Adelman won't return as Rockets coach
By JONATHAN FEIGEN
Copyright 2011 Houston Chronicle
April 18, 2011, 9:06PM
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/7527132.html
After four days of talks, some that were close to bringing Rick
Adelman back as Rockets coach, Rockets general manager Daryl Morey
called Adelman a “Hall of Fame coach.” He also showed Adelman the door.
Adelman was happy to take it.
Adelman, who led the Rockets to their only playoff series win in the
past 14 years and a franchise record 22-game winning streak, agreed to
step down on Monday, a decision described as mutual.
“After numerous discussions and careful consideration with Coach
Adelman, we have mutually agreed to part ways,” Morey said in a
statement. “It has been a privilege and an honor to work with and learn
from Rick during these past four years. He is a Hall of Fame coach who
earned the respect and admiration of our entire organization during his
time here.”
In four seasons with the Rockets, Adelman had a 193-135 record, the
best winning percentage (.588) of any coach in franchise history. He
moved to eighth in NBA history in career coaching wins with 945.
After consecutive seasons in which the Rockets failed to reach the
playoffs, Adelman and Morey were unable to reach agreements on several
issues. Adelman had repeatedly indicated he would seek a greater voice
in personnel decisions. The team is expected to seek a greater emphasis
on player development and likely will want a coach that will more
readily embrace the organization’s analytics-oriented approach.
The Rockets two coaching hires under owner Leslie Alexander since the
departure of Rudy Tomjanovich were coaches that had taken teams to the
NBA Finals, but the process will immediately include assistant coaches.
Rockets assistants Elston Turner and Jack Sikma, and former Rockets
player Mario Elie, who has been an assistant with the Kings, Warriors
and Spurs, will interview for the position, according to a person with
knowledge of the process.
Former Cavaliers assistant Mike Brown, a former coach of the year who
took Cleveland to the Finals, is also considered a top candidate.
In four seasons with the Rockets, Adelman had a 193-135 record, the
best winning percentage (.588) of any coach in franchise history. He
moved to eighth in NBA history in career coaching wins with 945.
Adelman, 64, had expressed ambivalence about remaining in coaching,
but said last week that he has not lost his desire to coach. He had been
openly frustrated with decision-making during last season that led to a
trio of trades over his objections that seemed designed to aid future
seasons.
“I have enjoyed my time in Houston over these past four seasons,”
Adelman said in a statement released by the Rockets. “We accomplished
quite a bit, despite overcoming numerous obstacles during the past few
years. I especially enjoyed coaching this group of players the past two
seasons. Despite difficult circumstances, they never gave in and they
never quit. It was a joy coming in every day and working with such a
group of dedicated players and coaches. I wish them all the best.”
Last week, however, he expressed frustration with his working relationship with the Rockets front office.
“You cannot succeed in this league unless everybody is on the same
page,” he said. “You may not agree with everything together. But you
have to be on the same page and you have to have each other’s back or
the players, they sense it. They know it when there is a disconnect.
Frankly, I would say in the last month and a half, since the trade,
people have gone their way and we’re here to fight the battle.
“When it’s all good, it’s pretty easy. When it’s not all good, it’s
even more important that you have communication and an interchange that
is pretty consistent day in day out.”
The Rockets beat the Trail Blazers in the 2008-09 playoffs and
pushing the Lakers to seven games in the Western Conference semifinals.
But Yao Ming was injured in Game Three of that series and played just
five games in the two seasons since. Rather than coach a team led by Yao
and Tracy McGrady, who played just 72 game together in Adelman’s
tenure, Adelman oversaw the transition of the franchise from the Yao and
McGrady era to a team built around Adelman’s motion-based offense.
This season, the Rockets went 17-8 after the All Star break to get
back into the chase for a playoff spot before fading late. They became
the first team since the Suns in 1970-71 and 1971-72 to have consecutive
seasons with winning records fail to reach the post-season.
Adelman had said he was surprised not to have been offered an
extension during the season. By Monday, however, his departure was
expected, and one decision upon which Adelman and Morey could agree.