AleksandarN
Starter
It is in Chinese. I got the translation at Clutchfans
http://nba.sports.tom.com/2007-07-06/0F4V/84656307.html
http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=131851
http://nba.sports.tom.com/2007-07-06/0F4V/84656307.html
http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=131851
Vlade Divac, one of the players who knows Rick Adelman best, a traditional centre who did not have lightning speed, spent a most comfortable and successful stretch of his NBA career under Rick Adelman. On July 6, in Shanghai Portman Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Vlade Divac, full of coffee odor, sat in front of the reporter and talked about his ex-mentor. He said: “Relationship wise, we are just like father and son.”
TITAN: Let’s talk about Coach Adelman. You’ve played under him for 6 years. You are one of the players who understood him most. Can you tell us something about Rick? What type of a coach is he?
DIVAC: Let us first talk about what kind of a person he is. He is by far one of the best and kindest persons I ever met in my life. He is a person that treasures family life, and understands and values interpersonal relationships. He treats his players well, just like they are his family members. He is very sentimental, and after you spend sometime together with him, you surely will like him. Moreover, you can learn a lot of things from him. He is just like a treasure; it is not just about basketball; he seems to know a lot of other subject matters.
TITAN: Does he scold and curse (his players)?
DIVAC: No, at most times, he is a very calm and tranquil person. He is unlike some other coaches who like to yell and gesticulate by the courtside. He understands too much basketball related matters; he does not only teach players how to play basketball on court; he also let his players realize their own values and how to lead their lives off the court.
TITAN: So (are you saying) playing under Adelman will be interesting and full of fun?
DIVAC: Right. Under his coaching, I have enjoyed the most successful stretch of my professional career. That really had been fun and interesting.
TITAN: Now, let’s focus on what type of a coach he is. It is often said he is the type of coach that let his players have a free hand, and seldom roared at his players from the courtside. He often sat tranquilly on the bench, and let his players faced and solved their own problems.
DIVAC: What you described is just what you saw him on the court. Yeah, he is exactly like that. But what you have not seen is the Adelman (behind the scene and) on the training court. He is well-prepared for every game, and he makes sure his players are well-prepared too. Therefore, once the players compete on the court, whether the players can execute his instructions/game plans becomes the players’ responsibilities. On the court, he can peacefully sit by the courtside, and let us make our decisions on court. Unless we made a mess out of the situation that becomes totally unacceptable, then he will step in and call for a time-out.
TITAN: Well, to the Rockets who had been under Jeff Van Gundy for 4 years, this simply is an impossible dreamland.
DIVAC: Yeah, under him, we did enjoy a lot of freedom (on the court). At that time, as a player, we knew what exactly he looked for in us, and how far we could advance (as a team). The relationship between him and the players were just like father and sons; of course there were certain boundaries that we should not trespass, or else he would become enraged and mad. I have great respect for him, and I have diligently learned a lot of things from him just like a son learn from his father.
TITAN: So what have you learned from him?
DIVAC: Too many things. First, of course, it is about basketball. He is so different from other coaches; he has a unique perspective and vision towards basketball games. He lets me understand how I should treat my game and competitors. If you want to achieve something from your game, you have to give your all with passion in competitions; you must diligently prepare for every of your game; and if you want to be great on court then you need to work diligently starting from the training court. He is so full of wisdom. During our training, he would teach us how we should respond given certain situations; and then during the competition, those situations really happened, and therefore we knew how to handle.
TITAN: After Adelman arrives at the Houston Rockets, many many people are discussing about his systems, and said he is primarily an offensive-minded coach. Since you have played for him for such a long time, what do you think is actually his systems?
DIVAC: It is very difficult to define what kind of systems of Rick Adelman; indeed it is an interesting subject. (You see) he does not stop in making changes; he did very thorough researches and study on his players; he studied the strengths and weaknesses of his players; and then he decides on what types of tactics he will use. That is probably why his players can all adapt to Rick, as definitely he can find ways to let his players play to their best abilities. If you still remember that Sacramento Kings team under him, you should understand, under Rick, we all enjoyed our most successful stretch in our professional careers.
TITAN: So you never experienced difficulties playing under Rick Adelman? We all knew Coach Adelman stressed a lot about speed and is famous for his up-tempo game. His teams always play at quick rhythm and speed in offense and defense. As a big man, were you able to adapt and be up to speed?
DIVAC: Well basketball is just like this; you have to make very quick decisions while you’re on the court; you must be able to get into the right positions in the shortest time span possible; I like playing up-tempo games; up-tempo games are more fun to watch; and running is graceful, and to be a part of those enjoyable up-tempo games was also something beautiful. I have never experienced any difficulties playing up-tempo games (under Rick).
TITAN: So you meant you have enjoyed (those up-tempo games) very much?
DIVAC: I thought one of the reasons why his team always look like playing at a very fast tempo is because he always gives his players a lot of freedom on the court; he does not want to disrupt or disturb the rhythm and tempo of the game; since the players make their decisions faster, the rhythm of the game naturally appears to be faster. (I think) Similarly, the Houston Rockets should be able to enjoy such up-tempo games from Rick Adelman.
TITAN: So have you noticed Yao Ming’s growth and development in the past years?
DIVAC: Of course. He has grown and developed so much; he had made significant progress from his rookie season up till now, and has become one of the outstanding centres in the league. I also believe that he has a lot of untapped potential. With Coach Adelman by his side, Yao Ming will continue to make progress.
TITAN: So do you mean that Yao Ming, just the same as you, will not encounter any difficulties under Rick Adelman’s systems?
DIVAC: Of course. Of course. Please believe me. No one will encounter difficulties under Rick’s systems. Just like what I have been explaining to you, Rick will help you. He knows how to use a centre, just like he knew how to use me. He can let Yao Ming learn how to make his own decisions, and learn to take initiative to adapt to on-the-fly changes on the court.
TITAN: Do you think Coach Adelman will play Yao Ming more in the low post, or let him attempt more mid-range jumpers?
DIVAC: Although Yao Ming has astonishing height, he also has an astonishing shooting touch. This will give him a lot of options to choose from, and it also allows him to adjust his game in accordance to different match-up situations. As for him, more importantly, it will be a question of whether his team mates can deliver the basketball to his hands at the appropriate time and position; after all basketball is all about team play. But you really need not worry. Rick can certainly let Yao Ming play 100% to his best capabilities. I am also fully confident on another subject matter. In Rick’s systems, Yao Ming will have very good times, because he will never have to worry how he needs to change his game to adapt to Rick’s systems. He only needs to compete and give his best day-in and day-out. It is because Rick will understand where he should get the ball, and where is his comfort zone (in offense). He will formulate his game plan/set play for him.
TITAN: I am not sure whether you have noticed that NBA games have become more and more speedier in the recent years. How has this kind of change affected the centre position?
DIVAC: I think this all depends on individual team. If your team really have some big men, and a good centre, then you may choose to play a much more slower game, because it is definitely not reasonable to demand your big centres to follow the quick tempo and speed of your short and speedier point guards. Wise and intelligent coach will make adjustments in accordance to the types of players he has on hand. But if there is no big centre/big men, then certainly you may want to play at a quicker tempo to create superiority.
TITAN: In other words, if a team has players like you, Yao Ming or Deke Mutombo, they will play much more slower. Now the tempo of NBA games is getting quicker and quicker, is it because there are fewer and fewer genuine traditional centres?
DIVAC: Correct. You mentioned Deke Mutombo? Oh my God ! and he is still playing up till this day. Man, he is such a character.
TITAN: You said Rick and you are like father and son. Can you tell us a story between you and him that left the most impression with you?
DIVAC: Well it was something that happened 1999 to 2000 that had elevated our relationship above just being coach and player. At that time, it was a mess back at my home country; war broke out and a lot of my patriots died. I worried so much for my home country, and somewhat I was mentally and physically exhausted. I kept training and playing; I went home and got very little sleep; I sat in front of my television or computer to keep myself abreast of what was happening back at my home country. I did not reveal all these to him. But somehow he felt it. One day, he told me: “Go home. Sleep and take a rest. You need to look after yourself.” He is so sensitive, and he takes good care of his players. I just cannot forget him for the rest of my life.
TITAN: Do you remember clearly how many times you have visited China?
DIVAC: (This must be) my third or fourth visit. It was about 4 years ago when I made my first visit to China. Everything was so new, strange and eye-opening for me. A completely different type of culture. Now having come back for a few times more, and every of my visit lasted a bit longer, I’m feeling more and more comfortable. Shanghai? I particularly like this city….full of energy and vitality.
TITAN: So you have been to China so many times. Relating to your experience, what startled you most?
DIVAC: What startled me is the speed the cities here in China keep changing and developing unceasingly. Another thing is how basketball is becoming more and more popular; now more and more people like basketball.
