Rick Adelman Versus Jeff Van Gundy: Who Do You Prefer?

pryuen · Oct 28, 2007

This article from Wang Meng appeared a couple days earlier on Titan Sports.

As the debate/argument about who is a more suitable and better head coach for the Houston Rockets, Jeff Van Gundy or Rick Adelman, seems to be never ending, maybe the following can help to provide us some more thoughts and insights.

If you're professional basketballers, which type of head coach you would prefer? A no-nonsense, hands-on, disciplinary coach like Jeff Van Gundy, or an easy-to-go-with, hands-off and laisse-faire coach like Rick Adelman??

http://nba.sports.tom.com/2007-10-24/0424/84196854.html

Reporter Wang Meng reports from Houston

Just similar to the changes of dynasties in history, Jeff Van Gundy had turned to his last page on the closing chapter in the history of the Houston Rockets and had reluctantly left. Following him, the Houston Rockets’ history had opened a new chapter, just like turning over to a brand-new pure white page, welcoming the arrival of Rick Adelman.

The short and bald Jeff Van Gundy with a big forehead who likes to walk around his office without his shoes but with his socks only while working had now departed. In his 4-year tenure, Jeff Van Gundy worked like one of these laborious craftsmen who fits together tiles, bricks and mortar snugly but lack of originality or ideas. In 4 years, he constructed the Houston Rockets into a solid cement forest, no matter how ugly and steadfast but actually sturdy and reliable.

But the brick houses built by craftsmen actually could not be compared to magnificently decorated buildings by designers no matter how sturdy and reliable they were. Leslie Alexander wishes his own mansion to be of unconventional ideas that are with attracting outlooks that can attract eyeballs. In Rick Adelman, he found comfort and relief. This white-haired old man with a benign countenance, always wears a smile and laughing, is wise and humorous, and has an ability ~ the human relations ability, that Jeff Van Gundy never mastered; Rick Adelman knows how to handle human relations and his men under him are all willing and cheerfully working for him.

So in the initial three weeks, fresh winds were blowing throughout the Houston Rockets which said goodbye to those four years of the Jeff Van Gundy era. And the curtain of a new Rick Adelman era officially unveils.

Very often, the manner how a person speaks can decide how persuasive and convincing he can be, particularly so if he has to deal with a group of pretty tough and strong-character players. Very often yelling, bellowing and shouting will not work and only brought negative effects. For the majority of time, for this group of adults, all they need are pieces of advice or reminders, and not endless scolding or cursing.

Jeff Van Gundy is famous for his big glottis and loud voice; simultaneously he is also famous for being mean and unkind. His disposition tends to be too extreme; he likes to taunt as well as he is always expression-less. And almost every time when he reviewed the play tapes together with his players, some of the Rockets would just wish they were not there; he would in front of every other players pointed out the mistakes of particular players from the play tape, and continued bragging for long hours. While he might enjoy doing so, the hearts of his players started to change and became cold.

Rick Adelman on the other hand seemed he could not speak very loud. Even when he stands in the spacious training court, his decibel does not get much higher. Tracy McGrady said: “Rick never roars.” Yao Ming pointed his finger to his bad left ear, with his head leaning forward, said: “Hey, coach, can you speak louder? I have only an ear that can hear you well.” Whenever Rick Adelman is briefing his players about on-the-fly tactical rearrangement for the players at the court side, Yao Ming just hopes that his neck can extend much more longer such that he can be closer to Rick Adelman that he can hear and learn about his instructions much better.

Rick Adelman not only has a very low voice; you seldom see him very angry. One day, Deke Mutombo remembered incorrectly about the time for team practice; the team practice had started at 10:30 am, and he did not arrive onto the training court until 11:00am. Uncle Mutombo did not know what kind of fine or penalty awaited him, while all of his team mates were already making fun of him: “Fine him. At least US$ 1,000.” Rick Adelman just smiled and chuckled and did not say a word. When the team practice/scrimmage completed, all the players just encircled around their head coach according to their convention to listen to what Rick had to say about their performance. Rick Adelman said: “I commanded you all for some good performance in today’s practice. We will take a break and rest tomorrow. Hey, Deke. Make sure you don’t come in again tomorrow at 11:00 am, as it will be a rest day tomorrow.” Everyone looked at an embarrassed Mutombo and burst out laughing heartily.

When he has a brick of inappropriate size and shape, Jeff Van Gundy will start to use his hammer and chisel to try to cut and shape the brick to fit into his house. But for Rick Adelman, he will just put that brick aside, holds his chin and ponders how he can put together bricks of different size and shape together for his mansion. Rick Adelman seldom uses his hammer and chisel. He is good at juggling together a jigsaw.

So on a rainy day 4 years ago, when Jeff Van Gundy came to Houston with his big black umbrella, he also brought along with him an entire repertoire of his offense and defense tactic, and each of his player eventually received that very thick and big tactical handbook. If you could not become the bolts and screws of his systems, then what awaited you was the hard and cold bench. Bostjan Nachbar and Vassilis Spanoulis knew this taste much too well; they were compelled to learn to do something they don’t like, and unlearn something they excel at. And as a consequence, some of those talents were wasted and they were left with not much choices but to leave and escape the tyranny of Jeff Van Gundy. For Vassilis Spanoulis, he even lost his interest in NBA thoroughly.

Nobody knew what is there in Rick Adelman’s suitcase; but at least up till this moment, it seemed everyone is living comfortably. One basketball and two baskets, Rick Adelman seems to have given his players complete freedom to create their own offense opportunity. (While his players are playing on the court,) Rick Adelman will just stroll along the court side, often lowers his head and jots down notes onto a small notepad; he is designing a specific role for each of his players. Luther Head said: “I feel very comfortable.” Deke Mutombo said: “I am very comfortable.” Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady also felt the same way. So in Rick Adelman’s systems, everyone seems to be feeling very comfortable.

Rick Adelman has this very small notepad that he takes out once for a while and writes on it. Jeff Van Gundy also has a very small notepad with him too; he was often seen lowering his head and scribbling onto his notepad with very small and dense notes.

So no-nonsense severity and complete freedom has its pros and cons respectively. Rick Adelman has brought along personal freedom that you rarely found in the Jeff Van Gundy era. While laughter increases in the players changing room, some air of laziness and sloppiness also starts to disseminate (within the players changing room).

In the past 4 years, before every competition, Jeff Van Gundy would walk into the players changing room, and started to sketch and scribble onto the white board detail tactical arrangements; and while doing this, regardless of the number of coaching staff and players in the room, it was complete and absolute silence. But now, this is the work of the assistant coaches, and the players changing room is so noisy and lively; every of the players are busily on their own personal stuff; some are on their mobile phones; some are chit-chatting among themselves; and some are busily fetching game tickets for their friends and relatives. In the Jeff Van Gundy era, no one dared to do so. Jeff Van Gundy demanded the players changing room to be completely silent before every competition. And during those time also very few players chose to stay in the players changing room. Some would choose to stay in the clinic; some would go to pray; some would go straight to the court to start their pregame shootout practice. Very often only 2 players would choose to stay in the room quietly reviewing their personal stats sheets: Yao Ming and Luther Head.

Now in the Rick Adelman era, the lives of the players are sometimes just too free and easy; In the first preseason game with the New Orleans/Oklahoma Hornets, in the 4th quarter, Rick Adelman walked up to Steve Francis to ask him to get prepared to play; Steve Francis shook his head, and said: “I don’t want to play; let’s give the opportunity to the young lads.” If it is still the Jeff Van Gundy era, Steve Francis probably won’t have any other chance to play from that moment onward. During one of the team practices, Tracy McGray got exhausted; he winked to Chuck Hayes and then he just walked off to take a break to rest. If Jeff Van Gundy is still around, perhaps the exhausted Tracy McGrady, while gasping for breath, would have to stay on court to persist in his training.

Also those extra fat and the plump waistline of Jackie Butler. If it is still the Jeff Van Gundy era, in those 4 years, Jackie Butler would not have been permitted to participate in the team practice; he would have to be left on his own riding on the biking machine (in order to trim down his weight); Bonzi Wells knew this too well. But now, every player still has the opportunity to play, including (the out-of-form-and-shape) Jackie Butler, jogging slowly and leisurely back and forth on the court.

So for the new Rick Adelman era, it seems as if there are only big principle but no room for small discipline.

Jeff Van Gundy likes hands-on management to have everything under his control; Rick Adelman, on the other hand, likes to fold his arms, lies comfortably on his head coach chair and delegates to let his coaching staff to do their stuff.

And when Jeff Van Gundy was on the training court, all his coaching staff were there on the court side; every one was with a small notepad, and everyone, lowering his head, imitating Jeff Van Gundy, was busily jotting down onto his notepad notes/observations about the players. And Jeff Van Gundy just bellowed and howled on the court; he would never let his coaching staff to help; he would work industriously to review the video tapes of the games, perform research about the competition, sketch out his game plan and tactics. He would lead his coaching staff team to do all the above.

Rick Adelman does not act like this. During the team practice, he let his assistant coaches to handle almost every matter. Very often, it is his assistant coaches that stand out to explain to the players the tactical arrangements. And in the pre-game team practices in the morning of every of the game day, it is again the assistant coaches that stand out to introduce and explain the tactics and game plans of the opponents; and Rick Adelman is only there to supplement on what the assistant coaches have to say. And when the assistant coaches have finished the briefing, Rick Adelman will just add and supplement some reminders or instructions. Rick Adelman is just like someone flying a kite; he is pulling the string; he decide when to tighten or loosen the string of the kite; he is directing his group of assistants.

But this kind of hands-off and laissez-faire training and management also have its problems. Even though the players are given a lot of freedom, and they are very happy about it, sometimes the players also find it hard to adapt. Suddenly, they find that they have to do a lot of decisions on their own. It is just like a small kid with his own crayons, standing in front of a big drawing canvas, and he does not know for a while where he should start to draw. Previously, Jeff Van Gundy had already laid down all the details and ground rules, and he just passed to his players for the execution. Now, the players discover in a lot of the cases, it is left for them to decide on their own how to execute and complete their assignment.

Post remarks:

The Rick Adelman era starts to take shape in the first 3 weeks. This will be a total and thorough transformation of the Houston Rockets that Jeff Van Gundy built. So behind and upon the solid and concrete cement wall/foundation that Jeff Van Gundy so laboriously built like a coolie, what type of a luxury designer house will the eventual Houston Rockets looks like? No one really knows.

Jeff Van Gundy had left, and returned to work as a sports commentator for TNT, but he had left his finger and foot prints through his laborious work all over the body of the Houston Rockets. And while he is commenting on future Houston Rockets competitions, he will still discover that all his hard work and foundation he so laboriously laid down for the Rockets in the past will still be helping this team profoundly: Yao Ming will still be demolishing his opponents from all 4 directions as before down at the low post, Tracy McGrady will still be dishing out assists after assists to his team mates as if the balls have eyes grown on them, and Shane Battier, Chuck Hayes and Luther Head will still be playing no-nonsense and never-say-die defense, chasing down their opponents like mad dogs.

So Jeff Van Gundy, who has already gone into the history book, will smile, while looking on to see how Rick Adelman will write the new story script for the Houston Rockets history book. Where and how far can the Houston Rockets, now with so much freedom, fly? Just the same as we are, Jeff Van Gundy will be a faithful reader of this story.
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giddyup · Oct 28, 2007

I can remember nothing but praise for Van Gundy from the core players.

I look forward to Adelman's style of play though. VGball was just hard to watch.

lpbman · Oct 28, 2007

I'm glad things have worked out like they have. Yao and the gang getting JVG defense drilled into their heads, and now Adelman opening up the offense, and hopefully getting Yao more touches, even if it is in the high post. I'd rather have him taking 18 footers than Rafer jacking up 3's.

Barkley · Oct 28, 2007

JVG is a great coach but not for Houston. Rockets are typical offensive team, and JVG killed it. So yes, Adelman is a lot better fit for Rockets

ReD_1 · Oct 28, 2007

ADELMAN

eMat · Oct 28, 2007

I haven't seen enough of Adelman to decide. However, I'd rather watch a team shut down the opposing team defensively than win while letting up 100+ ppg. On the other hand, if the Rockets have greater success under Adelman than under VG then of course I prefer Rick.

I have to say 'though, that this board can be unbelievably hypocritical at times. When JVG didn't play somebody it was because "he played only players that fit his system rather than play to his better players' strengths". Now when it seems like Adelman is not going to play Francis, it's because Francis can't fit into Adelman's system and totally not Adelman's fault. I'm not saying that Adelman should play Francis but something JVG was constantly bashed for, Adelman gets a pass.

Guru · Oct 28, 2007

Yao Ming will still be demolishing his opponents from all 4 directions as before down at the low post, Tracy McGrady will still be dishing out assists after assists to his team mates as if the balls have eyes grown on them, and Shane Battier, Chuck Hayes and Luther Head will still be playing no-nonsense and never-say-die defense, chasing down their opponents like mad dogs.
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ikfit · Oct 28, 2007

too eaerly to ask this question.

till now, I prefer Adelman, at least he knows what he should do in preseason, JVG ask players play preseason like regular, that's not right.

And Jvg can not make players happy to play.

rock8ts · Oct 28, 2007

Rudy T.

FranchiseBlade · Oct 28, 2007

I think if we hope to win a championship Van Gundy's style would be better.

But I won't write off Adleman until he's been given a fair chance. He hasn't even had one season yet.

It's just that the last pre-season game against the Spurs, our defense was awful. The Spurs basically won because of our soft defense. That would have been a victory against a Van Gundy lead Rockets.

I like Adleman, and I like our offense. It's going to be fun to watch, and I like the players we have on the team. It will be interesting. I just think that year after year the teams that go all the way are half court defensive minded team.s

russian88 · Oct 28, 2007

ANyone but JVG

OrangeRowdy95 · Oct 28, 2007

Lol, that did that article crack anyone else up?

DonkeyMagic · Oct 28, 2007

Barkley said:

JVG is a great coach but not for Houston. Rockets are typical offensive team, and JVG killed it. So yes, Adelman is a lot better fit for Rockets
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this year they are a very offensive team with the new additions, but if you look at last years roster its hard for me to say they were an "offensive team" given either rafer or battier was your 3rd best scorer..maybe luther.

And Jvg can not make players happy to play.
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shouldnt they be happy to play on their own?

awo86 · Oct 28, 2007

eMat said:

I haven't seen enough of Adelman to decide. However, I'd rather watch a team shut down the opposing team defensively than win while letting up 100+ ppg. On the other hand, if the Rockets have greater success under Adelman than under VG then of course I prefer Rick.

I have to say 'though, that this board can be unbelievably hypocritical at times. When JVG didn't play somebody it was because "he played only players that fit his system rather than play to his better players' strengths". Now when it seems like Adelman is not going to play Francis, it's because Francis can't fit into Adelman's system and totally not Adelman's fault. I'm not saying that Adelman should play Francis but something JVG was constantly bashed for, Adelman gets a pass.
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I think its better to have Adelman in first then have JVG in to fix the defense rather than the other wya around.

durvasa · Oct 28, 2007

OrangeRowdy95 said:

Lol, that did that article crack anyone else up?
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I think the short and bald JVG with a big forehead and big glottis would get a kick out of it.

I don't know about you, but I was always struck by the size of JVG's glottis. I'm sure it commanded the respect of his players in the locker room.

Carl Herrera · Oct 28, 2007

durvasa said:

I think the short and bald JVG with a big forehead and big glottis would get a kick out of it.

I don't know about you, but I was always struck by the size of JVG's glottis. I'm sure it commanded the respect of his players in the locker room.
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Especially in the shower.

binvegas · Oct 28, 2007

Personally I think a coach needs to be a little of both. Players some time play to tense under coaches like Van Gundy, and sometime to lackadasial under Adelman. Its' like being a good parent, you scold your kids for messing up, but you also can share in a laugh with them sometimes. Its' about being approachable, but also you no who is running the ship, and to never challenge who is running the ship.

plutoblue11 · Oct 28, 2007

Well, let's see. Oveview

Rick Adelman
----------------------------------------------------
+ Coached 89-90 and 91-92 Portland Teams to the NBA Finals.

+ Coached the same Portland Teams to 3 consecutive Western Conference Finals. And later coached the Sacramento Kings of 01-02 to the Western Conference Finals.

+ Teams have never failed to rank in the top half of the league in total offense. The lowest an Adelman coached team has ever ranked in the total league offense is 13th (in 95 - 96) , which would put them slightly above average.

+ From 89 to 94, Trailblazers were in the top 5 defenses in the league, every year, except the 93 - 94 season, where they were ranked 12th in overall defense. In the previous seasons, they were ranked 3rd twice and 2nd twice in four years. While Adelman was a King, his teams managed to rank in the top 10...3x, as they were ranked 11th in his second season and 12th in his last season.

+ He has made the playoffs every single year in his coaching career, except for two seasons.

+ He's mostly seen as a players' coach, you rarely hear former players speak of ill-will about him.

+ In most of the seasons that he has coached, his teams have won over 50 games (9 total seasons) with two of at least 60 wins, while in 7 seasons, he failed to do so, but of those seven, only two were non-playoff appearance.

- Failed two year extent in Golden State, but to his credit those teams were terrible. Although, he actually had losing record with his 1st year in Portland, they still managed to make the playoffs that year.

- He's never won a championship, but again his teams did have the misfortunes of playing some of the greatest teams in NBA history...the Pistons, Bulls, and Lakers. All three were defending champions.

- He's often stuck with title of being non or very little defense type coach (Nelson or D'Antoni), when actually some of his best squads were near some of the best defensive teams for that given year, especially with Trailblazers. Also with Kings, there was only three years where his defenses ranked lower than 13th in the league and where ranked in the top 10 (3x....7th, 6th, and 3rd)

+ Career winning percentage: .610 (752-481) regular season | .507 (70-68) playoffs

Jeff Van Gundy
----------------------------------------------------
+ Coached 98-99 Knicks to the NBA Finals

+ Also that year, the Knicks became the only 8th seed in NBA history to appear in the NBA Finals, after defeating the Heat, Hawks, and Pacers.

+ Even though JVG has the reputation of (probably is) being authoriatative, dictator type coach, most of his players, especially former ones speak nothing, but good things about him.

+ Van Gundy has only missed the playoffs, twice, in 01 - 02, he didn't coached the full year and 05-06, when Houston saw T-Mac and Yao injured for most of season.

+ He's only had a losing record once, a season where both T-Mac and Yao missed more than half of their games.

+ JVG has only had one year, where his team didn't rank in top 10 in defense, it happened to be the same season, he resigned after 19 games. In nearly 7 seasons with the Knicks, the team ranked in top 5 defenses, five times. With Houston, they were ranked in the top 5 in 3 out of 4 seasons.

- He's had the misfortunes of not playing with a truly great team or having injured superstars....I think you see a different outcome in the 99 FInals with a health Patrick Ewing.

- His coaching style doesn't really provide a lot of balance, most of his teams are pretty average or worst offensively. Of all of his NBA seasons, the highest his teams have ever been ranked in total offense is 14th in league...it happened last year. He has only been ranked in the top half of the league in offense twice in 11 seasons. His 2nd and final season in Houston.

- Some say that he doesn't play rookies or young players, too often, sort of like Larry Brown.

+ Career winnng percentage: .575 (430-318) | .500 (44 - 44)

I believe generally...both coaches have over-achieved, tremedously, they've both taken franchises that were either struggling, falling, or developing and made the best of them. In regards to Adelman, he took an already talented, but underachieving Portland team and turned them into a Western Confence powerhouse. Later with Sacramento, the coach morphed a perennial loser into Western Conference juggernaut with Webber, Peja, and Vlade.

On the other side, JVG took over a Knicks team that was beginning to fade. Once as the Knicks were the rivals to the Chicago Bulls and briefly took over supremacy in the conference. Their players started to age and coaching changes happen. As the Nelson projected proved to be somewhat of disappointment.

The JVG Knicks were formed to similar to the Knicks of the early 90s with better players....LJ, Sprewell, and Houston. With heavy emphasis on defense, but this time better scorers on the Knicks side. All this with an aging Patrick Ewing. Still, he never could open up the offense enough or draw up enough scoring strategies to get his team to point a great balance.

In Houston, he helped stuggling franchise (6 years without a playoff appearance) reach the playoffs in his first year. He developed a great defense and help turn Yao Ming into one of the premier and possibly best center of today through him becoming a beast in the low post. Kept a pretty competent squad together without the superstars at times. Still, his Houston teams didn't seem to have good enough supporting cast or the right players to get to next level.

cjstukenholtz · Oct 28, 2007

I really think that this thread should have a poll attached to it since it is a question of whether you prefer JVG or RA. There could be a third or fourth answer in the poll, which could say "It's too early to tell", or "Let's just wait and see how the season goes for the team".

RA is said to be more of a players' coach unlike JVG. If that is really true, then my thoughts about Steve Francis is this: If he can't jell under RA, then I would say that his playing career is over.

daoshi · Oct 28, 2007

At the end of the day, it all comes down to whoever wins. If Adelman don't win a playoff series this year, then he is a failure just as JVG was.

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