Tyronn Lue, Steve Kerr named coaches of the month

After piloting their respective teams to sterling records, the league names Steve Kerr and Tyronn Lue as the first Coaches of the Month this season.

Tyronn Lue of the Cleveland Cavaliers (East) and Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors (West) have each been named Coach of the Month for their respective conferences for the months of October and November, according to a league announcement on Friday.

Lue led the reigning champion Cavaliers to an Eastern Conference-best 13-3 record during October and November, matching the best 16-game start in the history of the franchise. Over the course of that period, Cleveland ranked second in the NBA in scoring (111.3 points per game), three-point field goal percentage (39.0), and three-pointers made (13.8 per game).

The Cavs' highlight of the month came when the team buried a team-record 21 three-pointers in a 137-125 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Nov. 23.

Kerr sparked the Warriors to an NBA-best 16-2 record in October and November, including 12 straight victories entering December. Golden State led the NBA in scoring (117.6 points per game), assists (31.1 assists per game), field goal percentage (50.2), and blocked shots (6.6 blocks per game). The Warriors dished at least 30 assists in 10 consecutive games, the longest streak in franchise history. Golden State handed out a team-record 47 assists in a 149-106 win against the Los Angeles Lakers on Nov. 23.

This is Kerr's fourth time winning the award in his short two-and-change season stint as a head coach.

The honors clearly reflect the two most dominant teams in their respective conferences. Ironically enough, both teams suffered losses during Thursday's TNT doubleheader as the Cavaliers took a 113-94 loss against the L.A. Clippers and the Warriors fell in double overtime to the Houston Rockets 132-127.