Marty Mac's World: Former Kings assistant wants chance as coach

[ParniValjak]

http://www.sacbee.com/351/story/161558.html

Marty Mac's World: Former Kings assistant wants chance as coach

By Martin McNeal - Bee Columnist
Last Updated 12:13 am PDT Thursday, April 26, 2007
http://www.sacbee.com/351/story/161558.html#comments_here

[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]It will be interesting to see if Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie gives former Sacramento assistant coach Elston Turner an interview and legitimate opportunity to replace Eric Musselman.[/FONT]

[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Turner was an assistant to then-head coach Rick Adelman for six seasons following four years in the same position in Portland.[/FONT]

[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Turner was vocal when it was announced after the 2005-06 season that Adelman would not return. At the time, Kings co-owners Joe and Gavin Maloof spoke about the team's poor defense. Turner took umbrage and publicly defended the coaching staff's work and claimed the Maloofs' desire for improved defense was a "smoke screen." [/FONT]

[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Might those words have burned a bridge in his quest to become the Kings' next coach? Turner said he hopes not.[/FONT]

[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]"I'm interested in coaching, period," Turner, who still lives in the Sacramento area but is not working, said Wednesday. "I think the big thing with the Kings is I already have a working relationship with this team. I'd love to coach this team.[/FONT]

[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]"I'm not a veteran at getting fired. That was my first time, and if I got a little emotional and said some things -- or if something came out and rubbed people the wrong way -- it was just out of emotion. Players get emotional, and so do coaches."[/FONT]

[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Owners also get emotional, as the Maloofs know. In fact, it was Turner's competitive nature that contributed to his vocal defense.[/FONT]

[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Turner said he doesn't know what type of coach the Kings are seeking.[/FONT]

[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]"They probably are going to look for a veteran," Turner said. "The experienced head coaches have something I don't have, but I don't think the younger types of coaches have anything on their résumés I don't have. If the Kings would consider me, I'd appreciate the interest. Either way, I'm sure Geoff will make the right move."[/FONT]

[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]The media have intimated that the Kings must trade troubled Ron Artest to improve next season or that it will be easier to hire the best coach by trading Artest. Turner said he doesn't think either case is necessary.[/FONT]

[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]"I think managing your players is the most important factor in coaching," said Turner, who has the rare daily-double experience of coaching Rasheed Wallace and Artest.[/FONT]

[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]"People pinpoint Ron, but each team is going to have to have a strong personality. It's part of coaching at the professional level and not just basketball. I'll admit that the fewer minutes you spend on dealing with personalities, the more time you have to spend on game planning and coaching your team. The years we were here, we were lucky enough to have great chemistry, and we didn't have to do a lot of (player) maintenance."[/FONT]

 

[slugking50]

He certainly deserves an interview But most likely will be moving up north with Adelman.


I wish him luck.

 

[Spike]

I agree. Bring him in for an interview, at least. He's at least as qualified as anyone out there. NBA experience, assistant coaching, although none as a head, but that's pretty much everyone else. ET seems like a guy who doesn't take crap from anyone, which will either work wonders, or explode. With a younger group, I'm betting on the former.

 

[Vlade4GM]

This is a little off the topic of Turner, but I find it funny that the Maloofs wanted to improve the defense by getting a different coach like all of the sudden a different coach would make poor defensive players like SAR, Miller, and Bibby any better at defense than they've been their entire careers.

 

[VF21]

Turner took umbrage ...

Maybe if he gave the umbrage back???

 

[Kingster]

I don't like him as a candidate. He's not a great communicator and you have to be that in order to be a great coach.

 

[Superman]

I don't like him as a candidate. He's not a great communicator and you have to be that in order to be a great coach.

That's funny. I thought he communicated his feelings pretty well last summer.

I don't know that he'd make a great coach, but I wouldn't mind seeing him interview. Maybe even make it back on the staff under whoever we do hire.

 

[Bricklayer]

I still do not see how Elston is in the running for any head coaching job, let alone ours. He was fairly lightly regarded, a midbencher as a coach, got promoted up when others ahead of him moved on, and was just kind of the caretaker #1 assistant in the late Adelman years. And then of course he fired back at the Maloofs -- which I was rather proud of him for actually since they seemed determined to show off their ignorance by sliming the most successful coaching regime in Kings history. But still, yeah, it would make it uncomfortable, and his qualifications are minor at best. Might be able to do the job, you never know. But there is no reason to choose him over all the more decorated guys out there.

 

[tridesknoxville]

Elston Turner

Please give Coach Turner a chance! He's a great person, teacher, and leader!
He's the best!

 

[kennadog]

Please give Coach Turner a chance! He's a great person, teacher, and leader!
He's the best!

Is that you Elston?