Count Denver's Karl a Joe Johnson fan

By Ken Sugiura

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Denver coach George Karl paid Hawks guard Joe Johnson a compliment by adjusting his starting lineup Saturday night to defend the three-time all-star.

Karl gave backup Joey Graham his first start of the season to guard Johnson, who entered the game averaging 21.2 points per game.

"I love him," Karl said of Johnson. "He's one of my favorite unsung guys. He's efficient, defensive-minded, he loves to play the best guy defensively and likes the ball in his hands offensively. At the end of the game, he's going to be a defensive problem and an offensive problem."

Rookie guards

Rookie guards Ty Lawson (Nuggets) and Jeff Teague (Hawks) went 18th and 19th, respectively, in June's draft. Both players, who were ACC rivals at North Carolina and Wake Forest, respectively, were high on the other team's draft boards. Karl said that Teague and UCLA's Darren Collison (taken by New Orleans with the 21st pick) followed Lawson on the Nuggets' wish list.

Said Hawks coach Mike Woodson, "Teague was the guy that we wanted, but Lawson was right there, as well. Had somebody taken Teague before we got him, Lawson could have been right there sitting there waiting on us."

Martin out

The Hawks got a break as Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin was unable to play. Martin sustained a left fibula contusion Friday night in Denver's loss to Miami and was kept out of the game Saturday.