Jeff Teague was honored for his role in helping the Hawks into the playoffs.
The Hawks point guard was named the NBA’s player of the week in the Eastern Conference on Monday for games played April 7-13.
The Hawks went 3-1 during the week, including a win at the Nets and a postseason-clinching victory over the Heat. He finished with 25 points, four rebounds, four steals and three assists in the win over the Heat Saturday. For the week, Teague averaged 20.3 points, 5.8 assists, 1.75 steals and had a 3.83 assist/turnover ratio. He tied all Eastern Conference point guards for made field goals (27) while ranking second in steals (seven).
“He has been important to us all year,” coach Mike Budenholzer said. “We’ve been talking about how well he has been doing. There are lots of things defensively and activity-wise that are contributing to some of the traditional stats that everybody sees and talks about.
“We want him to just keep getting better and improving. I told him, ‘Congratulations, now get back on defense.’”
It is the first player of the week award for Teague. He joins Paul Millsap as Hawks who have been honored this season. Millsap won for the week of Jan. 20-26.
Rest for weary: The Hawks played the Bobcats Monday without three starters, but not for reasons that have been so familiar this season. With the Hawks locked into the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, Paul Millsap, DeMarre Carroll and Kyle Korver were rested. Millsap and Carroll have been nursing injured right hands and Korver recently missed six games with back spasms.
“Us being healthy and feeling good going into the playoffs, from a health standpoint, is really important,” Budenholzer said.
Budenholzer said he had not yet determined whether the same players or others would sit out the regular-season finale at the Bucks Wednesday.
Without the three starters, the Hawks used a lineup of Teague, Lou Williams, Cartier Martin, Mike Scott and Pero Antic.
“Any time to have a chance to get a couple guys who are a little bit nicked up — and most of the league is right now and we can’t move up or move down — so to get a day or two or whatever is appropriate, so you are ready come the weekend,” Budenholzer said.
New man at the top: The Hawks announced Steve Koonin as co-owner and CEO Monday sooner than they had planned. The announcement came late Sunday night after news of the impending move was reported by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
“We are all very excited about adding Steve Koonin to our group,” Budenholzer said. “I’ve learned about him in the last few days. He is very, very impressive. The more good people that we can surround ourselves with (the better). He will be a leader for us in a lot of different ways.”
