Rivers named Coach of the Month

For the 12th time in his illustrious career, Doc Rivers has been named Coach of the Month. He represents the Eastern Conference, while the Utah Jazz's Quin Snyder will claim the honor for the West.

This is the first time the award has been given out this season, covering the final week of December and the entire month of January. Rivers' dozen honors ties him with Phil Jackson, George Karl and Pat Riley for second all-time, trailing only Gregg Popovich's 17. He joins Brett Brown, Larry Brown, Jim Lynam and Billy Cunningham as the only Philadelphia head coaches who have been named Coach of the Month.

The Sixers are off to a strong start to the season at 15-6, leading the Eastern Conference by 2.5 games over the second place Brooklyn Nets as of February 1. Their .714 winning percentage is tied for third in the NBA with the Los Angeles Lakers, behind only the Jazz and the Los Angeles Clippers.

There is room to improve--the Sixers only sport the seventh best net rating in the league at +4.1, and they have not exactly played a murderous schedule to date. Still, they do boast quality victories over the Celtics (twice), Lakers, and Pacers, and when their full starting lineup is active (Joel Embiid, Tobias Harris, Danny Green, Seth Curry, Ben Simmons), they are undefeated in 11 games.