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http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/12610228p-13464446c.html
Kings give Adelman milestone
The coach picks up his 700th career victory as Sacramento clicks on offense against Portland.
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Wednesday, March 23, 2005
The Kings' Rick Adelman acknowledges the Arco Arena crowd after becoming the 15th NBA coach to win 700 games.
The Kings' Rick Adelman already was looking ahead Tuesday night, moments after becoming the 15th NBA coach to win 700 games.
"I'd like to get to 705 or 706 pretty quickly," Adelman said after the Kings' 112-93 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers at Arco Arena.
Kenny Thomas led five Kings in double figures with 24 points, and Peja Stojakovic had 23 points, six rebounds and a season-high five of Sacramento's season-high 14 steals. Cuttino Mobley came back from a one-game absence due to a hairline fracture of his left fourth toe to score nine of his 19 points in the third quarter.
Adelman has watched several NBA coaches get the ax this season. He also has seen his roster changed by trades and injuries at an unusually high rate. That has only heightened his appreciation of how difficult it can be to win games.
He knows how important five or six more victories will be in the Kings' drive toward a playoff berth and a favorable seeding.
It appeared his players also recognized the urgency. They played hard and almost error-free on offense, despite two new starters, Greg Ostertag at center and Thomas at power forward.
Sacramento committed only four turnovers, tying its season low. The Kings are one of six teams to hold the NBA record of three turnovers in a game.
Ostertag, Sacramento's third-string center, started for just the third time this season because Brian Skinner suffered sprained thumbs Sunday against the Golden State Warriors. Skinner had started the previous 11 games because of Brad Miller's fractured left fibula and calf contusion.
Adelman had been thinking about starting Thomas at power forward and moving Darius Songaila to the bench, in part because both players had expressed comfort with the potential changes. Moreover, Songaila had been spending more than his share of time on the bench because of foul trouble.
While Thomas stepped right in and made a strong contribution that included five assists and two steals, Songaila wasn't as fortunate.
The second-year forward had a shot blocked by 7-foot-1 Portland center Joel Przybilla in the second quarter and fell awkwardly and hard to the court on his back and right side. Songaila remained on the floor until play was stopped by referee Steve Javie, who whistled Adelman for a technical while Trail Blazers guard Damon Stoudamire scored with 4:08 left in the quarter.
Adelman said he was attempting to get Javie's attention so he could call a foul and stop play and allow Songaila, who writhed on the court in pain, to receive medical attention. Adelman also said he believed there was a foul on the block, but replays indicated a goaltending call would have more accurate.
Przybilla, who blocked a season-high eight shots in addition to 21 rebounds and 13 points, did not appear to make contact on the play.
Songaila suffered a strained back and sore right elbow. Adelman said Songaila is expected to be sore today but probably OK to play Thursday against the Dallas Mavericks.
Perhaps the most enjoyable part of Tuesday's game for Adelman was being able to razz his former longtime assistant coach, John Wetzel, who was in attendance. "Half-court?" Adelman quipped when he saw Wetzel and his wife, Diane, sitting in the Maloofs' courtside seats. "He must have gotten quite important since he left."
Kings give Adelman milestone
The coach picks up his 700th career victory as Sacramento clicks on offense against Portland.
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Wednesday, March 23, 2005
The Kings' Rick Adelman acknowledges the Arco Arena crowd after becoming the 15th NBA coach to win 700 games.
The Kings' Rick Adelman already was looking ahead Tuesday night, moments after becoming the 15th NBA coach to win 700 games.
"I'd like to get to 705 or 706 pretty quickly," Adelman said after the Kings' 112-93 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers at Arco Arena.
Kenny Thomas led five Kings in double figures with 24 points, and Peja Stojakovic had 23 points, six rebounds and a season-high five of Sacramento's season-high 14 steals. Cuttino Mobley came back from a one-game absence due to a hairline fracture of his left fourth toe to score nine of his 19 points in the third quarter.
Adelman has watched several NBA coaches get the ax this season. He also has seen his roster changed by trades and injuries at an unusually high rate. That has only heightened his appreciation of how difficult it can be to win games.
He knows how important five or six more victories will be in the Kings' drive toward a playoff berth and a favorable seeding.
It appeared his players also recognized the urgency. They played hard and almost error-free on offense, despite two new starters, Greg Ostertag at center and Thomas at power forward.
Sacramento committed only four turnovers, tying its season low. The Kings are one of six teams to hold the NBA record of three turnovers in a game.
Ostertag, Sacramento's third-string center, started for just the third time this season because Brian Skinner suffered sprained thumbs Sunday against the Golden State Warriors. Skinner had started the previous 11 games because of Brad Miller's fractured left fibula and calf contusion.
Adelman had been thinking about starting Thomas at power forward and moving Darius Songaila to the bench, in part because both players had expressed comfort with the potential changes. Moreover, Songaila had been spending more than his share of time on the bench because of foul trouble.
While Thomas stepped right in and made a strong contribution that included five assists and two steals, Songaila wasn't as fortunate.
The second-year forward had a shot blocked by 7-foot-1 Portland center Joel Przybilla in the second quarter and fell awkwardly and hard to the court on his back and right side. Songaila remained on the floor until play was stopped by referee Steve Javie, who whistled Adelman for a technical while Trail Blazers guard Damon Stoudamire scored with 4:08 left in the quarter.
Adelman said he was attempting to get Javie's attention so he could call a foul and stop play and allow Songaila, who writhed on the court in pain, to receive medical attention. Adelman also said he believed there was a foul on the block, but replays indicated a goaltending call would have more accurate.
Przybilla, who blocked a season-high eight shots in addition to 21 rebounds and 13 points, did not appear to make contact on the play.
Songaila suffered a strained back and sore right elbow. Adelman said Songaila is expected to be sore today but probably OK to play Thursday against the Dallas Mavericks.
Perhaps the most enjoyable part of Tuesday's game for Adelman was being able to razz his former longtime assistant coach, John Wetzel, who was in attendance. "Half-court?" Adelman quipped when he saw Wetzel and his wife, Diane, sitting in the Maloofs' courtside seats. "He must have gotten quite important since he left."
