NBA NEWS - FIELDS & GRIFFIN ROOKIES, RIVERS & POPOVICH COACHES, HOWARD & WILLIAMS PLAYERS OF THE MONTH

Los Angels Clippers’ Blake Griffin - NBA photo

New York Knicks’ Landry Fields - NBA photo

The New York Knicks’ Landry Fields and the Los Angels Clippers’ Blake Griffin were named the Eastern and Western Conference T-Mobile Rookies of the Month - The Boston Celtics’ Doc Rivers and the San Antonio Spurs’ Gregg Popovich were named the NBA Eastern and Western Conference Coaches of the Month

New York, New York USA

Saturday December 4, 2010

The New York Knicks’ Landry Fields and the Los Angels Clippers’ Blake Griffin were named the Eastern and Western Conference Rookies of the Month, respectively, for games played from the start of the season (Oct. 26) through November.

Fields ranks fourth among rookies in scoring (10.8 ppg), second in rebounding (7.1 rpg), eighth in assists (1.6 apg) and second in field goal percentage (.544). He started all 19 games for the Knicks this season, leads all NBA guards in rebounds and is the only rookie in the top eight in scoring.

Griffin leads all rookies in scoring (20.2 ppg) and rebounding (11.6 rpg). He also ranks second in minutes per game (35.5 mpg), fourth in assists (2.6 apg) and third in field goal percentage (.520). On Nov. 20, Griffin scored 44 points, the most by a Clipper since Elton Brand scored that many in February, 2006. He also led the team with 15 rebounds and a season-high seven assists.

Here is a recap of the month for both Fields and Griffin:

Landry Fields, New York Knicks

Nov. 12 @ Minnesota: Registered 16 points, 10 rebounds and three steals in a 112-103 loss to the Timberwolves.

Nov. 16 @ Denver: Tallied 21 points, 17 rebounds and two steals in a 120-118 loss to the Nuggets.

Nov. 23 vs. Charlotte: Scored 14 points in addition to seven rebounds, two assists, two blocks and one steal in a 110-107 win over the Bobcats.

Nov. 28 @ Detroit: Posted 16 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and two steals in a 125-116 victory over the Pistons.

Blake Griffin, LA Clippers

Nov. 20 vs. New York: Scored 44 points, and added 15 rebounds and seven assists in a 124-115 loss to the Knicks.

Nov. 22 vs. New Orleans: Recorded 24 points, 13 rebounds and four assists in a 99-95 victory over the Hornets.

Nov. 25 vs. Sacramento: Posted 25 points, 15 rebounds and five assists in a 110-82 win over the Kings.

Nov. 28 vs. Utah: Tallied 35 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists in a 109-97 loss to the Jazz.

Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Rookies of the Month were New Jersey’s Derrick Favors, Philadelphia’s Evan Turner, Sacramento’s DeMarcus Cousins and Washington’s John Wall.

ORLANDO’S HOWARD AND UTAH’S WILLIAMS NAMED NBA EASTERN AND WESTERN CONFERENCE PLAYERS OF THE MONTH

The Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard and the Utah Jazz’s Deron Williams were named the NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month, respectively, for games played during October/November.

Howard was fifth in the Eastern Conference in scoring, averaging 21.8 points on .594 shooting, which ranked second in the conference and third in the league. To go along with his offensive production, Howard ranked fourth in the league in rebounds, averaging 12.1. He has helped the Magic get off to a 13-4 start, putting it atop the Southeast Division. Howard’s month was highlighted by his defensive performance on Nov. 3 versus Minnesota, where he had eight blocks, representing an NBA season high. In addition, he was named player of the week for weeks ending Nov. 7, and Nov. 28.

Williams led the Jazz to a 14-5 start, averaging 21.9 points to go with 9.9 assists, which ranked third in the league. Williams compiled 10 double-doubles and shot .856 from the free throw line. On Nov. 10, Williams scored 30 points to go along with 14 assists and five rebounds in a 104-94 victory at Orlando. Williams helped the Jazz to its second-best November winning percentage (.813) in franchise history and first place in the Northwest Division.

Here is a closer look at the month for Howard and Williams:

Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic

Nov. 3 vs. Minnesota: Recorded 18 points, 16 rebounds and a season-high eight blocks in a 128-86 win over the Timberwolves.

Nov. 5 vs. New Jersey: Tallied 30 points and 16 rebounds in a 105-90 victory over the Nets.

Nov. 24 vs. Miami: Registered 24 points to go along with 18 rebounds in a 111-100 victory over the Heat.

Nov. 27 @ Washington: Compiled a season-high 32 points, 11 rebounds, two blocks and hit the game-winning shot to defeat the Wizards by a score of 100-99.

Deron Williams, Utah Jazz

Oct. 31 @ Oklahoma City: Recorded 16 points, 15 assists and six rebounds in a 120-99 victory over the Thunder.

Nov. 10 @ Orlando: Tallied 30 points, 14 assists and five rebounds in a 104-94 win over the Magic.

Nov. 15 vs. Oklahoma City: Scored 31 points and added 11 assists and five rebounds in a 105-87 loss to the Thunder.

Nov. 24 vs. New Orleans: Poured in 26 points to go along with 11 assists and five steals in a 105-87 win over the Hornets.

Other nominees for Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month were Chicago’s Derrick Rose, Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki, Los Angeles Clippers’ Blake Griffin, New Orleans’ Chris Paul, New York’s Amar’e Stoudemire, Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook and San Antonio’s Manu Ginobili.

Boston Celtics’ Doc Rivers - NBA photo   San Antonio Spurs’ Gregg Popovich - NBA photo

BOSTON’S DOC RIVERS AND SAN ANTONIO’S GREGG POPOVICH NAMED NBA EASTERN AND WESTERN CONFERENCE COACHES OF THE MONTH

The Boston Celtics’ Doc Rivers and the San Antonio Spurs’ Gregg Popovich were named the NBA Eastern and Western Conference Coaches of the Month, respectively, for games played in October and November.

Rivers guided the Celtics to a 13-4 (.765) record, tying Orlando for the best in the Eastern Conference. Boston went 7-1 at home, including a 7-0 mark against Eastern Conference teams. With their .504 field goal percentage, the Celtics are the only team in the NBA shooting 50 percent or better from the field, while also ranking first in the NBA in assists per game (26.5) and first in the Eastern Conference in points per game differential (+7.9).

Popovich led the Spurs to an NBA-best 15-2 (.882) record, the best start in franchise history, including 12 straight wins in November. San Antonio is the only team to win all of its road games so far, with key wins at Phoenix, Oklahoma City, Utah and New Orleans. While the Spurs’ 107.8 points per game rank third in the NBA, their +9.0 differential leads the league.

Other nominees for Coach of the Month were New Orleans’ Monty Williams, New York’s Mike D’Antoni, Oklahoma City’s Scott Brooks, Orlando’s Stan Van Gundy and Utah’s Jerry Sloan.