On Thursday, the NBA announced that Scott Brooks of the Washington Wizards was named Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for February.
On Thursday, the NBA announced that Scott Brooks of the Washington Wizards was named Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for February. This marks the second time that Brooks has received Coach of the Month in his second-year tenure with the Wizards.
It’s also the fifth time spanning his coaching career.
The month of February was a tough stretch for Washington, who were without their five-time All-Star point guard John Wall. Yet, everyone on the coaching staff and the players stepped up when Wall went down.
It echoed back to Brooks comments during his first year in Washington, when he told the Wizards, that “there is only one team”. Which meant that there’s no distinction between the bench and the starters.
If someone told me a year ago, that Tomas Satoransky would be battling Kyrie Irving, I would have said you gotta be “kidding” me. Sato did an excellent job, with the Celtic matchup going down to the wire and into overtime.
Forget about Otto Porter, Jr. In both meetings with the defending champions, the Golden State Warriors, Porter was the best player on the court.
For the month of February, the Wizards, who sit fourth in the East, have an 8-4 record.
The “one-team” mentality was a reality. There was no team on the regular season schedule, who I thought that the Wizards couldn’t beat.
The most important development which some would view as minor is that of Jodie Meeks. The sharpshooter’s three-ball wasn’t falling like they used to. The adage is to keep on shooting and it will come back.
But instead, Meeks has changed up his game and is now attacking inside the paint. Meeks is playing to his strength, where he’s a threat at the free throw line.
The fact that Brooks could change a player’s role this late in the season, is a testament to his coaching skills.
For all fans who watch his pre- and postgame pressers, when the Wizards win he lavishes the praise on the team. When they lose, he also points the finger at himself. Win or lose, Brooks has an even-keeled manner.
Brooks is the only coach in franchise history to win Coach of the Month twice. Not only did the players step up when they were faced with adversity, being without Wall, Brooks stepped onto the court and showed the league what this team is really made of – grit, hustle, and that the Wizards are still here.