As (most of us) expected, Joe Johnson was named to his third straight Eastern Conference All-Star team tonight. Maybe we take it for granted at this point given his consistent excellence for the Hawks, but it's really a rather impressive feat. In the franchise's history, only 6 players have ever accomplished the feat: Bob Pettit, Slater Martin, Cliff Hagan, Lenny Wilkens, Lou Hudson, and Dominique Wilkins (Dikembe Mutombo made three straight if you don't count 1999, when they didn't have a game due to the lockout), and most of those guys made it back when there were many less teams, and therefore less competition, for All-Star berths.

So JJ becomes the 7th, and he will head to Phoenix for the festivities Feb. 13-15. While Mike Bibby was not named as a reserve, we still hope to hear his name called on Feb. 4 for the three-point contest.

Congratulations Joe!