Some perspectives on Adelman
November 24th, 2007by John
Raymond has translated an article that Titan Sports’ Wang Meng wrote after interviewing Yao Ming about how the coaching change has dramatically changed how things get done at Toyota Center before games. One word of caution: this writer sometimes has quoted Yao for saying some almost unbelievable things, but this story sounds very believable to me.
It’s clear that Rick Adelman is an “old school” players’ coach whose pre-game preparation doesn’t stand up to Jeff Van Gundy’s. There probably aren’t very many coaches who could match JVG’s control freak-ism. So I don’t have too much of a problem with coaches who don’t spend as much time obsessing as JVG did. I think too much obsessing can make a team tight. But it’s obvious this season, by looking at the product on the court, there is very little dedication to defense, and that the pendulum may have swung too far the other way. Adelman is clearly letting the players do what they want more than JVG would have ever dreamed.
The part that gets me is how Adelman assigns much of the pre-game communication with his players to his assistant coaches. After having JVG as their coach the past four years, I can see the players not respecting Adelman for this laissez-faire approach to the game. And you see hardly any communication from Adelman to his players on the bench. It kind of reminds me of how Phil Jackson works when he’s on the bench, but I never thought Jackson was that great of a coach. Guys like Jordan, Pippen, Kobe and Shaq can really hide alot of inadequacies.
During training camp in Austin, you heard all kinds of great things from players like Tracy McGrady about how they loved this new offense, that it was how basketball should be played, that it would make it easier for him to score, etc. Now, you don’t hear any of the players talking about Adelman’s offense or philsophy. Sure, they talk about how they aren’t hitting their perimeter shots, but no one is sticking up for Adelman in general. That’s a bad sign. Even during the JVG era, you always heard how the players respected him.
I’ve got to be thinking that Rockets’ GM Daryl Morey and owner Leslie Alexander are slapping themselves silly. No one could have predicted what is happening right now with this team. Did they ever check with Sacramento’s Maloof brothers to understand why things went so wrong with the Kings when Adelman was at the helm?
Morey & Alexander have been mysteriously quiet with the media over the past few days, and I’ve got to think they aren’t going to expect a veteran coach to cave-in to demands that he play certain players (Francis, Brooks, etc.). I bet they are already thinking of a backup plan. It’s not unheard of for a team to “cut bait” very quickly after hiring a coach. I know it has happened in the past. I can’t think of one right now, but anyone remember any examples of teams that removed a coach less than halfway through that coach’s first season?
November 24th, 2007 at 12:18 pm
John, in Yao’s rookie year he said the team he admired most was Rick Adelman’s Kings. He said he liked the way they played as a complete team with team passing instead of players playing individually. Maybe some players on this team that are not team players to make the system work.
Adelman needs to give minutes to the players who play within his system, and take away minutes from those who don’t. Out of all those players on the bench, I would think there are a few. The problem is that I don’t know what kind of system Adelman wants them to run, and the players probably don’t either. It looks just like JVG’s system, which is just hope someone makes a jumper at the end of games. What’s compounding the problem is that Adelman is reluctant to make changes. Something tells me he HAS to make changes tonight against Denver, and I’m not talking about playing Luther Head in crunch time. Not even the most stupid coach on the planet would not make changes after a 6 game losing streak. — John
November 24th, 2007 at 1:20 pm
Rick Adelman’s new offense would never work with the current players. First and formost, a good point guard is a must in his system in order to run his offense. Adelman’s team in Portland was run by a good point guard, so was his team in Sacr. Terry Porter of the trailblazers and Mike Bibby of the Kings were good point guards and both could shoot. In addition, players who played for Adelman said it needed at least a year for the players to get comfortable with the system. well, as a fan, I can’t wait for a year or two for them to gel together, even if they have the right personnels. it is a little too late to get a new coach in now and right the ship. it will be a painful season for a lot of rox fans.
November 24th, 2007 at 2:22 pm
Rockets and Miami game I was with my wife shopping. My wife was like hey! the rockets game is at 0800 tonight, should we go home now? And I’m like nah!!! that’s ok…I’ll catch the 3rd and 4th Q. My wife said “Are you sure?” yeah am sure. I’ve never felt this way….like…I don’t care anymore. I know they were going to lose last night and guess what? They did. It’s hard to climb back up once you’ve lost 5 games in a row. They’re still playing the same way. yao’s stupid foul….T mac not taking it to the basket…..ofer shooting an air ball an so on….same old story and I’m getting sick of it. Instead of watching the rockets tonight with denver, I’ve decided to watch the bucks instead…even though Yi is still working on his game…I think he has a better potential. His teammates are better. the thing I don’t like about them is that they don’t pass Yi the ball…feels like they don’t him to score too much….I don’t like that…but I think sooner or later he’ll earn their respect. Rockets need to do something quick…or they’ll lose their fans and I’m one of them.
I agree with you. Leslie Alexander is no dummy. I respect him for having a good sense of the fans’ attitude, and if the coach isn’t showing a sense of urgency to change his ways, he’ll get rid of them (JVG, Rudy T) for good reason. It hurts the bottom line, everything from advertising revenue, sponsorships, concession sales, etc. Who knows, maybe he’s reading this blog and comments like yours. — John
November 24th, 2007 at 2:57 pm
I don’t understand why everyone is freaking out after 13 games into the regular season. It’s not like Rockets fans aren’t use to many ups and downs during the regular season from before. (McGrady’s back, Yao’s leg) The last thing I would be worried about is a 6 games losing streak under a new coach in the beginning of the season. I would actually think of this as a blessing in disguise. I would rather get all the kinks and problems solved between player rotation and coaching before a major break-down mid-season or even worse, come play-off time. These loses now I think will bring the team closer together and make them realize their place. I think our regular season record last year gave us too much false confidence, leading to our downfall during the playoffs. And lets not forget during the span of Dec ‘07-Feb ‘08 we will only be facing the Mavs once and Spurs once, with not really any teams the Rockets dread during that time. During this 0-6 streak McGrady was injured during the Lakers and they faced SA, PHX, and DAL (top 3 teams in West one after another). Unlike most of you guys, I have faith in this new Rockets organization and I will support them in FULL. Everyone who is crapping their pants right now shows just how true of a Rockets fan they are. Through the ups and downs, better or worse… Rockets forever.
Also, has everyone forgot the 4-0 ‘94 Finals defeat Shaq had in Orlando against Houston? From Wikipedia, “Orlando compiled a 57–25 record, best in the East and winning the Atlantic Division title. In the playoffs, the Magic defeated the Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, and the Indiana Pacers, advancing to the NBA Finals. The Houston Rockets, though, ended Orlando’s dream of a championship by sweeping Orlando 4–0 in the Finals to take the crown.” I would think Shaq has always had a bitter memory of the Rockets and I would say having Yao (best center right now) on the Rockets just added more fuel to the fire.
I usually never write on message boards, but with so many disloyal Rockets fans jumping ship after 0-6 skid I couldn’t keep my mouth shut.
November 24th, 2007 at 3:00 pm
A team will not win many games without a good reliable point guard. Alston can’t shoot and Mike James does not assist - shoot first mentality (please do not let him play point guard). Yao definely need some one to make good pass to him.
November 24th, 2007 at 7:08 pm
I just have one thing to say about Mike James. Towards the end of the 4Q, James was on the right corner with the ball and a defender coming right at him. Under the basket, is a wide open Scola. Rather than just pass the ball to his teammate for a easy dunk, James decided to drive towards the basket against his defender and came up with an airball. That’s James in a nutshell for you.
November 25th, 2007 at 12:55 am
Don’t worry guys! Rockets will come back and be stronger than ever. But they should play Steve a little more.
November 26th, 2007 at 7:53 pm
Weren’t you saying good riddance in regards to Jeff Van Gundy when the Rockets were winning. I saw this coming. Rick Adelman is a regular season coach. If his team doesn’t have a big advantage in terms of talent then he won’t win anything in the playoffs.
I was never a big fan of JVG even when the Rockets were winning. I called it “fool’s gold.” His schemes could win regular season games, but probably wasn’t going to hold up in the playoffs. I was proven right in that first round Utah series. I think you may be right about RA being a regular season coach, too, if he continues to coach like he did during the 6-game losing streak. I hope he proves me, and others, wrong. — John