The Atlanta Hawks have surprised by getting out to a 43-10 start to the season, and as a result, they were rewarded by having three players named to the Eastern Conference All-Star roster.
The Detroit Pistons had four All-Stars make it in 2006, and the Boston Celtics had four make it in 2011. But thanks to multiple players suffering injuries, Atlanta has now become the next to do so.
From the official release:Atlanta Hawks guard Kyle Korver has been named by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to replace injured Eastern Conference All-Star reserve Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat in the 2015 NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, Feb. 15, at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The addition of Korver, the NBA leader in multiple shooting categories, gives the Hawks a record-tying four All-Stars in a season.
Korver is on pace to post the best single-season shooting performance in NBA history at 51.6% from the field, 52.8% from 3-point territory and 92.0% from the free throw line – aiming to become the first qualifying player ever to shoot at least 50 percent from the field, 50 percent from behind the arc and 90 percent on free throws. The 12-year veteran is averaging 12.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists for the 43-10 Hawks.
Korver is really the key to the success of the Atlanta offense. While the team runs an equal opportunity system similar to the one exhibited by the San Antonio Spurs, the insane shot-making that Korver has converted is what truly has made the team go.
The East is down this year, and once you get past the already-selected All-Stars, there aren’t many who are deserving that are a part of a winning situation. Nikola Vucevic (Orlando) and Brandon Knight (Milwaukee) both have the numbers, but Korver -- in the midst of perhaps the greatest shooting season in NBA history -- was certainly the proper choice.