Frank Vogel led the Pacers to the league’s best winning percentage, .778, in February.
The Pacers had an outstanding February. The best in the league, in fact.
They began the month with a 17-32 record and many spots out of the playoff picture. Then, they got healthy — with the exception of Paul George, still — and finally had the players and rotations they expected at the beginning of the season.
One (short) month and nine games later, the Pacers are less than 20 games from a .500 record and are eighth in the Eastern Conference standings. As a result of their 7-2 record and The Association’s best winning percentage (.778), Pacers head coach Frank Vogel was named Eastern Conference Coach of the Month.
This marks the third time the fifth-year head coach has earned this honor (Apr. 2013, Nov. 2013).
“Coach of the Month is always a team award,” Vogel said in a news release. “It’s indicative of team success. It’s nice recognition for our players who didn’t quit through a lot of adversity. We still have a lot of work to do, but I’m looking forward to seeing what this group can accomplish.”
As the Pacers continue to have more success, they are being considered for more awards. Though Boston Celtics newcomer Isaiah Thomas was named the conference’s Player of the West, George Hill was a nominee.
Sure, the Pacers benefited from facing team’s without their stars, but they recorded wins over Golden State and Cleveland (twice). The second win over the Cavaliers earned Vogel win No. 191 for his career, which gave him the most coaching wins in franchise NBA history, moving in front of Larry Brown (190).
With just 23 games remaining this season, 13 of them are at home which only helps their chances for their fifth consecutive playoff berth.