http://sportstwo.com/NBA/Story/NBA/2395723 BRISTOL, Connecticut (Ticker) -- The Phoenix Suns are expected to name Terry Porter as their new coach, ESPN.com reported Saturday. According to the report, Suns general manager Steve Kerr called Porter on Saturday morning to offer him the job, and Porter accepted. Porter had worked as the top assistant to Flip Saunders with the Detroit Pistons the past two seasons. Saunders was fired Tuesday, days after Detroit lost in the Eastern Conference finals for a third straight season. In Phoenix, Porter would replace Mike D'Antoni, who resigned in May to become coach of the New York Knicks. The finalists for the Phoenix job reportedly were Porter, San Antonio assistant Mike Budenholzer, Houston Rockets assistant Elston Turner and Utah Jazz assistant Tyrone Corbin. All four had second interviews, but multiple reports had Kerr leaning toward hiring Porter, whom he played with for two years in San Antonio. Porter, 45, who coached the Milwaukee Bucks from 2003-05, inherits a talented team which has underachieved in the playoffs. Phoenix, which averaged 58 wins under D'Antoni the last four seasons, lost in the first round of the playoffs this season to San Antonio. Despite his 71-93 record with the Bucks, Porter looks to be a good fit in the desert. Porter's first team in Milwaukee in 2003 finished fourth in the NBA in scoring. Phoenix is perennially one of the league's highest-scoring teams, although their identity did change a bit after the club acquired center Shaquille O'Neal in February. And while the Suns' commitment to defense is constantly questioned, Porter was known as solid defender during his playing days. He also worked for one of the league's top defensive teams in Detroit.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (#1_Yinka_Dare_Fan @ Jun 7 2008, 06:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Kerr's plan all along. Replace Marion with Shaq, and D'Antoni with Terry Porter. Genius!</div> Suns = 2008-09 champions!! Yay! I seriously am excited to see how bad the Suns will be next season
Terry Porter was a smart player (and incredibly talented), and he's put in work under Flip in Detroit.........I think he's gonna make an excellent coach..............I never knew why so many people were in love with D'Antoni????
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pegs @ Jun 7 2008, 06:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (#1_Yinka_Dare_Fan @ Jun 7 2008, 06:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Kerr's plan all along. Replace Marion with Shaq, and D'Antoni with Terry Porter. Genius!</div> I seriously am excited to see how bad the Suns will be next season </div> Bad?
Yea, I agree. I thought he the front office gave up on him far too quickly and kind of blamed him for some of the roster's shortcomings. And the team sure has struggled to improve upon him (both Stotts and Krtayhtgafajzxfzhaurask were terrible). Should be interesting to see how he handles his second chance.
Yeah, I thought he overachieved with a team that had no business being in the playoffs and forced unrealistic expectations on himself. If he can get the Suns to play defense once or twice during a game, he will have already improved them. I don't think you can win a title with D'Antoni's philosophy.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Kid Chocolate @ Jun 7 2008, 06:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pegs @ Jun 7 2008, 06:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (#1_Yinka_Dare_Fan @ Jun 7 2008, 06:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Kerr's plan all along. Replace Marion with Shaq, and D'Antoni with Terry Porter. Genius!</div> I seriously am excited to see how bad the Suns will be next season </div> Bad? </div> I'm thinking once Nash, Hill, and Shaq all go down with injuries, it'll be a good laugh.
The Suns are also planning on bringing in Allan Houston, from what I've heard. Steve Nash, Grant Hill, Shaquille O'Neal, Allan Houston, that would've been a great team, 5 years ago. SMH
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Kid Chocolate @ Jun 7 2008, 06:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pegs @ Jun 7 2008, 06:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (#1_Yinka_Dare_Fan @ Jun 7 2008, 06:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Kerr's plan all along. Replace Marion with Shaq, and D'Antoni with Terry Porter. Genius!</div> I seriously am excited to see how bad the Suns will be next season </div> Bad? </div> I'm guessing he means they won't be contenders like they were years past.
Porter deserves a second chance to coach, and he has a much better team now that he had in Milwaukee, so best of luck to him.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Brian @ Jun 8 2008, 12:09 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>The Suns are also planning on bringing in Allan Houston, from what I've heard. Steve Nash, Grant Hill, Shaquille O'Neal, Allan Houston, that would've been a great team, 5 years ago. </div> He said and the emotioncon didn't come up.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Master Shake @ Jun 9 2008, 04:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Brian @ Jun 8 2008, 12:09 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>The Suns are also planning on bringing in Allan Houston, from what I've heard. Steve Nash, Grant Hill, Shaquille O'Neal, Allan Houston, that would've been a great team, 5 years ago. </div> He said and the emotioncon didn't come up. </div> He posted before it was added
I liked this hire, and liked it even more after hearing what they plan to do at the press conf . Even if it fails next season, I like the philosophy going forward as he'll probably be with the team for when they rebuild. I'm also really glad D'Antoni is gone.
