Ranking the NBA Head Coaches

[foretaz]

Actually Adelman did a really great job getting them to the finals twice considering the teams they had to go through to get there:

LA Lakers: Magic, Worthy, AC Green, Vlade Divac.
Utah: Malone, Stockton, Mark Eaton
SA Spurs: David Robinson, Sean Elliott, Maurice Cheeks, Terry Cummings
Houston: Hakeem Olajuwon, Vernon Maxwell, Otis Thorpe
Blazers:Clyde, Terry Porter, Duckworth, Cliff Robinson, Jerome Kersey, Drazen Petrovic

ummmm...dont forget buck williams on those blazers teams as well...

 

[Bricklayer]

ummmm...dont forget buck williams on those blazers teams as well...

And as usual, the argument about the "talent" on Rick's teams totally ignores the TYPE of talent he had. Exactly when has depth of offensive talent won an NBA championship? Pretty much never. Its an argument made by people who apparently don't watch the NBA much. NBA titles are won by teams with all-time greats leading them, and by great defensive teams. They have NEVER been won by teams with a lot of good, but not unstoppable, offensive players.

The Golden State argument is a complete ahistorical fallacy -- those Warriors sucked before Rick arrived, actually had a bit of a minor renaissance when he got there, and then went on to suck even worse after he left. If they had the opportunity to be good they certainly did a good job of disguising it for a solid decade from everyone in the NBA.

And now that the Kings era is over, I am openly calling bull**** on anyone who continues to ignore the major role injuries played in the recent Kings incarnations falling short. Its completely irrelevant how good your team is on paper when you can't put all that talent on the floor.

 

[foretaz]

And as usual, the argument about the "talent" on Rick's teams totally ignores the TYPE of talent he had. Exactly when has depth of offensive talent won an NBA championship? Pretty much never. Its an argument made by people who apparently don't watch the NBA much. NBA titles are won by teams with all-time greats leading them, and by great defensive teams. They have NEVER been won by teams with a lot of good, but not unstoppable, offensive players.

The Golden State argument is a complete ahistorical fallacy -- those Warriors sucked before Rick arrived, actually had a bit of a minor renaissance when he got there, and then went on to suck even worse after he left. If they had the opportunity to be good they certainly did a good job of disguising it for a solid decade from everyone in the NBA.

And now that the Kings era is over, I am openly calling bull**** on anyone who continues to ignore the major role injuries played in the recent Kings incarnations falling short. Its completely irrelevant how good your team is on paper when you can't put all that talent on the floor.

umm...trust me...i know all about injuries and actually being able to put ur talent on the floor....

but with all due respect....portland had the right mix of talent....they had some very good defenders....they certainly werent lacking in defensive talent....quite frankly they werent lacking in any sort of talent...

cept possibly the guys wearing the suits on the bench

and i think ur forgetting the fact about overachieving....

u would be hardpressed to say any team he ever has coached has overachieved....ever....

as far as golden state goes, we will just disagree....they werent a WCF team....but they were hardly a thirty win team, talent wise, either....the fact they didnt have good coaching before and after rick, doesnt change that...

 

[Bricklayer]

I think almost every team Rick has had in Sacto has overacheived -- persevered in the face of injuries that sink normal teams. And Rick has NEVER had the best player on the court when he has lost. And in the NBA, beyond all other sprots leagues that I know of, that's a critcial, and often decisive factor.

 

[Chris Cobb]

im curious as to what a "better" coach than Rick would have done. it has been said that other coaches would have got them there. what would have been done differently?? subs, pep talks, training?? i ask you what did rick do wrong both in portland and in sacramento to lose those games.

 

[captain bill]

im curious as to what a "better" coach than Rick would have done. it has been said that other coaches would have got them there. what would have been done differently?? subs, pep talks, training?? i ask you what did rick do wrong both in portland and in sacramento to lose those games.

yeah, for all that foretaz likes to rip into adleman, let's hear what he actually did wrong and what other coaches did right. All I'm hearing is "he should've won." Okay, how? What collosal mistakes to RA make in the series against the Bulls, against Utah or against LA? Should he have WILLED the Kings to make free throws? Should he have magically cured Chris' leg, or ran out onto the court and blocked Horry's shot? What happens in those series if Phil Jackson or Larry Brown is on the bench instead?

 

[VF21]

And now that the Kings era is over, I am openly calling bull**** on anyone who continues to ignore the major role injuries played in the recent Kings incarnations falling short. Its completely irrelevant how good your team is on paper when you can't put all that talent on the floor.

word.

 

[iheartBrad]

um, ok...if this article's take on Adelman is "he can do it all except win the big one", then why are...

12. Stan Van Gundy, Miami (101-63, .616)
11. Scott Skiles, Chicago (182-163, .528)
10. Flip Saunders, Detroit (411-326, .558)
9. Mike D'Antoni, Phoenix (97-96, .503)
8. Jeff Van Gundy, Houston (344-240, .589)
7. George Karl (736-505, .593)
6. Nate McMillan, Portland (212-183, .537)
5. Rick Carlisle, Indiana (205-123, .625)
4. Jerry Sloan, Utah (943-617, .604)

...ahead of Adelman? (actually I'd put Sloan ahead of Adleman too) Could someone explain to me why Flip Saunders is ahead of Adelman? Or the Van Gundy Bro's? or SCOTT FREAKIN SKILES!!!!!????

The part where I really laughed was seeing Nate and Mike D'A in front...LMAO...these coaches like Brick said have had like these one hit wonder seasons and they are in front of the some of the better coaches in the NBA...thats pretty lame

 

[striker]

If Larry Brown can get the Knicks into the playoffs he pole vaults to the top of the list in my book.

 

[iheartBrad]

^this year...I agree LOL