Adelman confident Nuggets can rise to challenge after shakeup - ESPN

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Following a chaotic 30-plus hours for the Nuggets, David Adelman met with reporters Wednesday for the first time as the team's interim head coach and was eager to remind everyone what Denver still is capable of just two seasons removed from an NBA title.

Adelman coached his first game Wednesday night in Sacramento — where his father, Rick, spent eight seasons as head coach — in place of Michael Malone. The Nuggets fired Malone and general manager Calvin Booth in a stunning move Tuesday in hopes of stopping a four-game skid and remaining out of the play-in spots in the Western Conference.

Adelman, the architect of the Nuggets offense, said he and Josh Kroenke, vice chairman of Kroenke Sports and Entertainment, met with the team in the wake of those dismissals.

«We are in the mix here, and I think people forget that,» Adelman said. "[Pundits] keep thinking that we didn't make the playoffs or whatever. We still have a great chance to do something special. We talked about that. The guys seemed convinced. So I'm expecting a really good effort."

Adelman said Kroenke's message to the team was to «be better.»

Adelman, 43, has been an assistant for the Nuggets for eight seasons. He spent time Wednesday thanking his predecessor.

«What he did for this team, best coach in history,» Adelman said of Malone. «Can't argue it. Percentage-wise, wins, Finals, championship. The experience he gave me eight years allowing me to grow as a coach… all the guys on this coaching staff that are here, we've been together for a long time. And those guys growing up underneath us, the Jamal's (Murray), Nikola's (Jokic), Michael (Porter Jr.), adding Aaron (Gordon), Christian (Braun), what he's doing now.

»I look at it as a hell of a