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http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/14249991p-15066846c.html
Drexler supports Adelman
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Monday, May 1, 2006
Clyde Drexler is big into Rick Adelman.
Swears by the man. Roots for him all these years later.
He was Adelman's franchise centerpiece during the Portland Trail Blazers' last run of glory, NBA Finals trips in 1990 and 1992. A Hall of Famer, Drexler is making the "NBA Legends" tour throughout the playoffs, including Game 4 on Sunday at Arco Arena, and he offered plenty of perspective and opinion on all things hoops.
Looking fit enough to still log a good 25 minutes of game time, Drexler said he is especially curious about Adelman's contract status. The coach is working on an expiring deal with no hint of an extension, making him the only such coach of all 16 NBA playoff teams in such a predicament.
"That's astounding to me," Drexler said. "He's been in the playoffs eight straight years. How many people do that? It's a strong lack of respect that he's not locked up for another two or three years.
"Let's play the devil's advocate. Who else can you bring in here to replace him? What are you going to do? Bring in a college coach like Mike Montgomery and hope that works? I don't know what they're doing."
Drexler said Adelman should be lumped right up there with the best coaches in the game today, "with Phil Jackson and Larry Brown," he said, adding, "Rick doesn't get a lot of exposure and notoriety because he's coached so long in small media markets. But he's a great coach. Rick's the master of dealing with personalities. We had some in Portland, and he has some now. That's what makes him so special.
"You can't have two better guys running your team than Geoff Petrie and Adelman. It's that simple."
Duncan's foot
Tim Duncan has deemed this season the most frustrating and trying of his otherwise storied career, with the former MVP slowed with a foot ailment that can make running on the hardwood feel like dancing on knives.
Was there a point this season when the Spurs considered shutting down the big man?
"We thought about it," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "It never got to that point. It didn't get worse. It didn't get better. Doctors said he may need the summer (to heal)."
Still, Duncan didn't miss any games this season. And after he was able to hustle downcourt to contest Kevin Martin's game-winner in Game 3, Adelman cracked, "His foot looked fine to me."
Duncan had 29 points and 12 rebounds in Game 3, and 17 points Sunday.
Still seeking
Popovich said his staff has turned over all stones in an effort to solve the Bonzi Wells dilemma inside (25 points, 17 rebounds). Specifically, the Spurs can't deal with the Kings' shooting guard on post-ups, putbacks and rebounds, with Popovich saying his staff will continue to brainstorm, "Or I'm not smart enough to figure it out."
Shoot, good man
Popovich isn't at all shy in yanking a player for making a mistake. Or for being passive shooting the ball.
Tony Parker has been hesitant taking jumpers in this series, despite having success doing so during the regular season.
"It's important for Tony to play like he has all season when he worked his (butt) off to become a good shooter," Popovich said. "We've got to have it. I want him shooting."
Adelman said in order to survive the blur-speed element of Parker, who had 22 points Sunday, the Kings have to force him to be a jump shooter and not a slasher.
"He's too good a finisher and too clever at the basket," Adelman said. "We have to make him shoot. Unfortunately, he doesn't always cooperate."
Hall of Fame thinking
Drexler is the only Hall of Famer that Adelman has coached (Drazen Petrovic played for him in Portland but gained his Hall notoriety for his overseas play). In Adelman's Sacramento tour, who has been Hall worthy? Not Chris Webber. Not Vlade Divac. Not Kenny Thomas. Not Brad Miller.
"But Rick still wins, all the time," Drexler said.
Making sense of crushers
Adelman was explaining how one is supposed to fully comprehend the magnitude of devastating game-winning shots and came up with this conclusion: You don't.
"It's basketball," he said. "Everyone talks about the Robert Horry shot (that beat the Kings in a 2002 playoff game). If Chris Webber would've stayed close to him (at the end when the winning play developed), the ball probably would have went to him.
"The ball happened to bounce perfectly to Horry. What are you going to do about it? The one the other night (Game 2 when Brent Barry hit a late three), Mike (Bibby) is the first to tell you that the shot never should have happened.
"Those are the ones that really hurt you. Pop said it right: What goes around comes around."
Drexler supports Adelman
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Monday, May 1, 2006
Clyde Drexler is big into Rick Adelman.
Swears by the man. Roots for him all these years later.
He was Adelman's franchise centerpiece during the Portland Trail Blazers' last run of glory, NBA Finals trips in 1990 and 1992. A Hall of Famer, Drexler is making the "NBA Legends" tour throughout the playoffs, including Game 4 on Sunday at Arco Arena, and he offered plenty of perspective and opinion on all things hoops.
Looking fit enough to still log a good 25 minutes of game time, Drexler said he is especially curious about Adelman's contract status. The coach is working on an expiring deal with no hint of an extension, making him the only such coach of all 16 NBA playoff teams in such a predicament.
"That's astounding to me," Drexler said. "He's been in the playoffs eight straight years. How many people do that? It's a strong lack of respect that he's not locked up for another two or three years.
"Let's play the devil's advocate. Who else can you bring in here to replace him? What are you going to do? Bring in a college coach like Mike Montgomery and hope that works? I don't know what they're doing."
Drexler said Adelman should be lumped right up there with the best coaches in the game today, "with Phil Jackson and Larry Brown," he said, adding, "Rick doesn't get a lot of exposure and notoriety because he's coached so long in small media markets. But he's a great coach. Rick's the master of dealing with personalities. We had some in Portland, and he has some now. That's what makes him so special.
"You can't have two better guys running your team than Geoff Petrie and Adelman. It's that simple."
Duncan's foot
Tim Duncan has deemed this season the most frustrating and trying of his otherwise storied career, with the former MVP slowed with a foot ailment that can make running on the hardwood feel like dancing on knives.
Was there a point this season when the Spurs considered shutting down the big man?
"We thought about it," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "It never got to that point. It didn't get worse. It didn't get better. Doctors said he may need the summer (to heal)."
Still, Duncan didn't miss any games this season. And after he was able to hustle downcourt to contest Kevin Martin's game-winner in Game 3, Adelman cracked, "His foot looked fine to me."
Duncan had 29 points and 12 rebounds in Game 3, and 17 points Sunday.
Still seeking
Popovich said his staff has turned over all stones in an effort to solve the Bonzi Wells dilemma inside (25 points, 17 rebounds). Specifically, the Spurs can't deal with the Kings' shooting guard on post-ups, putbacks and rebounds, with Popovich saying his staff will continue to brainstorm, "Or I'm not smart enough to figure it out."
Shoot, good man
Popovich isn't at all shy in yanking a player for making a mistake. Or for being passive shooting the ball.
Tony Parker has been hesitant taking jumpers in this series, despite having success doing so during the regular season.
"It's important for Tony to play like he has all season when he worked his (butt) off to become a good shooter," Popovich said. "We've got to have it. I want him shooting."
Adelman said in order to survive the blur-speed element of Parker, who had 22 points Sunday, the Kings have to force him to be a jump shooter and not a slasher.
"He's too good a finisher and too clever at the basket," Adelman said. "We have to make him shoot. Unfortunately, he doesn't always cooperate."
Hall of Fame thinking
Drexler is the only Hall of Famer that Adelman has coached (Drazen Petrovic played for him in Portland but gained his Hall notoriety for his overseas play). In Adelman's Sacramento tour, who has been Hall worthy? Not Chris Webber. Not Vlade Divac. Not Kenny Thomas. Not Brad Miller.
"But Rick still wins, all the time," Drexler said.
Making sense of crushers
Adelman was explaining how one is supposed to fully comprehend the magnitude of devastating game-winning shots and came up with this conclusion: You don't.
"It's basketball," he said. "Everyone talks about the Robert Horry shot (that beat the Kings in a 2002 playoff game). If Chris Webber would've stayed close to him (at the end when the winning play developed), the ball probably would have went to him.
"The ball happened to bounce perfectly to Horry. What are you going to do about it? The one the other night (Game 2 when Brent Barry hit a late three), Mike (Bibby) is the first to tell you that the shot never should have happened.
"Those are the ones that really hurt you. Pop said it right: What goes around comes around."
About the writer:
- The Bee's Joe Davidson can be reached at jdavidson@sacbee.com.
