The LA Clippers’ Doc Rivers was named the Western Conference Coach of the Month after leading the Clippers to the top record in the Western Conference.
Doc Rivers of the LA Clippers’ has been named the Western Conference Coach of the Month after leading his team to a 15-6 record, which was good enough for first place in the Western Conference. He is joined by Eastern Conference winner Nick Nurse who coaches the Toronto Raptors.
This isn’t Doc’s first time with the award (In fact, it is his 11th), but it comes with a very unique squad. Deemed a team who lacked a superstar but had several good role players, the Clippers were quickly written off as a team who would not make the playoffs in a deep Western Conference.
This obviously did not affect Doc who set out with his roster and achieved the best record in the conference by the end of November by winning 11 of their 13 games. Many have already started to speak how his early coaching could lead him to a Coach of the Year Award, should he continue to get the same type of productivity of this squad.
Prior to last season, many had questioned whether or not Rivers could handle both his front office duties as well as head coaching. Owner Steve Ballmer also noticed this and made front office changes and gave Doc the job of only coaching.
This move worked as Doc seemed better off last season, even as the team dealt with multiple injuries and the trading away of Blake Griffin.
Rivers will have to continue to work his magic for the rest of the season as the Clippers try to stay near the top of the ever-competitive West.
This was the second award handed out on the day to the Clippers for their surprise start with the first being Tobias Harris earning the Western Conference Player of the Month award.
The team faces off against the New Orleans Pelicans, led by Anthony Davis, as they try to bounce back from the loss in Dallas last night.