PHOENIX, Arizona (AFP) — Terry Porter was introduced Monday as coach of the Phoenix Suns, the former Detroit assistant taking the task of guiding the Suns from National Basketball Association contenders to champions.
The Suns averaged 58 triumphs in each of the past four seasons but never reached the NBA Finals and lost in the first round of the playoffs the past two years under Mike D'Antoni, who resigned in May to coach the New York Knicks.
"It is a championship caliber team," Porter said. "I think they have some pieces in place. They've competed at that level."
Porter, reunited with former San Antonio Spurs teammate and current Suns general manager Steve Kerr, plans to slow the Suns' fast-paced attack.
"I definitely want to continue that (quick-tempo) style here but at the same time, maybe tweak it a bit to not be as quick with the shot selection as in the past," Porter said.
Porter, 45, was available after the Detroit Pistons fired Flip Saunders following the team's loss to Boston in the Eastern Conference finals.
"We put together an outstanding list of candidates. We interviewed some real high quality people," Kerr said. "In the end, the guy who stood out for us and was absolutely the right guy was Terry."
Other finalists for the job were assistant coaches Mike Budenholzer of San Antonio, Elston Tuner of Houston and Tyrone Corbin of Utah.
Porter coached the Milwaukee Bucks from 2003 through 2005, going 71-93 with a club that was fourth in scoring among NBA clubs in 2003, and takes over a team that could adapt its attack with veteran Shaquille O'Neal having joined the team at midseason.
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