NBA en Directo: Jugadores, Dirigentes y Novatos de Diciembre 2015 en la NBA

Gregg Popovich (West) y Scott Skiles (East) los Dirigentes del Mes en diciembre

ORLANDO’S SKILES AND SAN ANTONIO’S POPOVICH NAMED

NBA EASTERN AND WESTERN CONFERENCE COACHES OF THE MONTH

The Orlando Magic’s Scott Skiles and the San Antonio Spurs’ Gregg Popovich today were named the NBA Eastern and Western Conference Coaches of the Month, respectively, for games played in December. 

Skiles led the Magic to the East’s best month at 10-5 (.667).  Orlando went 5-3 at home and 5-2 on the road.  On the defensive end, the Magic held opponents to 96.6 points in December, the fourth-stingiest mark in the NBA.  On the offensive end, Orlando shot 48.1 percent as a team in December, third-best in the league and tops in the Eastern Conference.   

Popovich guided the Spurs to the league’s best record in December at 14-2 (.875).  San Antonio went 10-0 at home, and at the end of December owned a 19-0 mark at AT&T Center.  The Spurs, who surrendered 100-plus points in only two of 16 December games, held opponents to a league-low 87.1 points – a mark more than six points better than that of the Cleveland Cavaliers, who ranked second at 93.2 points allowed. 

Other nominees for Coach of the Month were Atlanta’s Mike Budenholzer, Cleveland’s David Blatt, Detroit’s Stan Van Gundy, Golden State’s Luke Walton, the Los Angeles Clippers’ Doc Rivers, Oklahoma City’s Billy Donovan and Toronto’s Dwane Casey.

Kristaps Porzingis (East) y Karl Anthony-Towns (West) los Novatos del Mes de diciembre

  NEW YORK’S PORZINGIS AND MINNESOTA’S TOWNS

NAMED KIA NBA ROOKIES OF THE MONTH

The New York Knicks’ Kristaps Porzingis and the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Karl-Anthony Towns today were named the Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Rookies of the Month, respectively, for games played in December.

This is the second consecutive Kia NBA Rookie of the Month award for Porzingis, who ranked second among East rookies in scoring (12.6 ppg) and rebounding (6.4 rpg) and first among all rookies in blocked shots (2.20 bpg).  Porzingis posted four point-rebound double-doubles and blocked three or more shots in six games.  He also shot 36.6 percent (15-of-41) from three-point range for the month.  During a 91-84 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Dec. 23, Porzingis made 4-of-5 from three-point range en route to 23 points and added 13 rebounds and four assists.

Towns, who also earns his second straight Kia NBA Rookie of the Month award, led all first-year players in scoring (18.6 ppg) and rebounding (9.5 rpg) and ranked second in blocks (1.56 bpg).  He recorded eight point-rebound double-doubles in December and produced eight games with at least 20 points.  Towns shot 55.3 percent from the field for the month and made at least half his shots in 14 of 16 games.  During a 123-122 overtime win against the Los Angeles Lakers on Dec. 9, Towns posted 26 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks.

Here is a recap of the month for Porzingis and Towns:

Kristaps Porzingis, New York Knicks

Dec. 2 vs. Philadelphia: Posted 17 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks in a 99-87 win over the 76ers.

Dec. 4 vs. Brooklyn: Scored 19 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in a 108-91 victory against the Nets.
Dec. 16 vs. Minnesota: Collected 11 points, six rebounds, three assists and seven blocks during a 107-102 win over the Timberwolves.

Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves

Dec. 9 vs. L.A. Lakers: Tallied 26 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks during a 123-122 overtime victory against the Lakers.

Dec. 20 @ Brooklyn: Posted 24 points and 10 rebounds in a 100-85 win over the Nets.

Dec. 30 vs. Utah: Finished with 25 points (10-of-15 field goals) and 10 rebounds in a 94-80 victory over the Jazz.

Other nominees for the Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Rookies of the Month were Charlotte’s Frank Kaminsky, Denver’s Nikola Jokic, the Los Angeles Lakers’ D’Angelo Russell, Miami’s Justise Winslow and Philadelphia’s Jahlil Okafor.

Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Rookies of the Month

The Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month are part of a series of oncourt performance awards called “The Kia NBA Performance Awards.” The series, currently in its ninth season, is part of a multiyear marketing partnership between Kia Motors America and the NBA, and includes five of the league’s most prestigious year-end honors: Kia Most Valuable Player Award, Kia Defensive Player of the Year, Kia Sixth Man Award, Kia Most Improved Player Award and Kia Rookie of the Year.  It also includes the Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month during the regular season.  Kia serves as the Official Automotive Partner and Official Luxury Vehicle of the NBA.  For more information on the “The Kia NBA Performance Awards,” visit NBA.com/awards.

 Kevin Durant & Russell Westbrook (West) y John Wall (Wizards) los Jugadores del Mes en diciembre

WASHINGTON’S WALL AND OKLAHOMA CITY’S DURANT AND WESTBROOK NAMED
KIA NBA EASTERN AND WESTERN CONFERENCE PLAYERS OF THE MONTH

 The Washington Wizards’ John Wall and the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook today were named the Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month, respectively, for games played in December.

Wall averaged 22.6 points, 11.7 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 2.3 steals to lead the Wizards to an 8-8 record, despite the absence of several key players to injury.  He is the first player to average at least 22.0 points, 11.0 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals in a month since Chris Paul in April 2009.  Wall scored 20 or more points 11 times, his career high for a month, and recorded 10 games with at least 20 points and 10 assists, the most in team history for a month.  The guard also became the first player to post three straight games with at least 26 points, 12 assists and five rebounds since Dwyane Wade in November 2006.  Wall shot 46.0 percent from the field and 83.6 percent from the free throw line.  

Durant (24.9 ppg) and Westbrook (23.8 ppg), co-winners in the West, ranked sixth and seventh in the NBA in scoring, respectively, as the Thunder went 12-3 in December.  Durant added 7.2 rebounds and 5.7 assists while shooting 50.8 percent from the field.  He reached the 20-point mark in all 15 games and shot 87.3 percent from the free throw line.  Westbrook led the league in steals (2.73 ppg) and contributed 8.9 assists (fourth in the West) and 5.9 rebounds.  He had three 30-point games, handed out at least 10 assists seven times and posted his third triple-double of the season. 

Here is a closer look at December for Wall and Durant/Westbrook: 

John Wall, Washington Wizards

Dec. 1 @ Cleveland: Finished with 35 points, 10 assists, five steals and four rebounds in a 97-85 win over the Cavaliers.

Dec. 12 @ Dallas: Scored 26 points and added 16 assists and five rebounds in a 114-111 win over the Mavericks.  

Dec. 19 vs. Charlotte: Recorded 27 points, 12 assists, four rebounds and three steals in a 109-101 win over the Hornets.

Kevin Durant/Russell Westbrook, OKC

Dec. 8 @ Memphis: Durant scored 32 points and Westbrook dished out 16 assists in a 125-88 win over the Grizzlies.

Dec. 13 vs. Utah: Durant scored 31 points and Wetsbrook added 25 points and 11 rebounds in a 104-98 win over the Jazz.  

Dec. 27 vs. Denver: Durant tallied 26 points and 10 rebounds, while Westbrook finished with 30 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds in a 122-112 win over the Nuggets.

Other nominees for Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month were Atlanta’s Paul Millsap, Detroit’s Reggie Jackson, Golden State’s Stephen Curry, the Los Angeles Clippers’ J.J. Redick, Orlando’s Nikola Vucevic, Portland’s CJ McCollum, Toronto’s DeMar DeRozan and San Antonio’s Kawhi Leonard.

Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month

The Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month are part of a series of oncourt performance awards called “The Kia NBA Performance Awards.” The series, currently in its ninth season, is part of a multiyear marketing partnership between Kia Motors America and the NBA, and includes five of the league’s most prestigious year-end honors: Kia Most Valuable Player Award, Kia Defensive Player of the Year, Kia Sixth Man Award, Kia Most Improved Player Award and Kia Rookie of the Year.  It also includes the Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Rookies of the Month during the regular season.  Kia serves as the Official Automotive Partner and Official Luxury Vehicle of the NBA.  For more information on the “The Kia NBA Performance Awards,” visit NBA.com/awards.