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Portland Trail Blazers: Terry Stotts named West Coach of the Month

By Dave Nelson

PORTLAND, OREGON - FEBRUARY 23: Head Coach Terry Stotts of the Portland Trail Blazers reacts in the fourth quarter against the Detroit Pistons during their game at Moda Center on February 23, 2020 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OREGON - FEBRUARY 23: Head Coach Terry Stotts of the Portland Trail Blazers reacts in the fourth quarter against the Detroit Pistons during their game at Moda Center on February 23, 2020 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
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What happens when you coach your team to a record of 7-2, and one of those helped your team clinch a playoff spot in May? You get yourself named Western Conference Coach of the Month.

On Monday, the NBA and Portland Trail Blazers announced that Portland Head Coach Terry Stotts was named Western Conference Coach of the Month for May.

With Portland getting wins over Boston, Cleveland, San Antonio, Houston, L.A. Lakers, Utah, and the playoff-clinching game against Denver, it is only appropriate for Stotts to receive this honor.

This is the first time Stotts has earned Coach of the Month for the 2020-2021 season. He has also been named Western Conference Coach of the Month six times prior, and according to the Trail Blazers, he is the only coach to win the award six straight seasons since its inception in 1982-1983. Before this month, he had received the award March of 2019, January 2018, March 2017, February 2016, December 2015, and November 2014.

Stotts got his 400th win as Portland Head Coach on May 10, and is the second-winningest coach in Portland Trail Blazers history, behind Dr. Jack Ramsay’s 820. He also has 1003 wins in his NBA coaching career, which places him 36th in wins in the NBA for coaches.

The New York Knicks’ Tom Thibodeau, who led the Knicks to a 6-3 record, and helped New York clinch a playoff spot (number 4 seed)for the first time since 2013, was named Eastern Conference Coach of the Month. In addition to Stotts, this is also the sixth time Thibodeau has been named Coach of the Month. Thibodeau and the Knicks finished the season 41-31 and will open the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs at Madison Square Garden versus the Atlanta Hawks. This is Thibodeau’s first season as Head Coach of the Knicks. He replaced Interim Coach Mike Miller this past offseason.

Next. Portland Trail Blazers: 1 fact to know about each Denver Nuggets player. dark