round.

"Give me the right players..."

Sorry, I had to do that.

If that team stays healthy, I wouldn't be surprised if they got to the finals.

 

[SacTownKid]

Here we are a few years later and nothing has changed. He had to go. Nobody is at fault IMO. It was time for a change. I just wish that the rebuilding effort went into full force at least a year sooner.

 

[bajaden]

Now this is not about Reggie but just wanted get this off my chest. I was the one of those people who believed that Adelman had to go. Now after two years, i realize what we had and lost. Rick Adelman without a doubt is one of the top 5 coaches in the league. He knows how to get the most of out of his guys, know how to develop and push young guys. Maloofs made a mistake letting him go, Kings will never get another coach of his caliber ever again.

Never is a long time my friend. As George Armstrong Custer said at the Little Big Horn when a scout told him they were never going to find any indians. "Never say never". Now there was a man of vision.

 

[gunks]

I think I need to eat some crow myself.


I was wanting Rick gone. Players were tuning him out. He didnt play the youth. Overplayed the starters.


But in 20/20 hindsight....We didnt really have any good youth (besides Kevin and Cisco), the starters had to be overplayed because the bench sucked, and it wasnt his fault the players were tuning him out..We should have moved some of the problem players before getting rid of Rick. Bibby was crap his last couple seasons (jacked 3's, froze Martin out, et cetra), Peja sucked in his bigger role, and Miller was..Well...Miller.

The latter half of the final Adelman season was the most magic we've had since the Golden years. We were actually FEARED as we tore up the league.

Muss with that same squad (sans Bonzi but with extra Martin)...No so much with the fear inducing.

 

[Insomniacal Fan]

And in the end he wanted to stay in Sacramento too!

But I suppose that when most coaches in the NBA make less than the mid-level exception, it can get tempting to try and change up the team by mixing and matching the coaching staff.

Sometimes just a change of style can be effective (Dallas-Avery), and sometimes it can be disruptive (Sacramento-Muss). But when you're the owners of a team that's depreciating in value, you may be more inclined to take risks.

 

[Bricklayer]

And to this, all I have to say is I told you so.

Really.

You people should listen to me more. I know stuff.


However, as much as the anti-Adelman movement was born out of profound ignroance and picked up devotees who should have known better, I will say the "won't ever have a coach as good again" is premature. Rick Adelmans don't grown on trees to be sure -- he is over 800 career wins now and could easily end up as one of 7 men in history to reach the 1000 win barrier (along with Lenny Wilkens, Don Nelson, Pat Riley, Jerry Sloan, Larry Brown and Phil Jackson). But in the long run its not impossible we get another major coach in here in his prime. Where we got lucky with Rick is in the personal relationship with Geoff and preference for the West Coast that allowed a proven Finals coach to come in and be willing to take over a rebuilding team from scratch. But if we get a winning group of talent together (or even just a true superstar) and just look to make a changeup at coach to try to push them over the top, you can attract top guys in that situation.

 

[Big Cuz 15]

Here we are a few years later and nothing has changed. He had to go. Nobody is at fault IMO. It was time for a change. I just wish that the rebuilding effort went into full force at least a year sooner.

yep, foolin around made us miss the chance at oden. foolish newb coaches trying to pad their records.

 

[Jechtsphere]

It would of happened sooner or later anyway, look at where we have been the last few years...when you start losing especially after being so successful the coach is the one who has to go.

It was necessary.

 

[Bricklayer]

It would of happened sooner or later anyway, look at where we have been the last few years...when you start losing especially after being so successful the coach is the one who has to go.

It was necessary.

How the highlighted statement follows the first part I am not entirely clear on. Just out of tradition? People are normally stupid, so we should be too? It is perhaps fortunate that Sloan and PJ (one year hiatus aside) did not get that memo or two of the title contenders this year would be trying to get it done with college coaches or NBA assistants at the helm.

 

[John Galt]

I have worked for a lot of bosses, as have most of you I suppose.

I know I do my best work for a boss who carries himself/herself as if they have no fear and nothing to prove. Yes they demand results and accountability, but with the great boss - you don't get the feeling that they are frantically grasping at straws to please their own boss.

That is why I always, unwaveringly supported Rick Adelman all the way to the end. I could tell he was that kind of boss. Compare to Muss and to a somewhat lesser extent Reggie... or most other guys who have to come in and "make a statement" or prove something... ugh I don't like to work for people like that and I bet NBA players don't like it either.

People who feel good about themselves, do good work (One Minute Manager). Adelman got the most from his guys - I always have been very confident of that.

 

[Entity]

As long as Reggie coaches the Kings for 25 years he will to win 800 games so HA.

 

[bajaden]

And to this, all I have to say is I told you so.

Really.

You people should listen to me more. I know stuff.


However, as much as the anti-Adelman movement was born out of profound ignroance and picked up devotees who should have known better, I will say the "won't ever have a coach as good again" is premature. Rick Adelmans don't grown on trees to be sure -- he is over 800 career wins now and could easily end up as one of 7 men in history to reach the 1000 win barrier (along with Lenny Wilkens, Don Nelson, Pat Riley, Jerry Sloan, Larry Brown and Phil Jackson). But in the long run its not impossible we get another major coach in here in his prime. Where we got lucky with Rick is in the personal relationship with Geoff and preference for the West Coast that allowed a proven Finals coach to come in and be willing to take over a rebuilding team from scratch. But if we get a winning group of talent together (or even just a true superstar) and just look to make a changeup at coach to try to push them over the top, you can attract top guys in that situation.

I have mixed emotions about Rick. No one can despute his record, and he was the captain of the ship that sailed through the only golden era of sacramento kings history. However, he wasn't perfect, but then few coaches are. Unfortunately his imperfections cost him his job. The sad part is that they had little to do with his job. They had to do with his ability to communicate with his bosses, and look like he enjoyed it.

He and the Maloffs simply didn't get along. So it was just a matter of time. If your the boss, your probably looking for the first sign of things not going right as an excuse to fire him. I'm sure Petrie did his best to be a buffer between them. He and Rick go way back. But Petrie had taken a bullet for Rick before, and once was probably enough for him.

I have no doubt that had Rick stayed, our record would have been better than it was the last couple of years. But here's where my mixed emotions come into play. Rick operates best with veteran players. True, he took over a team that was being rebuilt, but it was being rebuilt with a lot of veteran players that knew how to play the game. Yes, I know that J Will was a rookie. But if you look at the team as a whole, most of them had experience. You seldom saw Rick on the sidelines screaming out a play to his players. He would trust them to play the way he wanted them to play. He let them work it out on the floor in real time.

That doesn't work with a very young team. They need someone with a strong hand on their shoulder. I'm not saying Rick couldn't have adjusted. Its just thats there's no proof of his doing so. He's never been known as a developer of young players, as a Larry Brown has. So maybe its for the best. It certainly turned out fine for Rick. We'll never know for sure. Confucius say " He who lives in the past, has no future". Time to move on from this issue.

 

[MassachusettsKingsFan]

If we didnt fire adleman two years ago he would have been fired by now.. no coach could be successful with this roster.. especially the way it was the past 2 years.

 

[DocHolliday]

I like Rick, but I still say he had to go. This team needed a change. And, I don't agree that he knew how to get the most out of young players. He barely played young playyers with potential. He was also in a position where he needed to have the best players on the floor all the time, because they were in contention for a chapionship.

His rotations are usually a bit to short for my liking. I'm not saying Reggie is the answer, but I still think Rick had to go.

Oh, and the Rockets won't get out of the first round. One of their main "superstars", and I use the term loosely when referring to Tracy McGrady. If the guy wasn't a cry baby and had any heart they could have won a championship, but he is a whiner and has no heart.

 

[Bricklayer]

And, I don't agree that he knew how to get the most out of young players. He barely played young playyers with potential.

Well, except for basically all of them except Gerald. JWill, Hedo, Peja, Pollard...for that matter Webb, Corliss and Bibby were younger than Kevin and Cisco when he took over/first coached them. Almost the entire core of the title contenders = kids when Rick first encountered them. But other than them I would agree. I mean we had Gerald. And...um...Darius has really torn it up since leaving. And...

 

[FakeInjury]

The Theus experiment is working to a degree, but not really to the tempurature im looking for. He needs to stop caring so much, like phil jackson. both were pretty good, especially phil. As a coach , thues has really nowhere but up to move from, which can be interpreted as a positive thing.

 

[SacTownKid]

And to this, all I have to say is I told you so.

Really.

You people should listen to me more. I know stuff.


However, as much as the anti-Adelman movement was born out of profound ignroance and picked up devotees who should have known better, I will say the "won't ever have a coach as good again" is premature. Rick Adelmans don't grown on trees to be sure -- he is over 800 career wins now and could easily end up as one of 7 men in history to reach the 1000 win barrier (along with Lenny Wilkens, Don Nelson, Pat Riley, Jerry Sloan, Larry Brown and Phil Jackson). But in the long run its not impossible we get another major coach in here in his prime. Where we got lucky with Rick is in the personal relationship with Geoff and preference for the West Coast that allowed a proven Finals coach to come in and be willing to take over a rebuilding team from scratch. But if we get a winning group of talent together (or even just a true superstar) and just look to make a changeup at coach to try to push them over the top, you can attract top guys in that situation.

Just remember what we looked like under Adelman at the start of the 05-06 season. Was it simply the result of players tuning him out, lack of talent, or some other cause? I don't know. All I know is a rebuilding of sorts had to occur. Sure, if we were still trying to compete then he'd be a great choice but for rebuilding??? Nah, I don't think Adelman being here does much for the Kings or Rick Adelman at the end of the day in that case. We'd still be losing and all we'd hear for the next 3 years is about how he needs to be fired, dismembered, beheaded, crucified, blah, blah, blah.

 

[Ryan]

Here we are a few years later and nothing has changed. He had to go. Nobody is at fault IMO. It was time for a change. I just wish that the rebuilding effort went into full force at least a year sooner.

A few years later and nothing had changed?? We almost upset the Spurs in the first round! If he had stayed on an additional year and we didn't make the playoffs, then I would have said "fire him", but not then

 

[swisshh]

I still think Rick is a playoff blunder waiting to happen, and one of the main reasons the Kings never got the rings. There was never any question on my part as to him being a good regular season coach.

 

[Section 101]

I still think Rick is a playoff blunder waiting to happen, and one of the main reasons the Kings never got the rings. There was never any question on my part as to him being a good regular season coach.

Ya, it was his fault Horry was hanging out at the 3 pt line instead of going for the rebound, officials blowing the end of half call where Walker was given a 3 after the horn, the poor officiated 6th game and why they missed all the free throws in game 7. Then next year it was his fault Webber's knee went out and was never the same. The next year it was his fault Miller broke his foot in the all star game (people forget that when they blame Webber when he came back and was starting again).

 

[VF21]

Section 101 - You'll go crazy if you try to refute those few Kings fans who blame Adelman for us never having that parade. Sometimes it's just better to let the easy ones go right on by...

 

[Kingster]

I don't miss him. I may have nostalgia for for the old winning team (kind of), but Adelman I don't miss, at all. I'm more excited about the new team that is being built than the old cast of characters. I don't know if Theus is going to be the answer going forward, but Adelman was and is yesterday's news...

 

[Hella916]

If we didnt fire adleman two years ago he would have been fired by now.. no coach could be successful with this roster.. especially the way it was the past 2 years.

Exactly, with the way our roster is I am positive that our record would be the same if not worse... If you looked at his record after webber was traded, the wins started to go down as well as our roster of all star players...

 

[swisshh]

Ya, it was his fault Horry was hanging out at the 3 pt line instead of going for the rebound, officials blowing the end of half call where Walker was given a 3 after the horn, the poor officiated 6th game and why they missed all the free throws in game 7. Then next year it was his fault Webber's knee went out and was never the same. The next year it was his fault Miller broke his foot in the all star game (people forget that when they blame Webber when he came back and was starting again).

I'm not blaming Rick for the Lakers series. The next two seasons and his player choices, I do give him a good part of the blame for. I am not opening that can of worms again though. Just stating that in disagreement of the thread starter, my opinion hasn't changed and that his Houston career hasn't shown me anything I didn't already know. Houston fans are having the same gripes we were having.

 

[DocHolliday]

Well, except for basically all of them except Gerald. JWill, Hedo, Peja, Pollard...for that matter Webb, Corliss and Bibby were younger than Kevin and Cisco when he took over/first coached them. Almost the entire core of the title contenders = kids when Rick first encountered them. But other than them I would agree. I mean we had Gerald. And...um...Darius has really torn it up since leaving. And...

He had to play those guys. They were all he had. When you have a young team you play young players. Once the starting lineup was established and the first 2 guys off the bench that changed every few years besides BJax he didn't move the rotation much.

Oh and Gerald Wallace is a pretty servicable player that would have developed faster if he had the opportunity. Oh and Christie was traded and they had Bonzi the starter and needed someone to back him so yeah, Kevin got playing time.

 

[VF21]

Oh and Gerald Wallace is a pretty servicable player that would have developed faster if he had the opportunity.

Unfortunately, that is not supported by the facts of the situation that was occurring when he was here. There were problems - one of which I recall was his nonchalant attitude about practice. He didn't put forth the maximum effort and it was widely rumored his work ethic was highly questionable.

It could easily be that Wallace, who was incredibly young and raw while here, saw the handwriting on the wall when he was left exposed to the draft and took the steps to ensure himself a career in the NBA.

We'll just never know for sure but the things I was hearing sure led me to believe he needed the change of scenery in the worst sort of way.

 

[SacTownKid]

A few years later and nothing had changed?? We almost upset the Spurs in the first round! If he had stayed on an additional year and we didn't make the playoffs, then I would have said "fire him", but not then

Very interesting idea and team setup back then. Bonzi left, the dynamic left, it was time to rebuild. I was all for building the house out of dynamite at the time but it wasn't to be. At the end of the day that may have been the single thing that allowed this franchise to have a bright future which I think it does now.