Doc Rivers named Eastern Conference Coach of the Month

Philadelphia 76ers HC Doc Rivers was named the Coach of the Month for the 12th time in his career and seventh time in the Eastern conference.

Make that an even dozen.

Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doc Rivers has been named the Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for December and January, the 12th time in his career he has been given the award for either the Eastern or Western Conference.

The NBA announced on Monday that Rivers was the winner after helping lead the 76ers to a 15-6 record over the final week of December and through January.

The Sixers’ record is the best in the Eastern Conference.

Philadelphia has been good on offense so far this season, averaging 113.9 points per game entering Monday, the eighth-best in the league. Center Joel Embiid has emerged as an early-season MVP candidate and Tobias Harris has regained form to play at an All-Star level.

Rivers is also getting the most out of some of the younger Sixers players, including Shake Milton, who is averaging 14.3 points coming primarily off the bench, and rookie Tyrese Maxey.

On the other end of the court, the 76ers’ 107.4 defensive rating is fourth-best in the NBA.

The Sixers have won eight of their last 10 games. The only blemish on their record is a three-game losing streak from Jan. 7-11.

In the Western Conference, Utah Jazz head coach Quin Snyder won the award for a 15-5 month.

This is Rivers’ 12th time being named a coach of the month and his first since November 2018 when he was with the Los Angeles Clippers.

He won it five times with the Clippers while coaching in L.A. from 2013-20 and six times with the Boston Celtics, where he coached from 2004-13.

Rivers was the Coach of the Year in 2000 and has coached two All-Star games.