Tyronn Lue
Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue was named Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for the first time in his career.
(John Kuntz, cleveland.com)
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The individual accolades keep piling up for the Cleveland Cavaliers in the early part of the 2016-17 season, as head coach Tyronn Lue was named Eastern Conference Coach of the Month.
Lue, named the recipient for the first time in his career, led the Cavs to a 13-3 start, the best mark in the East and tied for the best 16-game start in franchise history.
The Cavs opened their title defense season with six wins before capping the season's first month with a head-scratching blowout loss against the Milwaukee Bucks.
During October and November, Cleveland ranked second in the NBA in scoring (111.3 points per game), 3-point field goal percentage (39.0) and 3-pointers made (13.8 per game). They made 10 or more triples in 16 straight games to start the year, setting an NBA record to open the season.
Lue edged out Charlotte's Steve Clifford, Chicago's Fred Hoiberg and Toronto's Dwane Casey for the honor.
Golden State head coach Steve Kerr was named Western Conference Coach of the Month. Despite significant changes in the off-season, Kerr's Warriors went 16-2 in October and November, rising to the top of the NBA with a 12-game winning streak that was snapped Thursday night against Houston.
On Thursday, LeBron James was named Eastern Conference Player of the Month. Kevin Love, meanwhile, is the reigning conference player of the week.