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NBA
NEWS
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ROOKIES & COACHES OF THE
MONTH
CLEVELAND’S KYRIE IRVING AND MINNESOTA’S RICKY RUBIO NAMED ROOKIES OF THE MONTH - CHICAGO BULLS’ TOM THIBODEAU AND OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER’S SCOTT BROOKS NAMED NBA EASTERN AND WESTERN CONFERENCE COACHES OF THE MONTH for games played in December and January
NEW YORK, N.Y. USA Firday February 03, 2012 ROOKIES OF THE MONTH The Cavaliers’ Kyrie Irving and the Timberwolves’ Ricky Rubio were named the NBA Eastern and Western Conference Rookies of the Month, respectively, for games played from the start of the season (Dec. 25) through January. Irving leads all rookies in scoring (18.1 ppg), ranks second in assists (4.9 apg) and field goal percentage (.511), and is third in three-point field goal percentage (.411). On Jan. 27 against the New Jersey Nets, he scored 21 of his season-high 32 points in the fourth quarter, including 17 in the last 2:58, becoming the first rookie to score at least 21 points in the fourth quarter of a game since Marcus Williams of the Nets did it on Nov. 24, 2006. Rubio ranks fifth among rookies in scoring (11.4 ppg) and first in assists (8.9 apg) and steals (2.24 spg). His six steals on Jan. 18 vs. Detroit are the most by a Wolves player since Kevin Garnett had seven vs. the L.A. Clippers on Jan. 27, 2007. Here is a recap of the month for both Irving and Rubio: Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers Jan. 12 @ Phoenix: Registered 26 points, three rebounds, six assists and two steals in a 101-90 win over the Suns. Jan. 16 @ Charlotte: Tallied 25 points, four rebounds and a season-high seven assists in a 102-94 victory over the Bobcats. Jan. 27 vs. New Jersey: Scored a season-high 32 points, in addition to six rebounds, two assists and two steals in a 99-96 loss to the Nets. Jan. 29 @ Boston: Posted 23 points, four rebounds and six assists in an 88-87 victory over the Celtics. Ricky Rubio, Minnesota Timberwolves Jan. 8 @ Washington: Scored 13 points, and added six rebounds and 14 assists in a 93-72 win over the Wizards. Jan. 14 @ Atlanta: Recorded 18 points, 12 assists and five steals in a 93-91 loss to the Hawks. Jan. 25 @ Dallas: Posted 17 points, 12 assists, seven rebounds and four steals in a 105-90 victory over the Mavericks. Jan. 27 vs. San Antonio: Tallied 18 points, 10 assists and four rebounds in an 87-79 win against the Spurs. Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Rookies of the Month were Detroit’s Brandon Knight, Houston’s Chandler Parsons, Miami’s Norris Cole, New Jersey’s MarShon Brooks and Phoenix’s Markieff Morris. COACHES OF THE MONTH The Chicago Bulls’ Tom Thibodeau and the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Scott Brooks were named the NBA Eastern and Western Conference Coaches of the Month, respectively, for games played in December and January. Thibodeau led the Bulls to an Eastern Conference-best 18-5 (.783) record to start the season, winning 13 of 18 games by 10 or more points. Chicago went 9-1 at home, including an 8-1 home record against Eastern Conference teams. The Bulls rank first in the NBA in rebounds per game (45.3) and allowed only 87.4 points per game in December and January, good for second best in the NBA. Brooks guided the Thunder to a Western Conference-leading 16-4 (.800) mark to begin the season, tying the record for the third-best start in franchise history. Oklahoma City recorded seven straight wins between Jan. 6 and Jan. 16, including back-to-back-to wins over the Houston Rockets (Jan. 6 and 7) and San Antonio Spurs (Jan. 8). The Thunder’s 80 percent shooting from the free throw line leads the league, while their 100.4 points per game ranks third in the NBA. Other nominees for Coach of the Month were Dallas’ Rick Carlisle, Houston’s Kevin McHale, Miami’s Erik Spoelstra, Los Angeles Clippers’ Vinny Del Negro and Philadelphia’s Doug Collins. © Copyright: National Radio. Any use of these materials, whole or in part, is prohibited unless authorized in writing by National Radio. Contact: nationalradio@yahoo.com All rights reserved.
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