Detroit Pistons head coach Larry Brown and Denver Nuggets head coach George Karl today were named the Eastern and Western Conference Coaches of the Month for games played in February.

Brown led the Pistons to a 9-1 month, the team?s highest winning percentage in a month since the Pistons went 10-1 in February of 1990. Pistons opponents were held under 90 points in seven of their nine wins. The team averaged 7.4 blocks (opponents had just 3.9), 7.0 steals and only 12.3 turnovers in February. The Pistons scored over 100 points in five of their nine wins, and prior to February, they had only surpassed the 100-point mark nine times this season. The Pistons are on a seven-game overall winning streak and have won all seven of their past home games.

Karl, in his first full month as head coach of the Nuggets, led the team to an 8-4 record, going 4-0 at home and 4-4 on the road. Prior to February, the Nuggets had won only 8 of 20 road games. Under Karl, the defense improved as it allowed only 92.3 points per game (6th in the league) on 42.6% shooting from the field. Before February the Nuggets were giving up 97.8 points per game on 45.7% shooting.

Other nominees for the Coach of the Month award were Boston?s Doc Rivers, Dallas? Don Nelson, Houston?s Jeff Van Gundy, Miami?s Stan Van Gundy, Milwaukee?s Terry Porter and Seattle?s Nate McMillan.