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
Big Ray
February 27th, 2011
11:29 pm
Yeah, I don’t like that either. Jamal at the point never seems like a great idea.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 27th, 2011
11:30 pm
^^ In a good way.
O'Brien
February 27th, 2011
11:30 pm
Make that 10. I like our defense though
Big Ray
February 27th, 2011
11:32 pm
OB , one of the biggest things is our rebounding. We’ve just about got them at a 2-to-1 advantage. And Portland is a good rebounding team.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 27th, 2011
11:33 pm
“That there is what is called assuming your conclusion. You’re assuming the difference was the minutes rather than a new sense of urgency brought on by the trade. ”
First of all, Teague has done a lot of the same things prior to the last couple of games that he did against the Suns and Warriors, regardless of how strongly you want to close your eyes and ears and yell “la la la la” to any evidence of Teague playing well prior to four days ago. Secondly, why can’t it be both? Why couldn’t Teague’s good play in the last two games have been a function of both a trade-induced sense of urgency as well as being able to play meaningful minutes with the starters?
O'Brien
February 27th, 2011
11:33 pm
I’m surprised JJ or Jamal dont take the technicals. With the way they have missed them, I’m glad LD goes to Marvin though.
Josh travelled right there. he needs to give the ball up sometimes….
niremetal
February 27th, 2011
11:33 pm
Wow…that’s what I call getting away with a travel.
Big Ray
February 27th, 2011
11:34 pm
Ok, now THAT would have been the time to get a technical. Smith was having one of his bone-headed moments and traveled further than Southwest Airlines. Would have been a turnover if not for the bailout on the foul call.
O'Brien
February 27th, 2011
11:34 pm
Even without Teague and Hinrich in the game, our defensive intensity has picked up.
Was Bibby slowing us down that bad? Or maybe the trade lit a fire under the rest of the Hawks to step up there defense.
Melvin
February 27th, 2011
11:35 pm
Looks like Teague is getting the Royal Ivey treatment…. Start the opening quarters and sit on the bench for the rest of the half/game…
2 FOR JOHN DREW
February 27th, 2011
11:36 pm
Boy we’re playin’ DEFENSE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Big Ray
February 27th, 2011
11:37 pm
This is why I don’t like playing without a pg in the game. Josh should know better than to do what he did, so I can’t use that as an excuse (at least he pshed the issue by driving the ball to the basket). But when there’s no pg to keep pace with a fast break opportunity, you run the risk of a “Smoove” moment.
Get Teague or Hinrich back in there. I’m not understanding LD’s thinking here.
Big Ray
February 27th, 2011
11:39 pm
Blazers are very frustrated. They have less than half the number of rebounds we have. They have only 5 turnovers, but only 5 assists. Their entire frontline is in early foul trouble. They’re only shooting 36% from the field.
We MUST keep the pressure up.
Big Ray
February 27th, 2011
11:41 pm
That’s got to be one of Smith’s go to moves. That spin is lethal.
Big Ray
February 27th, 2011
11:43 pm
Sweet. Kirk with the 3.
Big Ray
February 27th, 2011
11:43 pm
Good “D” by Marv…Roy had nowhere to go.
Melvin
February 27th, 2011
11:44 pm
Big Ray,
did you catch Hinrich expression after Jamal didnt pass him the ball on the fastbreak?
Melvin
February 27th, 2011
11:45 pm
Ray,
Hinrich was pissed…
Big Ray
February 27th, 2011
11:46 pm
Pretty good half. Now we have to play just as tough and gritty in the second half.
Hinrich isn’t quite in the groove yet, but he’s playing well. He’ll be even more effective when he gets the offensive sets down.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 27th, 2011
11:48 pm
The seismic shift in the team defense when you take Bibby and Mo’s minutes and give them to Kirk and Damien is not surprising, but amazing regardless.
Big Ray
February 27th, 2011
11:49 pm
Melvin ,
I sure did. Hence my smarty-pants comment earlier about Kirk remembering Jamal from their Chicago days.
Melvin
February 27th, 2011
11:50 pm
Jamal is like the roach hotel. Once LD sub him into the game, he doesnt come back out…
Big Ray
February 27th, 2011
11:51 pm
Najeh ,
Co-sign that. The team defense has clearly risen overall. How else do you explain such a good, gritty defensive first half with Jamal logging nearly 16 minutes?
Jamal’s shooting/scoring and the defensive production in the first half does not bode well for Teague’s PT in the second half, I’m afraid. We’ll see what happens. I could be wrong…
Najeh Davenpoop
February 27th, 2011
11:51 pm
“That’s got to be one of Smith’s go to moves. That spin is lethal.”
He’s real good at the spin move in the post. Not quite as good at finishing after he spins. Part of it is because his right hand needs a lot of work.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 27th, 2011
11:53 pm
“Jamal’s shooting/scoring and the defensive production in the first half does not bode well for Teague’s PT in the second half, I’m afraid. ”
I’m a lot less bent out of shape about Teague’s minutes when he has a quality player on both ends of the floor playing in front of him. Let’s face it, the outcry over Teague’s minutes from me as well as everyone else wouldn’t have been nearly as loud if Bibby had been playing like Hinrich.
superiorblogman
February 27th, 2011
11:53 pm
Teague is better than Hinrich defensively. Hinrich gives up just as much as he gets but he can hit shots, that is the great equalizer. LD is full of shi+ until Teague starts to put points on the board he will not get playing time. He is the best guard defensively though. I hope he asks for a trade so he can go somewhere where he will get playing time.
Big Ray
February 27th, 2011
11:55 pm
Agreed. Smith gets that right hand working better, and look out. I’m glad he went back inside to do his work after bombing away from the outside and coming up empty. He’s hard to guard with that spin, and when he’s under control, dude can make passes out of the most unlikely situations.
I remember a recent quote of LD saying pretty much nobody on the team seemed to know who is supposed to be where in all of these offensive sets, as well as Smith does. It explains how he makes some of those passes, where I’m like “how did he even know somebody was going to be there?”
Big Ray
February 27th, 2011
11:56 pm
Najeh ,
I’m a lot less bent out of shape about Teague’s minutes when he has a quality player on both ends of the floor playing in front of him. Let’s face it, the outcry over Teague’s minutes from me as well as everyone else wouldn’t have been nearly as loud if Bibby had been playing like Hinrich.
Co-sign that…
Big Ray
February 28th, 2011
12:00 am
superiorblogman ,
I don’t know. Does anybody ask for a trade during their rookie contract? That might send a bad message about that player to teams around the League.
I disagree that Teague is a superior defender to Hinrich, but that’s just my opinion.
I hear you about him not putting points on the board = not playing as much. But if you ask me, that’s all the more reason to work hard on that in the offseason. Because to be honest, I have a feeling that a lot of other NBA teams would look at him the same way – if you can’t score, you better be at least average-to-above-average at facilitating (assists) and defending. Teague can defend, but I’m not quite seeing the world class defensive talent that some people are seeing…
Ken Strickland
February 28th, 2011
12:05 am
Even with 12 turnovers and .429FG%, we’re leading by 12 at the half. Man, what a difference being able to play solid DEF makes. I knew Bibby’s DEF liabilities created problems for both our perimeter and interior DEF, but the last 2gms have demonstrated just how much of a problem he created. Even Jamal has played better DEF.
Big Ray
February 28th, 2011
12:09 am
Good move by Teague.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 28th, 2011
12:11 am
Quality minutes from Teague to start this half, and more fantastic team defense. It’s only their second game, but I’m liking these new look Hawks a lot.
Big Ray
February 28th, 2011
12:11 am
Great sequence. Teague pressures the heck out of Miller, forcing a turnover off a pass, then gets the ball up to Smith, who gives it up for Marvin, easy layup.
Me likey!
Big Ray
February 28th, 2011
12:12 am
Najeh , makes me feel even better because it’s on the road.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 28th, 2011
12:13 am
“Even with 12 turnovers and .429FG%, we’re leading by 12 at the half. Man, what a difference being able to play solid DEF makes. ”
Credit where credit is due. You don’t shoot poorly and turn the ball over a lot and still manage to hold the lead without offensive boards. Zaza was huge in that first half.
And the commitment to sharing the ball and getting out in transition led to a ton of free throw attempts, which helped a lot too.
Melvin
February 28th, 2011
12:15 am
You cant totally evaluate Teague game by boxscores. He does alot of things on the court that’s not in the stat book…
Big Ray
February 28th, 2011
12:17 am
Good to see LD true to his word. Teague played well in the first half, he gets minutes in the second half. Likewise, nice to see Teague earn these minutes, instead of looking like a hood ornament out there.
Melvin
February 28th, 2011
12:17 am
How does the Bulls feel now, trading LaMarcus for Tyrus on draft night…
Big Ray
February 28th, 2011
12:18 am
Joe heating up.
Teague….can’t be missing layups, yo. Nice follow by Josh, though.
Melvin
February 28th, 2011
12:20 am
I just knew Jamal was going to check in after the commerical break…
Big Ray
February 28th, 2011
12:20 am
LOL @ Melvin . I’d say they were feeling bad for a while there. However, they were able to make up for it a couple years later. In spectacular fashion, no less.
Big Ray
February 28th, 2011
12:22 am
Blazers don’t know what hit ‘em. One turnover after another. Joe has been getting his hands on the ball on the defensive end a LOT tonight.
Big Ray
February 28th, 2011
12:23 am
What in the heck was Jamal thinking?
Big Ray
February 28th, 2011
12:25 am
BS call on Smith. He was standing still, Miller barreled into him.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 28th, 2011
12:25 am
“How does the Bulls feel now, trading LaMarcus for Tyrus on draft night…”
Haha… I thought that trade was dumb the minute it happened. The Bulls had a ton of good athletes and no low post scorer, and they traded a low post scorer for a raw athlete. Didn’t make any sense.
niremetal
February 28th, 2011
12:26 am
D. Fence.
Big Ray
February 28th, 2011
12:29 am
First move by Miller was an offensive foul. No call. Eh, whatever.
niremetal
February 28th, 2011
12:31 am
Is that the first time Kirk has given it to Josh off a double team and Josh has chucked a 20-footer with lots of time left on the clock? Hopefully Kirk just made a mental note.
Big Ray
February 28th, 2011
12:32 am
True, dumb move by the Bulls.
But I remember all those conversations about how if we had drafted Deron or CP3, we wouldn’t have had the opportunity to draft Al Horford. I always thought that was kind of a silly argument.
But if you apply it to the Bulls, perhaps keeping Aldridge means they wouldn’t have had the opportunity to draft Rose down the road. Yep. A guy who has now moved ahead in the pundit rankings for NBA MVP.
Big difference.
But that’s all hindsight crystal ball type noise….
Big Ray
February 28th, 2011
12:35 am
How about Marvin quietly helping out the effort with 11 points, 7 boards, and 2 steals?