Teague’s time may have finally come
Go ahead. Say “I told you so.” Two games is a small sample, but second year man Jeff Teague may finally have seen his ship come in. With the trade of Mike Bibby to the Washington Wizards, along with the arrival of veteran point guard Kirk Hinrich, many of us wondered if Jeff Teague’s “role” with the Hawks was going to change or not. So far, it has, and in semi-dramatic fashion.
Here Comes “The Pest”
It was kind of hard sometimes, watching Jeff Teague play in spurts in the early season. He would come onto the court and show that he had another gear beyond everyone else in some games. In others, he played like he knew he would be yanked within two minutes. Where was the consistency? At the same time, the same could be asked of Head Coach Larry Drew, who would compliment Teague after a good game, then inexplicably assign him a DNP or play him in spare, all but useless minutes. Stop me if you’ve heard this one before….
It seemed that Larry Drew had embraced the idea of going with shooting and offense first, rather than speed and harassing defense. Speaking of which, last night’s game against a talented Golden State backcourt was a pretty good testament to how bothersome Teague can be to opposing point guards. It’s not like hasn’t shown flashes of this ability before, but the starting role and extended minutes (he played over 25 this time) were a confirmation of sorts. In case you think this is just a case of home cooking with local media, you need to check out some particular notes on the game from a more national perspective. On a side note, I would encourage everybody to take note of some interesting comments from Al Horford within that same article.
The Chicken vs The Egg…and Promises, Promises
Before we get too excited about the early success of Jeff Teague’s new (and possibly temporary) role, we have to recall that it has only been two games, one of which was a loss (though that loss can’t be blamed on Teague, per se). Can we expect a consistent performance out of him from the defensive end, and to continue to push the pace on offense? Will he defer if he’s in the game with Jamal, or is that simply a lineup issue that is solely Larry Drew’s responsibility? Is the future rotation at point guard forming itself before our very eyes, or is this just another flash in the pan?
Obviously, this calls Larry Drew’s past decisions into question. One quote from the above link may be condemning in some ways, depending on interpretation:
QUOTABLE II: “I’m not concerned about whether he makes or misses shots. . . . The biggest threat [from] him is when he utilizes his speed and his quickness, and when he harasses people defensively. That’s two straight games where I’ve thought he’s done a really good job with his energy.”
– Larry Drew on Teague.
Okay, that’s also two straight games where Teague has had the opportunity to prove that he can do these things that Drew claims he wants, during times in the game when it will actually matter. Did Drew have reason to believe Teague could not do this before? Was the playing time he gave Teague adequate to prove the argument in either direction? Some feel that Larry Drew would have never given Jeff Teague this chance if the trade had not occurred. Drew says he doesn’t care about Teague hitting shots. Something doesn’t seem right here, but is that even important now?
Here is the last and most obvious set of questions – will Larry Drew continue to give Jeff Teague significant minutes during games (as in 20 mpg or more)? Will he revert to using Jamal in tandem with Kirk Hinrich if Teague has rough games?
That remains to be seen, but for now, it seems like Teague’s time may have finally come.
Big Ray, Hawks Fan Nest
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570 comments Add your comment
vava74
March 2nd, 2011
8:00 pm
you can lose games but you need to fight back with other factors. little reminders for the future.
vava74
March 2nd, 2011
8:03 pm
rose is a freak of nature…
Melvin
March 2nd, 2011
8:06 pm
Like I said, it’s going to be an uphill battle…
niremetal
March 2nd, 2011
8:09 pm
Vava,
I know seeing Zaza punch Boozer would have been emotionally satisfying, but I thought Zaza’s reaction to Boozer’s foul was perfect. It would have been dumb to clock Boozer and start a brawl that could have led to multiple suspensions. But Zaza instead focused on protecting his teammate rather than seeking vengeance. Especially since this team is already banged up enough, that’s the right move.
Melvin
March 2nd, 2011
8:14 pm
Hawks need to sign Al Thronton. They did good getting rid of Bibby but now it’s time to find Marvin replacement. Thronton is a much better scorer than Marvin. Trying to mask Marvin deficiencies with Jamal/Damien is not going to work in the playoffs. They need a true SF that can score, help space the floor, handle the ball and have decent size.
vava74
March 2nd, 2011
8:15 pm
nire,
we are soft, perceived as such and being man handled by the Bulls.
Boozer’s foul was dirty and deserving at least a bruise on his face.
Al dunked on Boozer’s face that ball in the first quarter and this was Boozer’s reply.
Now he has the upper hand. You can’t let happen. Worse, its you own home court and Al got decked and we stayed pat.
If we were winning, Zaza’s reaction was correct, but when you are losing you need to build a new foundation for next game. That foundation is fear.
Boozer is known to be a pansy if the reaction is strong and we did the opposite, let a blown up softie feel that he owns us.
Apart from Xs and Os, you need to win the mind games and on this one, as in the actual game, we are losing.
vava74
March 2nd, 2011
8:16 pm
sorry for the typos and grammar errors and omissions
Melvin
March 2nd, 2011
8:24 pm
We can talk about the Hawks defense all we want but the Hawks need to be able to score 20pts per qtr in order for them to win games….
Melvin
March 2nd, 2011
8:32 pm
Nire,
Can you give us Marvin jump shot stats for the past 3-5 games? I’m thinking he may be shooting worse than Josh…
vava74
March 2nd, 2011
8:33 pm
Melvin,
Yeah, but now we hang in there against one of the best if not the most dangerous PG in the league right now. With Bibby we would be down by 30.
vava74
March 2nd, 2011
8:34 pm
who cares about Marvin. we are used to him under performing. JJ is playing like cr*p… and he is they guy who had to step up tonight
vava74
March 2nd, 2011
8:35 pm
Al will be a legit 3 point threat within 2 years max.
vava74
March 2nd, 2011
8:37 pm
dang, deng’s 3 was a killer now…
Melvin
March 2nd, 2011
8:41 pm
LD should sub Al and Hinrich to end the qtr so they could be fresh for the 4th qtr
vava74
March 2nd, 2011
8:43 pm
marvin is, on offense, the shortest 6′9” player in the nba…
Melvin
March 2nd, 2011
8:43 pm
*fell off my couch* laughing at Marvin with the Statue of Liberty missed layup…
Melvin
March 2nd, 2011
8:46 pm
LD should have let Joe rest for the remainder of the qtr
vava74
March 2nd, 2011
8:49 pm
LD is going too tight with his rotation. we will probably hang in there until about the 5 minute mark and then it will get back to double figures.
I doubt that Al is able to emulate this 3rd quarter…
niremetal
March 2nd, 2011
8:50 pm
How the hell was that not a foul??
Melvin
March 2nd, 2011
8:52 pm
Training day for LD. He use probably his best finishing group to start the 4th qtr against the Bulls 2nd unit…
vava74
March 2nd, 2011
8:55 pm
But without Josh is difficult to have an effective rotation down low…
vava74
March 2nd, 2011
8:58 pm
that was 3 seconds in the lane to me…
vava74
March 2nd, 2011
9:02 pm
get Hinrich on the floor pronto… we cannot let Rose get comfy on Jamal
vava74
March 2nd, 2011
9:09 pm
BOSSSSSSSS !
Melvin
March 2nd, 2011
9:15 pm
Bob almost had a heart attack after Marvin block Rose…
Melvin
March 2nd, 2011
9:20 pm
Al got foul on that dunk…
vava74
March 2nd, 2011
9:20 pm
and the foul?
vava74
March 2nd, 2011
9:22 pm
yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!
vava74
March 2nd, 2011
9:23 pm
heck yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
niremetal
March 2nd, 2011
9:23 pm
EPIC WIN!!!!!!
niremetal
March 2nd, 2011
9:25 pm
JJ, Marv, and Kirk had miserable shooting nights. But we do NOT win this game without their D.
Twenty game balls to Al.
O'Brien
March 2nd, 2011
9:25 pm
Hawks win. Hawks win…With no Josh, and JJ shooting like crap, going 5-20, we find a way to pull it out.
Marvin looked bad early, but he had a huge block, and a huge 3, so all is forgotten.
Al, you are the man! Hawks need to feed Al in the 4th more often.
Melvin
March 2nd, 2011
9:27 pm
Take the win and get the hell outta there….
vava74
March 2nd, 2011
9:28 pm
DAMN I SO FREAKING HAPPY!!!!! I almost pulled a muscle pump fisting in silence like an epileptic!
Astro Joe
March 2nd, 2011
9:30 pm
Great play call by LD on that pick and roll play with Jamal and Al. Jamal looked like a play-maker on that one, huh? And Marvin now has a signature play… that wicked block on Derrick Rose down the stretch of a game. Followed shortly by a big 30ball. Helluva game!
Astro Joe
March 2nd, 2011
9:32 pm
3-ball.
Hinrich shot poorly but played incredible defense. Hopefully, this will bring more HAWKS fans to this home series… the games will surely be sold out, we just need the right fans in the seats.
vava74
March 2nd, 2011
9:40 pm
Also, a great game by Jamal who was perfect on that pick and roll.
Tonight he limited his typical mistakes (did not force too many shots) and made a true effort on D as he had done already in POR during the first half.
Ken Strickland
March 2nd, 2011
9:44 pm
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE ATLANTA HAWKS CAN PLAY DEFENSE. With our perimeter DEF being solid, it allows everyone to stay with and defend their own man, and we’ve become a solid defensive team as a result. I am so proud and excited about our defensive minded Hawks.
We spent the last 2.5 quarters giving the Bulls a taste of the kind of DEF they put on us the first 1.5 quarters. Did you notice much our solid DEF energized everyone on OFF? GOOOOOOOOO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!
RethinkPossible
March 2nd, 2011
9:51 pm
Not much I can say that hasn’t already been said….It’s damn good to be a HAWKS fan right now, AL for MVP. Can’t wait for the durantula on Fri – will be there cheering on the birds.
Ken Strickland
March 2nd, 2011
9:52 pm
I also owe HC LDrew a big apology for questioning his decision of starting JCollins against Noah, but he actually played Boozer, and played him well indeed. He used a 10 man rotation and every player had a positive contribution to this win. Well coached gm coach Drew.
vava74
March 2nd, 2011
10:05 pm
Ken,
You are right, but I think only to a point. We did not start well, so definitely there was something missing on the preparation.
However, the fact is that to start the second half the same line up worked and indeed Collins played Boozer well during his second shift.
Huge difference between LD and Woody: that pick and roll play designed for Al was a thing of beauty: a pick under the basket, Al gets free from Noah, sets the pick for Jamal and then rolls for the dunk. Man, that was poetry in motion!
O'Brien
March 2nd, 2011
10:15 pm
Defense wins championships. Hawks gave up 30 second half points. At least with Hinrich replacing Bibby, the Hawks should feel like they can play defense when it matters, and they dont have to focus on outscoring everybody.
Hawks are 3-0 when Hinrich plays, and since the trade, they are giving up an average of 86 ppg . Captain Kirk didnt shoot well, but his defense on Rose was good. Teague only got 6 minutes, but no complaints from me.
JJ shot horribly, but he still found ways to contribute (7 rebs, 9 assists). We still need to get him going though.
Josh Powell gave us nothing again. Game ball goes to Al.
vava,
If Woody was here, that last play would probably have been an ISO JJ (instead of pick and roll for Al), despite the fact that JJ was 4-19 at that point.
doc
March 2nd, 2011
10:20 pm
just back from the phillips. a lot of noise tonight from both sides like a high school game. fun baby.
al was a hoss. collins held his own tge third quarter when ww made the big cpmeback holding tgen to about two poibts the first six minutes. however it is not good for your center and sf to have one rebound midway through the third quarter. love seeing hinrich out there. even if he makes a mistake he gets pissed at himself. like wilkens and prefer him ovee marvin.
felt bad for teague but he ran right into the teeth of the bulls over and over. his body language said so much as he left the court like a wounded dog.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 2nd, 2011
11:42 pm
Really amazing what having a competent defender at the point guard position has done for this team. No longer is this team overly reliant on Smoove to compensate for everyone else defensively. That is a really good thing.
Now if they can only continue the commitment to get Horford the ball in position to score (and Smoove the ball in position to draw double teams and pass) their offense will catch up to their defense. The more often Kirk and Teague run the point (instead of Jamal) the more likely this is going to happen.
Ed
March 3rd, 2011
1:44 am
Heckava a comeback, and Hinrich has truly made a difference in our defensive play. The one downside is the Teague era is officially over…he’ll only see sporadic minutes from here on out.
Debra
March 3rd, 2011
8:06 am
ok, could we bring Bibby back? Teaugue is not a real NBA player, he had minutes last night, I watched real hard, and was @ the game, he looked like a teenager out there trying to find his way around, big mistake, bad trade, Kurt “Harry Potter” was so busy buddying up with Rose and Noah…bad bad Hawks mgt..and Drew, you could have treated Bibby better! No class. and really now, Joe Johnson 12 points, “Is that all you got!” Damn! Get well Josh!
niremetal
March 3rd, 2011
8:44 am
Huh?
Astro Joe
March 3rd, 2011
9:10 am
At the risk of throwing a wet blanket on last night, Najeh, Al took a ton of jumpers. He was obviously red-hot but I’m not convinced that we can blame our jumper-happy bigs on past PG play. After watching over 50 games of LD’s offense, I think it is safe to say that it is designed to create open jumpers for the players (more so than back door cuts). Creating uncontested mid-range shots is not a bad thing. But he has not yet been able to convince most of the players to start “inside out” as he often says. In one of the recent road games, Joe was the only one who seemed determined to shoot in the paint. Again, I’m not sure that we can expect Captain Kirk to fix that… IMO, LD needs to figure out a way to “encourage” the players to stop settling for jumpers.
Astro Joe
March 3rd, 2011
9:18 am
So I heard Durant may have hurt his ankle last night and could potentially miss Friday’s game against the Good Guys.
doc
March 3rd, 2011
9:25 am
aj, one of the things i saw at the game is there was nothing inside. every time we went inside we were smothered by a very good defense. there were two blocks and steals the first of our possesions as we went inside. how many times did we penetrate and get stuck with nothing? poor teague got there then coldnt get out of the maze. kirk couldnt do it, joe couldnt do it and jamal even got caught several times in that defense.
just glad al was on last night, it was his game on both ends of the court. we cant expect him to do it every night. last night was special. it is also too much to ask of him to do what he did every night on the boards. about midway throiugh the third quarter when they were coming back with marvin at 3 and collins at 5 they had 1 rebound amongst the 2 for the whole of the game. sorry, that is unacceptable in the long run and why we still have so much work to do to find another serviceable big. yeah zaza contributed some last night and didnt make any glaring mistakes which helped tremendously but he didnt exactly eat up the boards either. at least jj hauled in a few. word about him in order, he is still so weak at the basket for his size. it is appalling with some very makable ops lost last night. there is no reason for him to be so soft going to the hoop and he was and is.
overall, the guys hung in there and played hard. there wouldnt have been a mountain if they had started with more energy from the get go. nt sure why so little there but it also takes the crowd out of the game when they do that.