The Orlando Magic?s Brian Hill and the Utah Jazz?s Jerry Sloan today were named the NBA Eastern and Western Conference Coaches of the Month for games played from the start of the season (Oct. 31) through November.
Hill, in his second tour of duty as Magic head coach, led the team to a 12-4 (.750) record to start the season, including wins in nine of Orlando?s last 10 games. The Magic enjoys a 4.5-game lead in the Southeast Division, the largest in any division. The Magic's 12-4 start is its best since the 1998-99 season, when it opened with an identical mark.
Sloan led the Jazz to a 13-4 (.765) record for the month, which included a 9-2 mark in Western Conference play. Opening the season by winning 12 of 13, Utah enjoys a three-game lead in the Northwest Division. The Jazz?s 8-1 mark at home this season is tops in the league. The fifth-winningest coach in NBA history, Sloan needs just three victories to reach 1,000 for his career.