CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Cleveland Cavaliers head coach J.B. Bickerstaff was named the Eastern Conference coach of the month for January the NBA announced Wednesday.
Bickerstaff led the Cavs to an 11-4 record, their best mark in a month since November 2017 when they went 12-3.
It is the first coach of the month honor for Bickerstaff, and he is the 15th Cavs head coach in franchise history to receive the award.
Tyronn Lue was the last Cavs head coach to be named coach of the month in October/November 2016.
Cleveland’s 6-1 home record in the month was the best in the conference and their five road wins were tied for the most in the conference.
During the month of January, the Cavs allowed 101.9 points per game, and they limited opponents to under 100 points six times and held them below 43% shooting from the field seven times, tied for the most in conference.
Cleveland ranked second in the East in points per game allowed (101.9), defensive field goal percentage (.439) and opponent assists per game (21.6) while ranking third in defensive rating (107.4) and fourth in opponent defensive rebounds per game (31.9).
The Cavs, who have won nine of their last 11 games, are 31-20, the fourth-best mark in the Eastern Conference and the team’s best 51-game start since the 2016-17 season when they were 36-15.
