All Star selections

atljtaylor

ATLANTA -- Al Horford, Paul Millsap and Jeff Teague have been selected by the Eastern Conference coaches to the All-Star team, and will compete in the 2015 All-Star game on Sunday, Feb. 15 at Madison Square Garden in New York. This marks the first time since 1980 that the Hawks have had three All-Stars.

“It is an honor for our entire organization to have Al, Paul and Jeff selected to play on the All-Star stage,” said Hawks Head Coach Mike Budenholzer, who will serve as head coach of the Eastern Conference squad. “The recognition is well-deserved for each of them. We are very proud of the guys, and also want to acknowledge the rest of our players and coaches for their roles in helping our players reach this accomplishment.”

Horford, an All-Star for the third time (also 2010 and 2011), is averaging 15.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.4 blocks in 30.5 minutes (.551 FG%, .750 FT%), having played in 44 contests. He ranks ninth in the NBA in FG%, 17th in assist-turnover ratio (2.77), 18th in FGM (300) and t20th in bpg. Horford owns eight double-doubles and recorded his first career triple-double with 21 points on 8-10 shooting, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in 29 minutes at Philadelphia on Jan. 13. He was named the NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week twice this season, for games played 12/15-12/21 and for 1/12-1/18.

“I feel honored to represent the Hawks and the city of Atlanta again,” Horford said. ”I want to give credit to our coaches and my teammates, as I know I wouldn’t be in this position without their support. I look forward to enjoying the time in New York and being a part of All-Star.”

Making his second consecutive All-Star appearance, Millsap is putting in team-bests of 17.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.7 steals to go along with 3.2 assists in 33.3 minutes in 45 games (all starts), hitting .487 FGs, .364 3FGs and .753 FTs. He ranks 12th in the league in spg, t22nd in FTM (175), 24th in rpg and 36th in ppg. He is also seventh in the NBA in +/- radio (+331). He has scored in double-figures 42 times, including 12 20-point nights, and has 11 double-doubles.

“It’s a privilege to be an All-Star for the second straight year,” Millsap said. “I know the success our team has had so far this season is a major factor, so my teammates and coaches are the reason that I have this opportunity. I’m proud to be representing them in New York.”

In his sixth season, all with the Hawks, Teague is headed to the All-Star game for the first time. In 42 games this season (41 starts), he’s compiled 17.0 points, 7.5 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 1.7 steals in 31.3 minutes (.470 FG%, .331 3FG%, .866 FT%). Teague is sixth in the NBA in apg, 11th in spg, 14th in FT%, 15th in assist-turnover ratio (2.86), t22nd in FTM (175) and 36th in ppg. He has scored in double-digits 34 times, with 19 20-point outings, and has nine games with 10-or-more assists. Teague was the NBA’s Eastern Conference Player of the Week for games played 12/29-1/4.

“I’d like to thank the Eastern Conference coaches,” Teague said. “Being named to the All-Star team means a lot to me and to my family, and I’m going to truly enjoy the entire experience. I’m only as successful as the team, so my teammates and coaches share in this honor.”

The Hawks are currently a Conference-best 38-8 (.826) and on a franchise record 17-game win streak (15-0 in January). Atlanta is 31-2 (.939) over the last 33 contests, and are 30 games above .500 for the first time since the end of the 1996-97 season. According to Elias Sports Bureau, Atlanta is the fifth team in the last 20 seasons to win 38 of their first 46 games.

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Al Horford, Paul Millsap and Jeff Teague Named Eastern Conference All-Stars

atljwilson

The Atlanta Hawks have been rewarded for their stellar play through the first half of the season as Al Horford, Paul Millsap and Jeff Teague have all been selected as All Stars by the Eastern Conference coaches.

The Hawks have three All Stars for the first time in 35 years.

Teague has improved his scoring average each season he's been in the league and is averaging career-highs in points, rebounds and two-point FG%.  He's been the team's engine during a remarkable 38-8 start that has Atlanta 7 games in front of the field in the Eastern Conference.  Teague will be an All-Star for the first time.

Millsap will make his second consecutive All-Star appearance in his second season as a Hawk.  He's producing at nearly an identical clip as last season, averaging better than 17 points and 8 rebounds per contest while recording a career-high in assists.  The Hawks are one of the most balanced teams in the league, but it's hard to argue Millsap hasn't been the most consistent bird.  He's a stat stuffer, leading all East frontcourt players in steals at 1.7 per game while also blocking nearly one shot per contest.

Horford has been on a shooting tear in January, hitting at a 59% clip while taking roughly 12 shots per game.  His efficiency has been amazing, and his pick-and-roll game with Teague is nearly unstoppable.  His path to the All-Star Game is remarkable considering he missed all but 29 games of last season with a pectoral tear and took about a month of regular season action in 2014-15 to really get his groove back.  It will be Horford's third All-Star appearance.

The common theme among these three is that all have improved defensively, which is something you have to believe the coaches value.  That, and all three have bought into Coach Bud's system of pace, space and ball movement.  The team success contributed to the Hawks having three All Stars, but all three of these guys are worthy.

Coach Bud and his staff earned the opportunity to coach the East All-Star team by virtue of having the best record in the conference.  Dennis Schröder was named to the Rising Stars Challenge on Wednesday, with Hawks assistant Kenny Atkinson set to coach the World Team.  Other Hawks may also be making appearances as more event lineups are announced.

All Star selections

Al Horford, Paul Millsap and Jeff Teague Named Eastern Conference All-Stars

Horford, Millsap, Teague Selected As All Stars