For the second time this year, Memphis Grizzlies’ head coach Lionel Hollins has been named the Western Conference Coach of the Month.
Once with star forward Rudy Gay and a steady, familiar bench, and once without.
Before their recent eight game winning streak, the Grizzlies were heavily scrutinized for making two midseason trades.
In one deal Memphis shipped the core of its bench unit — Mareese Speights, Wayne Ellington, Josh Selby — and a future 1st round pick to Cleveland in return for John Luer (i.e. future cap flexibility). Their bench production suffered tremendously in the interim.
Just weeks later they traded star forward Rudy Gay to Toronto on January 31st for a few spare parts — Tayshaun Prince, Austin Daye and Ed Davis. Following their second trade in less than a month Memphis struggled to incorporate its new pieces, proceeding to lose 3-of-4 and dropping out of serious contention as a potential NBA Finals candidate.
Since their midseason swoon the Grizzlies have found their way again, winning eight in a row heading into their game Friday night against the Miami Heat (winners of 12 straight) and are dressing the look of a serious contender again in the West.
- Hollins, Spoelstra named NBA Coaches of the Month: “Spoelstra led Miami to a league-best 12-1 (.923) record in February. The Heat scored 100 or more points 10 times on the month, and also won nine games in February by at least 10 points, including a 114-90 road victory against Philadelphia on Feb. 23. Hollins led the Grizzlies to a Western Conference-best 9-2 (.818) record in February. The Grizzlies held opponents under 100 points nine times on the month, including a 105-88 home victory against Minnesota on Feb. 10. After starting February 1-2, Hollins’ Grizzlies ended the month on an eight-game winning streak.”