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PHOENIX (AP) The Phoenix Suns have used coaches such as detachable race visors, which count up to five in five years.
Instability hurt them on the court, with the series of playoff appearances extending over nine consecutive seasons with a record of 19-63 this year.
Monty Williams, the general manager James Jones hired to coach the Suns, hopes to change the trend.
"Continuity, have a staff here for a while, and put in a system that players can rely on, but it will ultimately be up to James, myself, and the players who will move this forward," Williams said. his inaugural press conference on Tuesday. "Players will have to accept the level of work and commitment needed to be a champion."
Williams was hired on May 3 to replace Igor Kokoskov, who was sacked after a season in the desert.
Williams' arrival in Phoenix was delayed as he finished the playoffs as assistant to Philadelphia coach Brett Brown. The 76ers were eliminated from the playoffs last week by Toronto on Kawhi Leonard's resounding drummer in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Williams's name was linked to many head coach positions, including the Lakers, but he ended up in the Valley of the Sun after multiple discussions with Suns owner Robert Sarver.
"During my conversations with Mr. Sarver, I saw someone who did not avoid difficult questions," Williams said. "We both had difficult questions for each other and in the present day, when people throw each other under the bus, make excuses, blame, I have not seen them. I saw a man who really wants to bring success to this city and I say it with all my heart otherwise I would not have come here. "
Williams previously held the position of head coach of the NBA at the head of New Orleans from 2010 to 2015. A year after his dismissal, Williams' wife, Ingrid, was killed in a car accident. car.
He did not know if he wanted to return to training after his death, but his kids pushed him to resume the training of this sport that he likes.
"When everything happened to my family, I focused on caring for my children," said Williams, who remarried. "That led me to believe that I might never be a coach again, and I was cool with that. But they were not. And that your children want you to start doing what you love, has given me even more confidence, strength. Hope this translates and players can understand that. "
The Suns are known to be a dysfunctional franchise, but they were praised for landing Williams, a respected and complete coach.
Williams has played nine NBA seasons with New York, San Antonio, Denver, Orlando and Philadelphia. He was a head coach and assistant and spent two years in the San Antonio reception desk.
"His experience in all areas of basketball as a coach, the development of his players on the offensive side and the defensive side of the ball, in the goalkeeper's office, give him a unique perspective that, I think, fits well to our franchise, "Jones said.
In the Suns, Williams takes a young team with two quality players: Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton.
Booker became one of the NBA's leading scorers, leading the Suns with 26.6 points per game. He played five 40-point games in the last month of the season, including 50 and 59 in consecutive games.
Ayton was the No. 1 pick of the NBA selection last year and did not disappoint, shooting 59 percent with an average of 16.3 points and 10.3 rebounds.
Phoenix is expected to add to its talent base with the sixth overall pick in this year's project.
"There is so much room to grow," said Williams. "I think we have a young team that is learning to win and it will do it and I have to do my job. I need to improve the strengths, but be honest about our weaknesses and get the players to consider a new way of doing things. I think I'm here at the right time and I'm here with the right people. "
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