Here you go boys have fun. http://rockets.realgm.com/articles/81/20070524/rockets_new_hire_no_sure_thing/ Rick Adelman said all the right things. He preached a more fluid, smooth offense. He talked of making better use of Yao Ming’s passing skills at the high post. He swore to make Tracy McGrady’s life easier. Heck, Adelman even had kind words for overweight malcontent Bonzi Wells, who is in the option year of his contract with the Rockets. Rockets management wanted a new face, new blood, new life. With Adelman, they feel they have just that. “We were looking for a coach that can take us to the next level," Rockets general manager Daryl Morey said. "We were looking for a balanced approach and Coach Adelman provides that. If you look at balanced approach and experience, Coach Adelman stands out." But while everybody was enamored with the new Rockets coach during Wednesday’s press conference, it’s hard not to see how this move isn’t a backwards change for Houston. The Rockets lose a defensive-minded, possession-oriented coach in Jeff Van Gundy, who tallied 182 wins—and the second best winning percentage in franchise history—in his four years at the helm despite Yao and McGrady missing a combined 105 contests during the middle two seasons. All but, perhaps, five players on the roster – Yao, McGrady, Rafer Alston, and Kirk Snyder – would be capable of contributing significantly for Adelman, who wants to bring an offense predicated on passing and player movement. Adelman’s recent club, the Sacramento Kings, was the league’s top-scoring club in three of his eight years there. "We had Vlade Divac in Sacramento and he's not a speedster," Adelman said at his press conference. "Watching Yao, it's not how fast you are, it's their intent to get up and down the court. There's no reason that you can't. We're just trying to get into something quicker. We don't want to walk it down and call a play. We want to get into something quick and make the defense react. I don't see why we can't do that." Well, it’s the same reason that Van Gundy wasn’t able to install an attacking, transition offense despite athletic talents – Alston, Snyder, Luther Head – who would have been much more successful in a running attack. Yao is too slow to incorporate into a fast-break attack. He plods, is clumsy and seems to bump and bully into positioning, which results in fouls. McGrady is no longer the thoroughbred who can sprint end to end, dunking at will and leaping and eluding helpless defenders. He’s more dependent upon the jump shot, using his height and length to rise up at will. Other Rockets who saw significant minutes the past few years – Juwan Howard, Chuck Hayes, Dikembe Mutombo, and Shane Battier – are more fit towards a halfcourt, defensive-minded scheme that allows them to utilize their limited abilities to the fullest. So, unless Houston intends on doing an extreme roster overhaul this offseason, don’t expect he fluidity and balance that Adelman would crave. The team simply does not have the staff to execute such desires. Even current Rocket players expressed moderate enthusiasm in Adelman. While his career .610 winning percentage – making 14 playoff appearances and two NBA Finals appearances – surely is attractive, it’s hard to debate how he’s a clear upgrade over Van Gundy. "You always want to play for a coach that has experience and has won," Rockets forward Shane Battier said. "I think coach Adelman has shown that over the years in different situations. That's the exciting part of this announcement.” That’s the exciting part? His resume and background? Not the fact that he will bring a more balanced offense and, supposedly, utilize his players to the fullest? Not exactly a ringing endorsement from Battier. Just as Yao didn’t seem ecstatically thrilled to be welcoming a new face. "I've been working good with Jeff," Yao told the Houston Chronicle. "He gave me the best four years, so far, in my career. I appreciate what he did for me. He put in a lot of effort, a lot of work. We had a good time. I'm so sad to hear he's leaving. We knew a little bit before that it was going to happen. I'm still sad. Hopefully, he got some rest and will have a good time with his family. “Right now, we're looking forward. Changing coaches has happened to me before. Rick Adelman, I know he coached the Sacramento team before. He also coached great centers. I believe we'll have a good future." Yes, the Rockets might have a good future. Who knows, they might even advance past the first round of the playoffs for the first time since 1997. It’s just unfortunate Adelman will be reaping the benefits all the hard work and principles that Van Gundy sowed.
I stopped reading right there. But of course, I wouldn't expect anything less from our resident ROF. And Clutch makes a cameo appearance in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...
Every coach says that want to run when the opportunity presents its. Even Van Gundy urged his players to run down the court and look for easy scoring opportunities. The reason we didn't fast break more has to do with our defensiev philosophy and, yes, player personnel rather than offensive strategy. If we want to fast break, we need to sacrifice defensive rebounding (a category we've led the league in multiple times under Van Gundy). And we need players who are committed to running hard. I expect the big change will be our half court offense will have more motion and be more diversified. Hopefully we develop a better passing game as a team, as opposed to relying on McGrady to create for everyone else.
I predict this guy will have egg all over his face by the end of next season. I believe the Rockets will do all they can to get RA the right kind of players be it at trades to get it done.
This sentence confuses me - all but five players will do well in Adelman's system? Then he names four guys. I am guessing he means they can play wel but he worded it so that they are the "but" part of "all but five players"...except there are only four names. Hmmm...
Wow this was a lame article. So if Yao and Battier aren't jumping with excitement for the new coach that means that he is no good? He clearly fails to grasp the idea that JVG spend 4 years in Houston and led to 3 1st round exits. His firing was based upon that record. Also I don't know he means by Adelman reaping what JVG sowed? This team is not even a 2nd rounder let alone a juggernaut under JVG. So what has JVG really done to retain his job? Is it fail fail and maybe you succeed some day? The assessment was made already by management that their best chance was to find another approach. Bottom line is results matter and that is why coaches like Larry Brown and Phil Jackson make a living. The Del Harris' and Rick Carlisles of the world would relate to that. Even JVG took over a Pat Riley led playoff team. The man reaped now it's his time to sow.
There are five things you're confused about here, rimbaud, so let me clarify: 1) It's Rockets111. c) Those are the players that would not succeed under Adelman if he was not coach. IV) Rafer Alston is the fifth option of the four guys.
I think this is a very good point. Can't have your cake and eat it too with our personnel. We just aren't an athletic team that can defensively rebound AND fastbreak on the offensive end. The reason is because our bigs aren't good rebounders so the guards are forced to help out on the boards rather than look for the fastbreak. (wasn't Alston our 2nd leading rebounder in the Jazz series?)
Just for those of you who don't know: BBS poster: Rockets111 (aka BBS' Bill the Rocket Guy) = Dennis Silva II = Rafer's pool boy
Between Silva, Rimbaud, and now, Cluch, I am totally confused, but too tired to sort it all out. Who is on first? Do we have four or is it five? good or is it bad?players? Oh, well, just glad to have a new coach.
does that guy get paid to write that crap? hes an idiot, but if someone is paying him to write, there might actually be someone stupider than him.
my only guess is that he typed out the 9 player rotation from last season: yao, hayes, shane, tmac, rafer, head, snyder, howard, deke then wanted to delete those players who would play well, leaving only those who won't. that way he could complete his thought of all but these players will do well... except he deleted the wrong names... simple. he means to say that the 5 players will won't do well under adleman are: deke, howard, hayes, shane, head.
First of all, who the hell is this guy? Secondly, what the hell does this even mean? It's hard for me not to see how this sentence isn't a backwards step for the English language. Don't they have editors? Jebus!
I see your post and raise you this from the "article": Once again, he brings up four players, not five. This is clearly some kind of numerology message. If you put that together (the two 4's) and understand that the fourth letter in the alphabet is "D" you get "DD" which clearly means DaDakota. As such, it is obvious that DaDakota will both play well and poorly under Adelman. This guys knows his stuff because nobody represents two polar opposites like DaDa. Further, it shows that the way to shore up our poor PG and PF positions are to sign Dan Dickau and Dale Davis. They would both play well for Adelman because both played at Portland when Adelman was not the coach.
