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**Peja Vu** · 11-30-2007, 11:36 PM

After successful tenure, Adelman returns to Sacramento as visiting coach

Quote:

"It's definitely going to be weird walking into the building, being in the other end," Adelman said. "You always get nervous. It's been more than a year. They've definitely gone their way and I've gone mine.

"It's such a special place. Maybe that's where you remember the times we had there, the people and the crowd and all the people we had on the team. It was a really fun eight years. In that regard, it will probably be an excitement. But after just breaking a six-game losing streak, I'm just glad we won a few games before we went in there."

Adelman, by far the most successful Kings coach, was fired after the 2005-06 season. The Kings never had a winning season in Sacramento before Adelman and never had a losing season with him.

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"They're going to have to show him love," said Rockets guard Bonzi Wells, who was part of Adelman's last Kings team. "Coach did a lot for that franchise. He won a bunch of games, got them national notoriety they didn't have before he got there. He's an excellent coach. He's an even better person. I just hope they show him the gratitude he deserves."

If they "show him love," few expect Adelman to show his emotions. He said that by the time he is introduced, his thoughts will have to be on the Rockets and beating the Kings, but it would be difficult not to feel some emotions if the Arco crowd offers even the "polite" appreciation Adelman predicted.

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"I understand the nature of the beast, but the people of Sacramento treated me and my family unbelievable," Adelman said. "I didn't have people coming up throwing knifes at me or anything. They were usually really nice. It was really a pleasant experience. I think they'll be really polite and we had some good times there.

"You look at the banners. You look at everything else. But once the thing starts, we got to worry about getting wins. They're not going to like Yao (Ming). They're not going to like Tracy (McGrady). The people there are passionate. I think it will be fun.

"Plus, I really want to see if the locker room on the visitors' side is as bad as everybody says."

For all the times he had been in Arco, he never experienced that. But the spartan dressing room will offer a reminder that as much as will look familiar, for Adelman, more has changed.

I'll be standing, cheering for him.

**Peja Vu** · 12-01-2007, 12:08 AM

Tonight's Game: Houston (9-8) at Kings (5-10)

Quote:

Tipoff: 7 p.m.

Where: Arco Arena

TV: CSN

Radio: KHTK (1140 AM)

HEAD TO HEAD

The Rockets have won six of the past eight meetings against the Kings, including all three last season.

ROCKETS UPDATE

The Rick Adelman era got off to a terrific start, as the Rockets were 6-1 under the former Kings coach. They lost their next six games, including two without an injured Tracy McGrady and five against playoff teams from last season. With Houston winning three of four since, things aren't as bad as they might seem considering the Rockets have had the league's toughest schedule.

INJURIES

Rockets: None.

Kings: PG Mike Bibby (torn ligament, left thumb, out); PF Shareef Abdur-Rahim (sore right knee, questionable); SF Ron Artest (personal reasons, questionable).

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS

KINGS

No. Name Pos.

19 Beno Udrih PG

23 Kevin Martin SG

15 John Salmons SF

33 Mikki Moore PF

52 Brad Miller C

ROCKETS

No. Name Pos.

12 Rafer Alston PG

1 Tracy McGrady G-F

31 Shane Battier F-G

44 Chuck Hayes PF

11 Yao Ming C

**Peja Vu** · 12-01-2007, 12:36 AM

Artest could play

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Kings small forward Ron Artest might play tonight against Houston, as he was believed to be en route to Sacramento from Indiana on Friday night.

Artest traveled from Sacramento to Indiana on Thursday to be with his young daughter, who continues to deal with a serious medical matter.

Artest left for the first time since Nov. 21, when he flew from Phoenix to Indiana and missed that night's game against the Suns because his daughter had a kidney-related procedure.

**Peja Vu** · 12-01-2007, 12:38 AM

Nice to see you, Coach Adelman

Quote:

It might be weird.

"I think it will be," Rick Adelman conceded.

Entering through the loading-dock entrance where the bus pulls up and walking straight, instead of taking a hard right to the Kings' locker room. Walking straight through the tunnel, across the shiny court, past the home team's bench, and continuing through the tunnel at the other end and into the visitor's locker room.

Working from the other bench.

Adelman steps into Arco Arena for the first time since May 5, 2006, the day the season ended with a Game 6 first-round playoff loss to the San Antonio Spurs and his eight-year run as the Kings' coach did, too. He will be a guest in what used to be his own home, the coach of the 9-8 Houston Rockets now and the opponent tonight.

"You're used to going into that arena, and we had some great experiences there," he said. "Plus, I really want to see if the locker room on the visitor's side is as bad as everybody says. Maybe that's why they need a new arena, because of the locker rooms. I'll find out."

Having previously coached the Portland Trail Blazers and the Warriors, Adelman already has passed through Arco countless times as a visitor, just never as a former Kings coach and the most successful of the Sacramento era at that. He knows the cave-ish locker room is that bad.

It's all in fun, of course, just as he said he will spark the memories tonight by taking long looks around the old building and start with the banner honoring Jerry Reynolds, because the Kings' director of player personnel and TV analyst insists everyone pay homage to the hanging tribute. Adelman still jokes with many in the basketball operations department in that way and in the serious moments speaks in the highest terms about the likes of basketball president Geoff Petrie, basketball vice president Wayne Cooper, scouting director Scotty Stirling and Reynolds.

Adelman has not fired upon the Kings since parting, even saying he understood the firing as much as he disagreed with it in the wake of a late-season rally to reach the playoffs in 2005-06.

The only disappointment was helping to deliver eight seasons of unprecedented success – one trip to the Western Conference finals, two Pacific Division titles, wins in 63.3 percent of the regular-season games – and then not hearing from Joe or Gavin Maloof to talk about the firing or wish him well.

He doesn't expect any of that to matter tonight. But there will be memories, and there will be familiarity.

"I think you look at the banners," Adelman said. "You look at all that. But once the thing starts, we've got to worry about getting wins and everything else. They (fans) are not going to like Yao (Ming). They're not going to like Tracy (McGrady). People there are passionate."

Someone asked if the crowd will like him.

"I don't know," Adelman said.

He smiled.

"I think so," he finally allowed. "I think it's going to be fun. I'll see a lot of people. The people around that team were really unique.

**HKF** · 12-01-2007, 12:43 AM

Kings win two out of their last 3. I think they beat Houston, lose to Utah and beat the Clippers.

**Peja Vu** · 12-01-2007, 03:11 PM

Artest is now probable:

Artest rejoins team; Adelman returns

Quote:

Ron Artest attended Kings shoot-a-round this morning, an obvious sign that he's probable for tonight's game against Houston.
The Kings small forward left the team on Thursday to be with his young daughter in Indiana, where she continues to deal with a serious medical matter that has already included a kidney-related procedure.
Meanwhile, former Kings coach Rick Adelman conducted his own shoot-a-round with his Houston team as well before his official return tonight. Adelman, who brings with him former Kings assistants Elston Turner and T.R. Dunn, said he was more focused on continuing his winning ways at Arco Arena than getting caught up in his history in the building.
"We need a win, so it doesn't matter if it's here or someplace else," Adelman said inside Arco Arena. "They play well here, so it should be a tough game for us."
Once a Granite Bay resident, he stayed with the team at the downtown Sheraton, and met with some old friends from the Kings organization on Friday evening.
"I was able to see some people last night," Adelman said. "I have a lot of friends, especially with the team, so it was good to see those people." - Sam Amick

**HKF** · 12-01-2007, 09:34 PM

They beat Houston.

**Peja Vu** · 12-01-2007, 11:23 PM

Standing Ovation for Rick Adelman

**Peja Vu** · 12-03-2007, 11:48 PM

Kings play the Jazz tomorrow. They are coming off of a back to back, but they do have Boozer and Okur back.

**Peja Vu** · 12-04-2007, 12:14 AM

The Kings Game Plan: Jazz (13-5) at Kings (6-10)

Quote:

Tipoff: 7 p.m.

Where: Arco Arena

TV: CSN

Radio: KHTK (1140 AM)

HEAD TO HEAD

The Jazz took full advantage of a hobbled opponent Nov. 12, winning 117-93 in Utah when the Kings were without Brad Miller, Ron Artest, and - of course - Mike Bibby.

JAZZ UPDATE

This is the tail end of a back-to-back set for Utah, which defeated visiting Miami 110-101 Monday. Coach Jerry Sloan's team is 5-4 on the road this season, including bad losses at Indiana and New York. Artest will have quite the defensive challenge, likely alternating between guarding Andrei Kirilenko and Carlos Boozer. Kirilenko recently had his best game of the season (20 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists, six steals and four blocks) in a 120-96 win over the Lakers on Friday.

JAZZ INJURIES

None.

KINGS INJURIES

PG Mike Bibby (torn ligament, left thumb, out); PF Shareef Abdur-Rahim (sore right knee, questionable).

KINGS

No. Player Pos.

19 Beno Udrih PG

23 Kevin Martin SG

15 John Salmons SF

33 Mikki Moore PF

52 Brad Miller C

JAZZ

No. Player Pos.

8 Deron Williams PG

9 Ronnie Brewer SG

47 Andrei Kirilenko SF

5 Carlos Boozer PF

13 Mehmet Okur C

**unluckyseventeen** · 12-04-2007, 10:01 AM

The Jazz finally have everyone healthy, and that includes Deron Williams.

Honestly, with these two teams, neither a close win/loss or blowout win/loss would surprise me for either team.

**Peja Vu** · 12-04-2007, 09:38 PM

Kings win 117-107. Salmons scored 15 points in the 4th quarter, Cisco hit 2 big three pointers in the final 2 minutes, and the team shot 78% in the quarter.

3-1 on the homestand, Clippers coming up.

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