The All-Star case for … Paul Millsap

By Chris Vivlamore

Jan 3, 2015

MAKING AN ALL-STAR CASE

The Hawks (24-8) have the best record in the Eastern Conference and are tied for the fourth-best mark in the NBA. Despite the team success, the Hawks don’t have a top-30 scorer in the league.

As it appears by the current All-Star balloting, the Hawks won’t have a player voted a starter for the game. There will likely be at least one Hawks player named as a reserve to represent the Eastern Conference based on the team’s success.

But who will it be?

An argument can be made for each of the five starters. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution will state the case for each in a five-part series.

Thursday: DeMarre Carroll

Friday: Kyle Korver

Today: Paul Millsap

Sunday: Jeff Teague

Monday: Al Horford

Paul Millsap knows one thing.

The Hawks better have one All-Star representative. Maybe more.

The Hawks currently sit atop the Eastern Conference standings. The latest of 17 wins in their past 19 games Friday catapulted them over Toronto for the best record. It’s a nice view from the top.

“Hopefully somebody represents this team,” Millsap said last week when asked if he should represent the Hawks in New York next month. “Hopefully we keep winning and we get multiple guys in there.”

Millsap was a first-time All-Star selection as a reserve last season, his first in the East after seven seasons in the West as a member of the Jazz, and appears to be the most likely Hawks candidate to be picked by coaches this year.

Millsap ranks second on the Hawks in scoring, behind Jeff Teague, at 16.7 points per game. He ranks 36th in the NBA on a balanced-scoring, ball-sharing team that doesn’t have a scorer in the top 30. He leads the team and is 18th in the league in rebounding, at 8.2 boards per game.

Millsap’s numbers are down, only slightly, over last season. That can be attributed to the return of center Al Horford. Millsap carried the Hawks for much of last season after Horford was lost after 29 games with a torn pectoral muscle. The two are starting to develop an on-court chemistry that has been part of the Hawks’ recent success.

Before Friday night’s victory over the Jazz, Millsap was the only player in the NBA averaging at least 16.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.0 steals. His steal total has dropped to an average of 1.91 per game, still good for sixth in the NBA. Millsap led the league in the category for much of the early season, a rarity for a big man.

Millsap, an undersized 6-foot-8 power forward, draws many tough defensive assignments. He has a proven ability to score inside and outside. He shattered his career-best for 3-pointers made and attempted (76 of 212) last season and remains on nearly the same pace this season (31 of 91).

Millsap has scored in double figures in 29 of the Hawks’ 36 games this season. He led the team in scoring 12 times. He has reached double-figures in rebounding nine times and led the team in the category 17 times. Millsap even led the Hawks in assists twice.

With his defensive ability, Millsap ranks 12th in the NBA with a plus-minus ratio of plus-212.

Millsap is closing in on career milestones of 9,000 points and 5,000 rebounds. He needs 424 points and 319 rebounds to reach the marks.

In a win over the Jazz in November, Millsap recorded Hawks’ single-game highs with 30 points, 17 rebounds and 13 field goals made.

A brief summer stint with Team USA was another highlight and bit of national attention for Millsap.

In the latest All-Star balloting results released by the NBA, Millsap is 13th among Eastern Conference frontcourt players. After fan favorites LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Pau Gasol and Chris Bosh, Millsap is left among a group that includes Kevin Love, Joakim Noah, Marcin Gortat, Jonas Valanciunas, Kevin Garnett, Al Jefferson, Nikola Vucevic and Paul Pierce.

Millsap has been a steadying influence on the Hawks. He will step away from his quiet nature when needed to speak — on or off the court. He is also one of several Hawks veterans determined to keep the team on the right path amid their recent play.

“It’s a big accomplishment,” Millsap said last week of the team’s record. “It’s a steppingstone for us. We’ve got to use marks to get to where we are getting. It’s another stepping stone for us. We’ll use it to continue to get better.”

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