Grizzlies' Lionel Hollins Named Western Conference Coach of the Month

MEMPHIS, December 3, 2012 — The NBA today announced Memphis Grizzlies Head Coach Lionel Hollins as the Western Conference Coach of the Month for games played in October and November. This marks the second consecutive monthly award and third career honor for Coach Hollins (December 2009, April 2012).

Coach Hollins guided Memphis to an NBA-best 12-2 record (.857) during the opening months of the 2012-13 season, as the Grizzlies seized the league’s best record for the first time in franchise history. The team finished 12-1 in the month of November alone, marking the highest winning percentage in a calendar month in franchise history (.923) and the club’s most victories ever in the opening month of the season.

The Grizzlies tied a franchise record with an eight-game winning streak from Nov. 2-17 with seven of those wins coming against teams with current records of .500 or better. In the span of a week, Memphis recorded double-digit victories over both teams that made the 2012 NBA Finals, Miami (Nov. 11) and Oklahoma City (Nov. 14), as well as the NBA’s last unbeaten team this season, New York (Nov. 16). Memphis won every game during the streak by at least seven points, contributing to the team ranking second in the league in point differential (+8.8).

Memphis also won its first four home games to extend its regular season home winning streak to a franchise-record 15 games (March 18-Nov. 16, 2012). The Grizzlies have gone 8-1 at FedExForum this season, including an eight-point win on Nov. 23 over the Los Angeles Lakers.

Under Coach Hollins, Memphis once again is among the league’s stingiest defenses, pacing the NBA in points allowed (90.1) and assists allowed (18.5), as well as points off turnovers (22.1), in the opening month of the season. Through the end of November, the Grizzlies forced opponents into at least 10 turnovers in 118 consecutive games (now 119), more than doubling the second-longest active streak (Miami, 58).

Coach Hollins earned his second career Coach of the Month honor after he won in April 2012 after leading Memphis to a 13-3 record to end the 2011-12 season. From the beginning of April through the end of November, the Grizzlies won 25 of their 30 regular season games (.833). San Antonio Spurs Head Coach Gregg Popovich was the last coach to win consecutive Coach of the Month Awards (February-March 2012).

The winningest head coach in franchise history (170 wins), Coach Hollins has improved Memphis’ regular season record in every season since being named head coach in January 2009. The Grizzlies currently own a .800 winning percentage (.889 at home) one season after setting franchise records for overall winning percentage (.621) and home winning percentage (.788).

Memphis will seek its fifth consecutive home win – and 20th in its last 21 at home – tomorrow night when the Grizzlies host the Phoenix Suns at 7 p.m. CT at FedExForum.

Fans who would like to purchase 5-Game Holiday Packs, 2012-13 Season Tickets, or 10- and 20-Game Flex Packs can do so by calling (901) 888-HOOP or going online to grizzlies.com. Tickets for the Plaza IV and Terrace IV sections are already sold out. For more information on the Grizzlies, ‘like’ Memphis Grizzlies on Facebook or follow on Twitter (@memgrizz).