Cavaliers' Head Coach Mike Brown was recognized by the NBA by winning the Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for December --
Brown led the Cavaliers to an NBA-best 12-2 (.857) record during the month, which marked the Cavaliers second-best December in franchise history (13-2 in 1988-89). The Cavaliers are off to their best start in franchise history (26-5) and remain the only undefeated team at home this season in the NBA with a perfect 16-0 record.
During December, Cleveland led the NBA in point differential (13.0) and held their opponents to an NBA-low 85.9 points per game while ranking second in opponent field goal percentage (42.6) and third in opponent rebounding (37.9). The Cavaliers opened the month by winning their first six games (part of an 11-game winning streak from Nov. 22 - Dec. 12) and ran off six straight victories from Dec. 17-28. In addition to going 7-0 at The Q, Cleveland also went an NBA-best 5-2 (.714) on the road during December.
This marks the second time (Jan. 2008) Brown has received the award in his coaching career. With 13 wins during November and 12 wins in December, Brown led Cleveland to the most wins in a two-month period in franchise history (25) and to their first consecutive months with double figures in victories since the 1991-92 season when the Cavs won 10 games each in December and January.
The Los Angeles Lakers' Phil Jackson was named the Western Conference Coach of the Month. Other nominees for Eastern Conference Coach of the Month were Boston's Doc Rivers and Orlando's Stan Van Gundy.
Congrats to Brown, who seems on his way to coaching the Eastern Conference All-Stars in Phoenix next month as well.