Paul Millsap is making his All-Star case – and it’s getting stronger by the game.
The Hawks power forward was largely ignored in fan voting as he did not register in the top 15 among Eastern Conference frontcourt players. However, Millsap is compiling numbers that can’t be ignored by NBA coaches as they fill out ballots to select the reserves for next month’s All-Star Game.
“If he is not an All-Star, I don’t know what I’m going to do,” said DeMarre Carroll, Millsap’s teammate with the Jazz the past two seasons and now with the Hawks. “I’m going to go to the league and talk to them. He deserves to be on the All-Star team. We’ve been hurt and he has led us.”
The reserves will be announced Thursday. The East starters are LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Paul George, Dwyane Wade and Kyrie Irving. Most national writers have Millsap included in their predictions of the group who will be added and report to New Orleans for the Feb. 16th exhibition.
Millsap has indeed led the Hawks, especially since the season-ending loss to center Al Horford.
In the 28 games with Horford, Millsap averaged 16.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.0 blocks in 33.1 minutes. In the 14 games without Horford, he has averaged 19.4 points, 8.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.9 steals and 1.6 blocks in 33.5 minutes. Those numbers include his play in Saturday’s 112-87 rout of the Bucks in which he sat the entire fourth quarter.
In total Millsap is second on the Hawks in both average points (17.6) and rebounds (8.2) behind Horford. He is 35th in scoring in the NBA.
Many consider Millsap the NBA’s best free-agent signing of the summer, based on his production, as the Hawks inked him to a two-year, $19 million contract.
“The most important thing is how well Paul has played,” coach Mike Budenholzer said. “He has played at a high level, an All-Star level. What he has been able to give his teammates and give us has been really special. I think it’s important to recognize his play.”
Millsap was one of three Hawks on the All-Star ballot with Horford and Jeff Teague. None received enough votes to be included in balloting updates released by the league.
The Hawks remain third in the Eastern Conference standings, behind powers the Pacers and two-time defending champion Heat. Few figured the Hawks to be in this position with a new head coach and another roster makeover. However, the Hawks have maintained the spot for much of the season, even after the loss of Horford.
With the Hawks (23-20) having the early success, it will be hard to not include at least one on the All-Star team.
“I expect at least one of our players, being in third place in the East, to be on the team,” Elton Brand said. “The coaches hopefully will respect winning because it takes a lot to be on a winning team and put up numbers. Our guys have been doing that. Jeff Teague has been playing great. Paul Millsap is playing great. And Kyle (Korver) with the (NBA-record 3-point) streak. I know we’ll get one. We better get one, hopefully, two players.”
The 6-foot-8 Millsap has downplayed the notion that he should be an All-Star. He has also maintained that the Hawks should be represented because of their success.
“Our main focus is on if we win,” Millsap said. “For me personally, I think somebody should represent this team whether it’s me, Jeff, Kyle. We deserve it. We’ve worked hard through the course of the year, especially after Al went down. We’ve done a great job so far and hopefully we can continue to do it.”
Millsap was never named an All-Star in his first seven seasons with the Jazz. He appears on the verge of ending that streak. The Hawks have been the beneficiaries.
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