Rick Carlisle, Myles Turner, and Pascal Siakam of Indiana Pacers named finalists for January performance awards
The NBA announced the winners and finalists for their January performance awards on Thursday, and the Indiana Pacers were named often.
The blue and gold played a tough January schedule and went 10-7, which included wins over Boston, Phoenix, Philadelphia, Milwaukee (x2), and Sacramento. At their best, the Pacers were terrific during the month.
They did all that while navigating an injury to Tyrese Haliburton, who only played seven games in January, and a trade for star forward Pascal Siakam that dramatically shook up the team. It was quite the 31-day period for the blue and gold, but they stuck together and had solid results.
As a result, it's no surprise that head coach Rick Carlisle was a nominee for January's Eastern Conference Coach of the Month award. He guided the team through a lot and still produced a solid record.
New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau took home the hardware as his team went 14-2 in January. Carlsile received a contract extension before the season and picked up his 900th win as a coach during the ongoing campaign.
"He's been doing it for so long and doing it so well," San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich said of Carlisle earlier this season.
Carlisle wasn't the only Pacer to be a finalist for their work in January. Siakam and Myles Turner were both nominees for Eastern Conference Player of the Month as well.
The honor went to Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell, who averaged 28.6 points per game during the month and led the Cavs to an 11-2 record. He was terrific.
Turner and Siakam were both great, not only as individuals but as a frontcourt pairing. In 16 appearances, Turner averaged 16.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game on 51.3% shooting from the field. He has been rock solid almost all year for the blue and gold.
His best game came in Portland, when he finished with 29 points, 12 rebounds, and five blocks against the Trail Blazers. Fittingly, that game was Siakam's debut for the Pacers.
The newly-traded forward actually played in games for both the Toronto Raptors and Pacers during the month, but those are both East clubs, so his case as a finalist is still solid.
Siakam averaged 22.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game in January. His best game for the Pacers was a 26-point, 13-rebound, 10-assist triple double in a win over the Philadelphia 76ers.
Once Siakam got a practice under his belt with a new team, his effectiveness took off. He should continue to be better for Indiana going forward. "He's a special player," Pacers guard T.J. McConnell said of Siakam a few weeks ago.
This is Turner's second player of the month nomination for the Pacers this season. He and the rest of the team will hope to keep up their solid play in February, though they are off to a slow start in the month.
- Indiana Pacers still figuring out how to manage Tyrese Haliburton's minutes restriction after loss to Sacramento Kings. CLICK HERE.
- Pascal Siakam discusses long-term future with Indiana Pacers and upcoming free agency. CLICK HERE.
- Indiana Pacers trade deadline rumor tracker. CLICK HERE.
- Pacers doomed by poor defense in loss to Sacramento Kings as losing streak reaches three. CLICK HERE.
- Follow AllPacers on Facebook: All Pacers SI
- Follow AllPacers on Twitter: @SIPacers
