| Rockets New Hire No Sure Thing Authored by Dennis Silva II - May 24, 2007 - 1:13 pm
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. |
