Rick Adelman Doesn’t Have Sense of Security

After leading his team to the NBA finals twice in his three-plus years as coach, Rick Adelman would like a little more job security.

Two Western Conference titles and a 193-88 regular-season record hasn’t been enough to convince Portland Trail Blazer owner Paul Allen and the team’s top management that he deserves a contract extension yet.

Adelman has one year left on a three-year deal he was given after leading the Trail Blazers to the finals in 1990.

Ten Portland players earn more than Adelman, who makes about $375,000 a year.

“Everybody would like to have some security, but I can’t worry about that,” Adelman said Tuesday as he prepared his team for tonight’s Game 4 of the finals. “It’s out of my hands.”

Clyde Drexler, Adelman’s most fervent supporter among the Portland players, thinks it’s ridiculous that the coach hasn’t received an extension.

“He deserved it at the beginning of the year,” Drexler said. “As a player, you want to see it taken care of because you know how your team is structured and how things work. When a guy makes it to the NBA finals and there’s still some question, then there’s something wrong with the surroundings.”

But that’s the way it has always been with Adelman.

On a team whose mental abilities have been repeatedly questioned, the coach is an obvious target.

“I don’t worry about people’s perceptions of my coaching,” Adelman said. “I don’t apologize for anything. This team is very good. We’ve done a good job. I do the best job I can.”

The criticism is expected, Adelman said.

“If you lose, there’s always going to be a reason and it’s probably going to be my fault,” he said. “If we win, there’s still some things I could have done better. That’s just the way it is in this business. I’m not going to worry about it. As long as I can go to sleep, I’m all right.”

Geoff Petrie, Portland’s senior vice president for basketball operations, said management didn’t want to discuss the matter during the season.

But could Adelman’s job possibly be in danger, despite his success? “As far as I’m concerned, his position is very secure,” Petrie said. “I mean, the guy has just about the best record in the league over the last three years.”