Houston Rockets release head coach Rick Adelman from his services - NBA Update
Despite having the best record of wins in the history of the Houston Rockets, 64-year-old head coach Rick Adelman was released from his services on Monday.
In a team statement, it was made known that the Rockets and Adelman, "have mutually agreed to part ways." Adelman's agreement was going to expire on 30 June, 2011, but due to his stressed relations with the Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey he was released
before time.
On Monday night Houston’s GM Morey issued a statement in which he said that the decision was made after "numerous discussions and careful consideration."
"It has been a privilege and an honour to work with and learn from Rick during these past four years," Morey said. "He is a Hall of Fame coach who earned the respect and admiration of our entire organization during his time here. These situations are always
difficult, but we would like to personally thank Rick and his staff for their efforts the past four seasons and we wish them the best in their future pursuits."
Rick was the 11th coach in the history of the Rockets. The veteran coach, who started his National Basketball Association coaching career with the Portland trail Blazers in 1989, joined the Rockets on 23 May, 2007. From there on, he started building
the team around Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady. However, both All-Stars got injured by the end of Adelman’s first-season. In the very next season, the Rockets made it to the Western Conference semi-finals, putting an end to the miseries of seven straight play-off
first round exits.
Adelman’s winning percentage of 0.588 was the best among the 11 coaches the team has had. In his tenure of four seasons he went 193-135. It was under Adelman’s coaching the Rockets won their only play-off series, since 1997. Currently, Rick is ranked as
Number eight in all-time victories and his career record is 945-616.
Adelman commented that he enjoyed his time in Houston and together as a team they achieved quite a lot, as they came over a number of issues in his last few years. He also added that he really enjoyed coaching in the last two seasons and in spite of having
tough situations he always gave his best. Rick said it was a pleasure working with such devoted players and assistant coaches and he wishes them all the very best in the future.
In his last three seasons Adelman faced numerous set-backs and injuries to his star players. In the 2009-10 season, the Rockets lost Ming due to a foot injury. They went 42-40 in that season and not only missed the play-offs but notched up less than 50 wins
after a span of three seasons. In this season, the Rockets’ struggles continued partly because they gave up McGrady to the New York Knicks and the fact that Ming was again side-lined for the season with a fracture in his left ankle.
The Rockets, fuelled by Luis Scola and Kevin Martin, however gave the Memphis Grizzlies a run for their money in securing the eighth spot of the Western Conference. They had a little too much to accomplish and fell short with a 43-39 record.
Prior to joining the Rockets, Adelman served as the head coach of the Golden State Warriors, Portland Trail Blazers and Sacramento Kings. He guided the Blazers to two NBA Finals in the early 1990s. He was the one who transformed the Kings into a tough contender
of the Western Conference.
Now, Adelman will take some time off and then think about his next move. In the last week of the Rockets' season he said that he still enjoys coaching and would love to continue it.
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