Pop and Flip Coaches of the Month

[Kori Ellis]

NEW YORK, Jan. 3, 2006 – The Detroit Pistons’ Flip Saunders and the San Antonio Spurs’ Gregg Popovich today were named the Eastern and Western Conference Coaches of the Month, respectively, for games played in December.

Saunders led the Pistons to a 13-2 record, establishing a new franchise mark for most wins in December. The Pistons, averaging 99.8 points this month, held a nine-game win streak from Dec. 14 to Dec. 29, including wins over Miami, San Antonio and Memphis. Saunders, also awarded the Coach of the Month honor for November, became only the second coach in NBA history to start a season 24-3 in his first year as head coach of a new team (Los Angeles Lakers head coach Bill Sharman went 39-3 in 1971-72).

Popovich led the Spurs to a 13-4 month, holding opponents to a league-low .419 shooting. The Spurs, maintaining the best record in the Western Conference, ranked second in the league in field goal percentage (.480) and held opponents to 89.6 points per game (third in the league) in December.

Other nominees for the Coach of the Month award were Dallas’ Avery Johnson, Milwaukee’s Terry Stotts, New Jersey’s Lawrence Frank, Phoenix’s Mike D’Antoni and Toronto’s Sam Mitchell.

[Ishta]

Go Pop...I can't wait till March

[ducks]

damm who would have thought because the spurs suck right now
just ask a few posters here

[Solid D]

The difference between Pop and Flip right now with the talent on both teams is:

Flip sends his players out there to go play.

Pop sends his players out there to go play, goes Serbian at halftime, then sends his players out there to go play the 2nd half. :)

[Pistons < Spurs]

:tu

[polandprzem]

damm who would have thought because the spurs suck right now
just ask a few posters here
yep I wouldn't also.

Way to Go Pop

When spurs get in right playing it will be more then fantastic. Now january will be very interesting, then we've got Fabruary with the All star and the Rodeo. Wow - can't wait.


And Timmy for the player of the January :)

[FromWayDowntown]

In a season where scoring is up again, the Spurs hold teams to .419 from the field and under 90 ppg for the month of December. I can see why so many around here are concerned about this team's ability to win when it matters. :rolleyes

[1Parker1]

What do people think of Flip Saunders? Do you really think it's his great coaching that's led the Pistons to their great record...or the fact that the Pistons just have a great team?

[leemajors]

What do people think of Flip Saunders? Do you really think it's his great coaching that's led the Pistons to their great record...or the fact that the Pistons just have a great team?

a little from column a, a little from column b... they probably just appreciate the new offensive approach than anything at this point.

[SilverPlayer]

Flip is a better version of Bob Hill. He's a great offensive mind and comes out with a creative frenetic style of play that utilizes a balanced scoring and quick screens. Like Bob Hill his teams have lacked killer instinct, and if you can stop their offense their defense seems to collapse.

[Oh, Gee!!]

Flip Saunders lures small children into his van with candies

[Solid D]

Detroit most def. has killer instinct, Flip or no Flip.

[leemajors]

bob hill is a head coach now too! let's see how he does with the sonics

[ShoogarBear]

The difference between Pop and Flip right now with the talent on both teams is:

Flip sends his players out there to go play.

Pop sends his players out there to go play, goes Serbian at halftime, then sends his players out there to go play the 2nd half. :)

Good assessment.

[ShoogarBear]

Flip Saunders lures small children into his van with candies

:lol Another good assessment.

[ahb]

Flip Saunders lures small children into his van with candies :tu

[Oh, Gee!!]

Flip Saunders built the levees in New Orleans

[Despot]

Most of the basketball world notes that the Spurs are not playing very good basketball, are all decrepid and old, have a so so defense (for the spurs), had a really bad stretch, have no fire (until the last couple of games), and here is Pop winning coach of the conference in a 13-4 month.

[sanman53]

Congrads Pop! He's the BEST!!!