NEW YORK, Feb. 1, 2012 – The Chicago Bulls’ Tom Thibodeau and the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Scott Brooks today were named the NBA Eastern and Western Conference Coaches of the Month, respectively, for games played in December and January.
Thibodeau led the Bulls to an Eastern Conference-best 18-5 (.783) record to start the season, winning 13 of 18 games by 10 or more points. Chicago went 9-1 at home, including an 8-1 home record against Eastern Conference teams. The Bulls rank first in the NBA in rebounds per game (45.3) and allowed only 87.4 points per game in December and January, good for second best in the NBA.
Brooks guided the Thunder to a Western Conference-leading 16-4 (.800) mark to begin the season, tying the record for the third-best start in franchise history. Oklahoma City recorded seven straight wins between Jan. 6 and Jan. 16, including back-to-back-to wins over the Houston Rockets (Jan. 6 and 7) and San Antonio Spurs (Jan. 8). The Thunder’s 80 percent shooting from the free throw line leads the league, while their 100.4 points per game ranks third in the NBA.
Other nominees for Coach of the Month were Dallas’ Rick Carlisle, Houston’s Kevin McHale, Miami’s Erik Spoelstra, Los Angeles Clippers’ Vinny Del Negro and Philadelphia’s Doug Collins.