All-Star voting is open. Let the campaigning begin.
Or not.
Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer was asked Friday morning if he would like to campaign for any of his players.
“Nope,” he said. “I hope all 15 of them make it.”
Well, we know that is not going to happen. However, several Hawks should be considered, if not in fan voting for the starters but surely as reserves. Jeff Teague and Paul Millsap are prime candidates to go to New York in February for the 2015 NBA All-Star game.
“When you look at it, Jeff Teague and Paul Millsap they are both playing at an extremely high level,” said Al Horford, himself a two-time All-Star. “They are both worth considering.”
Teague leads the Hawks in scoring at 16.9 points a game. He is also averaging 7.0 assists and is the catalyst for a team off to a 15-6 start, a half-game out of first place in the Eastern Conference.
“I don’t care except for our team to continue to play well,” Teague said. “We are in a good spot right now so if we continue to play as a team and continue on this road, everything else will fall in place.”
Millsap, who was named an All-Star last season, is second in scoring at 16.6 points per game. He is also averaging 7.7 rebounds and an NBA-best 2.3 steals. Millsap said the Hawks record should be taken into account.
“I think so, especially with our record, but things could change,” Millsap said. “Right now we are not really focused or worried about All-Star. We feel like if we win games, win a lot of games, it will speak for itself. When you win games, you feel like somebody from that team has to represent. We have guys who are capable of making it.”
The Hawks do face a challenge with no clear-cut, league-wide fan favorite. They don’t have the superstar that will garner fan votes. They will likely rely on coaches to get a name a Hawks as a reserve.
Also, the Hawks spread the wealth with their offensive system. One night it might be Teague that does the scoring, the next Millsap, the next Horford, the next Kyle Korver, the next DeMarre Carroll, the next Mike Scott. All five starters average in double-figures and two reserves average more than eight points.
“It’s so free-flowing that everybody plays a major role on the offensive end,” Teague said. “ … Our team is a little different than anyone else who runs this kind of system because everybody on our team can make decisions and everybody gets the ball and can make plays.
“That is what you see with the really good teams – anyone can have a really big night. You can’t really prepare for that. Tonight might be my night, or Kyle, or DeMarre, or anyone. That’s what makes our team really special.”
For the first time, the ballot includes every player and fans will select two guards and three frontcourt players.
Balloting for the All-Star game is open through Jan. 19. Starters will be announced during a special on TNT on Jan. 22. Reserves for the game will be announced at a later date.
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