Rick Adelman

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Lore & Background

Adelman's first season with the Rockets featured a 22-game winning streak from January through March 2008, the third-longest in NBA history. Despite that run, the team lost in the first round of the playoffs in six games. In the 2008-09 season, the Rockets finished fifth in the West with a 53–29 record. They entered the playoffs without star shooting guard Tracy McGrady due to injury. Despite this loss, the Rockets defeated the Portland Trail Blazers in six games to advance to the Western Conference Semifinals for the first time since 1997. Although they lost the series to the Los Angeles Lakers, they took the series to seven games despite the loss of star center Yao Ming in Game 3. Adelman won his 800th career game on March 24, 2008, against the Sacramento Kings. On April 18, 2011, the Houston Chronicle reported that the Rockets would not give Adelman a new contract; Adelman and the team parted ways after four seasons and two playoff appearances.

In Their Own Story

The 2008-09 season showed what Adelman's Rockets could do when pushed. After losing Tracy McGrady to injury, the team entered the playoffs as underdogs. They faced the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round. Adelman's squad won the series in six games, advancing to the Western Conference Semifinals for the first time since 1997. There they met the Los Angeles Lakers. In Game 3, they lost star center Yao Ming to injury. Despite that loss, the Rockets pushed the Lakers to seven games before falling. The series showed the resilience Adelman had built in the team.

Reader's Guide

Rick Adelman coached the Houston Rockets for four seasons, from 2007 to 2011. He was hired on May 18, 2007, five days after Jeff Van Gundy was dismissed. In his first season, the team went on a 22-game winning streak from January through March 2008, the third-longest in NBA history. They lost in the first round of the playoffs that year in six games. The 2008-09 season saw the Rockets finish 53–29, fifth in the West. Without Tracy McGrady, they beat the Portland Trail Blazers in six games in the first round. They lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in seven games in the Western Conference Semifinals after losing Yao Ming in Game 3. Adelman won his 800th career game on March 24, 2008, against the Sacramento Kings. On April 18, 2011, the Houston Chronicle reported the Rockets would not give Adelman a new contract. He left after four seasons and two playoff appearances.

Did You Know?

• Adelman was hired by the Rockets on May 18, 2007, just five days after Jeff Van Gundy was dismissed.
• In his first season, the Rockets had a 22-game winning streak from January through March 2008, the third-longest in NBA history.
• Adelman won his 800th career game on March 24, 2008, against the Sacramento Kings.