ATLANTA (Jan. 2, 2013) -- Larry Drew was named NBA Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for the month of December 2012 Wednesday after the Hawks went 10-5, equalling the East’s best record.
It’s the first Coach of the Month honor of Drew’s career, and he becomes just the fourth Atlanta coach (Mike Fratello, current assistant coach/consultant Bob Weiss, Lenny Wilkens) to receive that recognition.
The Hawks reeled off winning streaks of four (Dec. 22-29), three (Dec. 5-8) and two (Dec. 12-13) games during the month, recording a 6-2 home mark and a 4-3 road record.
The Hawks won double-digit games during December for the second time in three years and for the 11th time in Atlanta history. Atlanta’s scoring output increased by 3.4 points per game over November (96.2 ppg to 99.6 ppg) and rebounding improved by three per game (39.4 rpg to 42.4 rpg).
The team compiled 20 or more assists in the final 10 games of the month, including a season-high 35 against Detroit on Dec. 26. The Hawks went 2-0 in overtime for the month and were 4-1 on the second night of back-to-backs (now an NBA-best 7-1 on the season). From Dec. 26-31, Atlanta made 10 or more three-pointers in four consecutive games for the first time in team history.
At 20-10 overall, the Hawks own the best road record in the East at 9-5 and the third best overall record in the conference.
Other nominees for the Eastern Conference Coach of the Month were Miami’s Erik Spoelstra, Frank Vogel of Indiana and New York’s Mike Woodson.
Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE/Getty Images