NBA NEWS EXTRA - SKILES BROOKS NBA COACHES OF THE MONTH

The Milwaukee Bucks’ Scott Skiles - NBA photo The Oklahoma City Thunder’s Scott Brooks - NBA photo

MILWAUKEE’S SKILES AND OKLAHOMA CITY’S BROOKS NAMED NBA EASTERN AND WESTERN CONFERENCE COACHES OF THE MONTH

NEW YORK, Tuesday March 9, 2010

NBA's TOP COACHES

The Milwaukee Bucks’ Scott Skiles 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 February.

Skiles guided the Bucks to a 10-4 (.714) record in February, the 10 wins being an Eastern Conference best. Milwaukee’s first month with double-digit victories since Dec. 2006 was highlighted by the Bucks’ six-game winning streak from Feb. 19-27.

The Bucks posted an impressive 7-2 road record for the month, including six straight from Feb. 5-27. Brooks led the Thunder to the best winning percentage in the NBA during February (.818) with a 9-2 mark, as Oklahoma City posted a winning record for the third consecutive month.

The Thunder opened the month with seven straight wins, extending a winning streak which began in January to nine games, before falling to the Phoenix Suns on Feb. 23. Brooks’ bunch posted a 5-1 road record on the month, improving their season record away from home to 17-12. Other nominees for the Coach of the Month were Cleveland’s Mike Brown, Dallas’ Rick Carlisle, Orlando’s Stan Van Gundy, Phoenix’s Alvin Gentry and Utah’s Jerry Sloan.

(NBA)