Atlanta Hawks guard Joe Johnson has been named to the 2012 NBA Eastern Conference All-Star squad to represent the Atlanta Hawks for the sixth consecutive season. The game will take place on Sunday, February 26 at the Amway Center in Orlando, FL, with coverage on TNT and ESPN Radio beginning at 7 p.m.
“It means a lot to me to be selected as an All-Star again,” Johnson said. “To be recognized as one of the league’s best reflects well on the organization, my teammates and coaches, and I’m thrilled to be able to take part in the event.”
Averaging 18.6 ppg, 4.0 rpg and 3.7 apg (.432 FG%, .381 3FG%, .866 FT%) in 26 starts, Johnson is the first Hawk to reach six consecutive All-Star games since Hall-of-Famer Dominique Wilkins was named to nine straight All-Star games from 1986-94. An 11-year veteran, Johnson leads the team in ppg, FT%, FGM (181), 3FGM (51) and FTM (71). He ranks t9th in the NBA in FGM, t14th in FT%, 15th in FGM, 18th in ppg and t38th in apg. Johnson has scored 20-or-more points 13 times this year, including two 30-point efforts.
Unfortunately, his teammate Josh Smith did not receive the same accolade. Smoove did not get selected for the All-Star team, despite carrying the Hawks in many games since teammate Al Horford went down to a season-threatening injury in early January. Smoove has averaged 15.6 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 3.4 apg, 2.1 blocks per game, and 1.4 steals per game while bouncing between the 3 and the 4 spots. IN some cases, he’s even manned the middle, as he did Friday in going mano-a-mano with Dwight Howard and outrebounding D12, 19-18.
Paul pierce, Luol Deng, Chris Bosh, and Andre Igoudala were named as the reserve forwards for the Eastern Conference roster. Igoudala and Pierce might be surprising selections: Pierce may be a legacy addition since he has been slowed by injuries this year, but Igoudala ranks below Smoove in every category except APG.
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