The Celtics were historically good in the month of February, turning around what had been an underwhelming season to that point. Recognizing that success, the NBA has named first-year head coach Ime Udoka the Eastern Conference’s Coach of the Month for February.
For Udoka, who was hired to replace Brad Stevens this past summer, this is his first league recognition as a head coach. He is the first Celtics coach to win the award since Stevens did in Nov. 2017, and the first rookie head coach to win Coach of the Month in franchise history.
During the month of February the Celtics went 9-2, matching their franchise-best 81.8 winning percentage for the month originally set in 1980. They posted a scoring margin of plus-157, with no other team within 40 points of that number.
With that run, the Celtics have rocketed up the Eastern Conference standings, and enter Thursday tied with the Cleveland Cavaliers for fifth place. Already 1-0 in the month of March after beating the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday, the Celtics will look to keep that momentum going as they welcome Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies to TD Garden Thursday night. Tip-off for the game is set for 7:30 p.m. with pregame coverage beginning at 7 on the Celtics Radio Network.
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Alex Barth is a writer and digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Looking for a podcast guest? Let him know on Twitter @RealAlexBarth or via email at abarth@985TheSportsHub.com.