I hope I'm not using up forum threads or anything, but I didn't see anyone link the interview with Coach Adelman. If anyone is like myself, anything Rockets related is fun to read or listen to so here it is: http://kilt.cbslocal.com/2010/09/24...h-rockets-head-coach-rick-adelman/#more-18535 Sorry if this has been posted! ><
Thanks, very interesting interview. It seems like Adelman is not going to respect that much the 24 min rule., and I understand him.
The 24 minute rule is a good rule. Two years ago, I hated the way Adelman managed Yao's minutes. Often, Yao would play the entire first quarter. 12 minutes without any breaks. And many times he had to play 40+ minutes. Van Gundy managed Yao's minutes better. Adelman did nothing. Adelman essentially wore Yao to the ground, and the stress fracture is partially Adelman's fault. What I see is, Adelman is a lazy short sighted guy who happens to be a genius at offense system. I don't think Adelman could keep track of Yao's minutes if his life had to depend on it. Solution: Give a stopwatch to one of his useless coaches, and make it his sole task to manage Yao's minutes. When Yao's at his 24 minute mark, coach tells Adelman, and Adelman brings Yao out of the game. Very simple but I think Adelman is too lazy or too arrogant to do this.
I haven't listened to the interview yet, but just wanted to say how much I hate the combination of Barry Warner and Shaun (however you spell is last name). Barry is off-putting with his grumpy old man shtick, and Shaun always seems awkward, as if he's not sure about the next word that's going to come out of his mouth. The fact that they are thrown together makes it even worse. It's painful to listen to. /rant
I'm pretty sure it's not laziness that made Adelman keep Yao in the game. It's more the fact that when the game is on the line, and Yao tells you he feels good, it's a slippery slope to Yao ending up playing 40+.
When you are an all star as well as the centerpiece to your team those are the type of minutes you are often required to log. What happened with Yao's foot is unfortunate but how was anyone truly supposed to know? Furthermore I think you are highly underestimating the power your franchise player holds over you when he is on fire and the game is on the line. You're right though, I'd rather have him on the bench most of the game too. You know, keep him cold...
This interview was a great reminder of how Coach Adelman is so good at developing young talent and how he uses an individual players talents to its full potential. Something else that really reminds me of why our players play so hard was the fact that RA trusts his players so much. Players like Luis will always be hard workers on the court but the young guys really do benefit from this confidence.
He didn't have much to say about Jordan Hill... It sounds like he still has a lot to work on. Basically echoing what we were saying about him during the summer league.
What about having a franchise player that can handle those minutes when needed to get the win? Is that asking too much from your highest paid player?
Relax ... what's done is done. Yao's foot was bound to give in. He had been getting injured for the last 5 years even before RA's time here. Remember too even Yao said 2007-2008 was his best year. With TMac in and out of the lineup so much that year, we had to rely on Yao more that year. Let's look ahead.
