Atlanta Hawks: Van Exel helping Teague find his inner ‘dog’
Hawks want Teague to attack like Van Exel.
They called Nick Van Exel “Nick the Quick” during his playing days because of his speed, and in that way Jeff Teague is similar to Van Exel.
But Van Exel also had what L.D. calls an “edge” and “played with a chip on his shoulder.” Teague doesn’t have that so L.D. brought in Van Exel to help him find it.
“We call it ‘the dog’ in the NBA,” Van Exel said. “We are trying to bring that dog out of him.”
For Van Exel, the dog was a natural thing. You saw it in his brashness, his attacking style and his knack for taking and making buzzer-beating shots. Of course, sometimes it could be tough to contain Van Exel’s “dog”–he had a history of untimely technical fouls and a rep for difficult relations with coaches and teammates–but you could never say Van Exel wasn’t aggressive.
These things don’t come naturally for Teague.
“He’s kind of a quiet kid,” Van Exel said. “He likes to joke around and have fun. But there are times when somebody makes him mad, and he is just blowing by guys. And we are like, ‘Man, you’ve got to to that all the time.’
“He can do it. He has those skills. We are thinking about maybe going up to him and making him mad before every game, making up stuff just to get him going.”
You see flashes of fire in Teague. During one of the informal pickup games last week Bibby called a foul on Teague, who thought his block was clean. Teague angrily protested the call and in the next few possessions attacked the basket with zeal. His banter with Bibby continued in locker room, and though it was in that half-joking, half-serious tone, there was no doubt Teague was still ticked about the call.
Hawks coaches want to see that spark all the time.
“He has all the tools,” Van Exel said. “It’s just a matter of him bringing an aggressive style and approach to the game every night. Skill-wise, I think he is up there with the best of them. He can shoot it. He can get in the lane anytime he wants. He can break the defense down. He has all the skills.”
Van Exel retired from playing after the 2005-06 season. He ranked among the league’s top eight in assists for five different seasons and the top 10 in 3-pointers made in four seasons.
Van Exel said he had planned to take a couple years off after his retirement and then get an NBA coaching gig but that didn’t work out. He was an assistant coach at Texas Southern in Houston when L.D. called.
“This is really I wanted to be,” he said. “It is great to be back [in the league].”
MC
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145 comments Add your comment
Grandad
September 29th, 2010
11:16 pm
*The MP and TP remark was sarcasm.
truthspiter
September 29th, 2010
11:20 pm
Grandad: No disrespect but you are starting to sound like an old fart that knows absolutely nothing. What is Etan Thomas suppose to help Marvin Williams with being that Etan is just another undersized C, and Marvin is whatever he is.
MsDee
September 30th, 2010
1:01 am
@SteveW, very good point about the Cavs winning every bit of 60+ games last season with a very winnable EAST COAST and couldnt even get past the lowly 50 win Celtics! LD shouldnt be compared to Woodson’s team of last year due to this simple point made by SteveW!! This is a very new EAST COAST.. Way 2 go!!, SteveW
Ken Strickland
September 30th, 2010
1:14 am
SAMUEL-since when did the NBA institute a rule that prevents the Hawks, or any team that doesn’t finish in the top 5, from getting to the 2nd rd? If they have, then you’d better notify the NBA that the Spurs made it to the 2nd rd last yr as the #7 seed, and in 08/09 Utah made it as the #8 seed and Dallas made it as the #6 seed.
SYBIL/TRUTHSPITTER-If GRANDAD has started to sound like an old fart, then you’ve certainly been SMELLING like one for some time now.
STEVEW-If, as you believe, the East has vastly improved, why do you think it will only affect the Hawks? Wouldn’t each improved team affect the ability of the other improved teams’ ability to win more gms as well? In other words, if the vast improvement Miami, Boston, Milwaukee and Chicago has been given credit for makes it harder for the Hawks to win 53gms this yr, why wouldn’t it also make it harder for these teams to win more gms, or as many, as they did last yr as well?
oranjucejonz
September 30th, 2010
1:25 am
@@@@@@ GRANDAD @@@@@……WHAT VIDEO ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT
DUDLEY CAN'T DO RIGHT
September 30th, 2010
2:18 am
Dudley Do Right
September 30th, 2010
12:02 am
Teague needs more than a teacher, the needs to go to oz and get a brain and exchange one of his 2 left hands for a right hand.
Dudley Do Right
September 30th, 2010
12:03 am
he needs to go to oz
Grandad
September 30th, 2010
2:30 am
1st things 1st: truth[spiter] aka [Ted T. Mahather]
Admittedly, I am an ol’ fart.
Etan will help Marv by whippin’ his tail every day in practice.
“Grandad: No disrespect” – none taken: truthspiter.(with one t)
Sincerely, Phillip Masters
Grandad
September 30th, 2010
2:41 am
oranjucejonz
Atl Hawks official site:
videos…
LD interview with ‘Hometeam’ Brandon Leak
Glad to be of help -[again]- anytime.
Grandad
September 30th, 2010
2:43 am
The best thing about bein’ an old fart,
is you get to live long enough to be one.
Clyde
September 30th, 2010
3:03 am
I know this is off subject but what’s up wit Eddie Long? Ain’t preachers suppose to wear robes? He preach wit tight muscle shirts on.
SHAKING MY GOT DAM HEAD
Clyde
September 30th, 2010
3:32 am
Van Exel had some handles but what yall know bout Travis Best. He is one of the quickest point guards I have ever seen with the ball in his hands.
vava74
September 30th, 2010
3:37 am
Grandad,
I noticed the significant difference in the shooting mechanics too.
Last year Smoove was trying too hard to shoot with perfect mechanics and with an high arch (failing miserably and getting many air balls) and I mentioned several times that the movement was clearly not natural for him.
Sometimes we have to accept that some players get better results with imperfect but “natural” movements and Smoove clearly gets better results with a shot which is more flat and with a two handed quirky shot movement as he was showing on the clip.
truthspitter
September 30th, 2010
4:00 am
On another note, I could care less if there is basketball next year or not. The players and the players Union should not agree to a hard cap no matter what. Let replacement players play. Furthermore, resigning your own FA’s would then become even harder if the hard cap came into play. The only way I would do a hard cap if I were the players and players union is if the cap is set at $80 million with the other rules staying the same as for as contracts go and $70 million would still be luxury tax threshold, you just would not be able to exceed $80 million in salaries regardless, that would be the hard cap aspect, everything else would stay the same. These rich owners do a poor job as it is, especially looking at the ASG, no matter what the rules are poor owners are gonna be poor owners
northcyde
September 30th, 2010
4:31 am
I’m up way too late.
* Van Exel – Nice to seem him directly working with Teague to try to get his mind right to start the season. My main concern with Teague is if he’s a natural floor leader or not? If he can’t be a true floor leader ( because he wasn’t a true PG at Wake Forest ), Van Exel may at least teach him how to score the basketball on the NBA level. The floater is a shot that Van Exel loved, so hopefully he’ll teach Teague that shot.
* Smoove – Josh Smith can’t shoot, and will never be a defent outside shooter on the NBA level. While he will have to take the midrange shot every now and then, I truly want 75% of his shots to be within 10 feet of the basket.
* Drew and the team’s win total – For those that say that Drew doesn’t have to win as many games as Woody last year, as long as the team is more competitive in Round 2, that’s all well and good. But it’s ironic that last year it was pretty much EC Finals or Bust when it came to Woody . . but expectations on Drew have been reduced ( even though the same team returns ).
Like I said in the previous blog, the thing to watch in the Drew-led Hawks, is how they play on the road. While many of you like to cite Boston and their 50 win season, as proof that the regular season record isn’t important, keep in mind that Boston won a whopping 26 road games last year. If that wasn’t best in the league, it was 2nd best. A team that wins 2g road games, usually win 30 – 35 home games. But Boston only won 24. Because the injuries slowed them down considerably in January and February, they were NOT your normal 50 – 32 team once the playoffs started
If a 48 win Hawk team doesn’t have a winning record on the road, it’s a clear indication that they’ll struggle one again in Round 1 and possibly get trounced again in Round 2. So don’t get it twisted. If we don’t win 50+ games, we better be at least .500 on the road.
Bad road teams rarely make runs in the playoffs.
MsDee
September 30th, 2010
4:47 am
@northcyde, ‘* Drew and the team’s win total – For those that say that Drew doesn’t have to win as many games as Woody last year, as long as the team is more competitive in Round 2, that’s all well and good. But it’s ironic that last year it was pretty much EC Finals or Bust when it came to Woody . . but expectations on Drew have been reduced ( even though the same team returns ).
Exactly, Woody has had this SAME TEAM for 6 years, with the same OFFensive play for 5 years(-Joe Johnson his 1st yr), and the same DEFensive play for 4 years(+ Bibby & Jamal within) , and with the same results for 2 years (2nd round BUST!!) So I say, you are right, we DO EXPECT DIFFERENT RESULTS FROM LD WITH THE SAME TEAM BUT MINUS THE STUPID OFFENSIVE AND DEFENSIVE CRAP THAT OLE BOY WOODY HAD THEM PLAYING for 6 YEARS!!!!!
northcyde
September 30th, 2010
4:53 am
Damn typos on this phone….
defent = decent
2g = 26
MsDee
September 30th, 2010
4:53 am
again@northcyde, ‘If a 48 win Hawk team doesn’t have a winning record on the road, it’s a clear indication that they’ll struggle one again in Round 1 and possibly get trounced again in Round 2. So don’t get it twisted. If we don’t win 50+ games, we better be at least .500 on the road.
Bad road teams rarely make runs in the playoffs.’
This is where MID-SEASON ADJUSTMENTS OCCUR, something that ole boy Woody just didnt know how to do or just didnt want to do..which ever one makes ya happy.
MsDee
September 30th, 2010
5:01 am
@northcyde, ‘While many of you like to cite Boston and their 50 win season, as proof that the regular season record isn’t important, keep in mind that Boston won a whopping 26 road games last year. If that wasn’t best in the league, it was 2nd best.’
This statement is true and last season worked in Boston’s favor BECAUSE OF THIS FACT! If this stat was reversed and Boston would have won more home games than road, I TRULY doubt Boston would have made it out of 2nd round as well considering the fact that they had NO HOME COURT ADVANTAGE AT ALL IN THE POST-SEASON!!
vava74
September 30th, 2010
6:23 am
Josh is looking a lot more fit that last year:
http://www.nba.com/hawks/photogallery/2010_training_camp.html?curPhoto=2
Check the following photo and photo #11 as well: Bibby is also looking slimmer too.
Rev in Tampa
September 30th, 2010
6:59 am
In the pictures from Hawks training camp they have an interesting banner:
http://www.nba.com/hawks/photogallery/2010_training_camp.html?curPhoto=11
It lists all the Hawks All-Stars. I assume the banner is meant to motivate the players to aspire to become All-Stars. Of course most of the players on the court don’t a have a prayer of becoming an All-Star, so is the banner only directed at Josh and (dare I say it?) Marvin, since Al and Joe’s names have already been added?
Nate
September 30th, 2010
7:19 am
Yes Jeff, feel the anger build inside you. Take your weapon. Strike me down.
O'Brien
September 30th, 2010
7:32 am
The Truth,
Isnt it a little early to be wondering if Sy is injury prone, or soft?
Sy is a second round pick who was brought over to get acclimated to the NBA, and might even spend some time in the D-League, so there is no reason for the coaching staff to rush him.
Rev,
Maybe expectations is a better word than pressure. But I like Drew’s plan so far.
northcyde,
Agreed. Hawks have to do better on the road and stop relying on the home crowd.
justin smith
September 30th, 2010
8:52 am
lol nate love the star wars comment …… but i love to read the comments more than the actual article it self …. but off of that JEFF TEAGUES is the key to the Atlanta Hawks being a legit contender in the east think about it the hawks have ridicules athletic skilled players at every starting position except point guard (Bibby is just a shooter in his older years) which is the most important position on the court. If they can get an athlete that isn’t a liability of defense AND can break a defense down ….WOW what a different team the hawks will be ….. im actually excited about this season as a hawks fan and as a basketball fan ( got to see the Miami heat lol )
justin smith
September 30th, 2010
8:53 am
i even mean Marvin Williams because he is a great athlete that u can rely on on defense
i_am_soulstar
September 30th, 2010
8:58 am
October 2009 article on the Hoops Whisperer Idan Ravin
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/chris_ballard/10/20/idan.ravin/index.html
i_am_soulstar
September 30th, 2010
9:01 am
From SI Article:
“They work out with him because Ravin isn’t afraid to tell them what they need to hear. “I try to convey [that] it’s not about anyone else, it’s about you,” explains Ravin. “Guys like LeBron can cut all the corners and still get an A on the exam. Eighty percent of Chris Paul or LeBron is better than 99 percent of anyone else. But I ask them, ‘What if you maximized it? What if you were 99 percent? Isn’t that interesting?’ I try to intrigue them. I say, ‘What if?’ “
Astro Joe
September 30th, 2010
9:11 am
It’s kind of funny, Teague is characterized as “The Waterboy”… Bobby Boucher. Teague just needs to visualize that the opposing PG is Woody, calling him “Rook” and yelling about team concepts… and then, whoosh, Teague attacks the basket and breaks the player’s ankles.
Of course, Boucher was about as dumb as a door knob (”Mama says alligators are angry ‘cuz they have all those teeth and no toothbrush”) so let’s hope that Teague isn’t as simple-minded.
Jeff Teague = The Waterboy
Gamer
September 30th, 2010
9:13 am
Just what the doctor order for Teague an IGNITOR!!
Give Teague a QUICK KICK, NICK!!!
TEAGUE GOT WHAT IT TAKES TO PLAY POINT GUARD NBA STYLE…
Publix
September 30th, 2010
9:33 am
I think we should stop playing around with JC1. We are fine in the guard position, and will probably be just fine with the bigs that we currently have, but I’m not sure about SF. Marvin will do for right now but against any of the big dogs, he can’t keep up.
Why not trade JC1 for Artest? They got Barnes, who can do their dirty work now. If we can’t get him, then please suggest who we can get at the #3 that can do dirty work and still score some but be very vocal?????
tim
September 30th, 2010
9:34 am
Is Van Exel also going to teach Teague how to roll a better joint??
Hawk n the Ham
September 30th, 2010
9:41 am
Astro Joe
Probably the wittiest comment I’ve seen on this blog in a loooooooong time. Kudos!
JT0 = “No Colonel Sanders, you’re wrong. EERRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!”
O'Brien
September 30th, 2010
9:48 am
AJ,
Not to mention, Foos-ball is the devil.
Publix,
Lakers already have Kobe at SG, so why would they want JC1? You will be hard pressed to find a team that has an All NBA player at one position being backed up by a SMOY. Only in ATL.
And I doubt if they trade Artest. Imagine how much Artest and Matt Barnes can hound LeBron or Pierce in a playoff series…
Publix
September 30th, 2010
9:58 am
True that O’Brien.
Ok, if we can’t get Artest, how about Battier? All I know is that we need another SF who can play some hard defense to put up with the James’, Pierces’, etc.
Samuel
September 30th, 2010
10:01 am
Ken,
Remember,making it to the second round is not good enough. I checked the records and in the last 10 years only 2 teams have made it past the second round who were seeded below the #3 seed. Dallas #4 in 06 and Utah #4 in 07. Thats two teams out of 160.
Astro Joe
September 30th, 2010
10:03 am
Hawk n the Ham & OB, there are sooooo many funny lines from that movie. Let’s just hope that Teague has a “carry him off the court in victory” moment like Bobby Boucher had. Although, it is safe to say that Teague likely thought several times last year, “Mike Woodson is the Devil!”
Astro Joe
September 30th, 2010
10:04 am
Samuel, if you run the league again this year, count me in… I’m off the injured reserve list.
Astro Joe
September 30th, 2010
10:06 am
Samuel, and last year’s Celtics.
Mike is back
September 30th, 2010
10:24 am
MC, Great Stuff, you know Teague is one of my favorite. I loved watching Van Excel do his thang…I think he will be great for Teague.
Ken Strick, You make some excellent and insightful comments about the Hawks squad and LD’S approach to the upcoming season. However, enough about Woody already…we get it. Woody was far from perfect…but he did do a lot of GOOD THINGS for this organization.
It’s a new season…MOVE ON BRO. I doubt very seriously if Woody was the first ever coach to falter in his first stint as a HC. Just like the players…COACHES go through a learning process too.
No since in continuing to drag the man name through the mud…just to make your point about LD…I may not have agreed with his coaching philosophy…but can we both agree that he left the Hawks in a far better circumstance…than one he inherited as a HC…I think even LD would concur on that point.
Hopefully, Woody will learn and grow from this experience…and be a better Coach because of it…No need to continue to harbor ill will towards Woody…its better to forgive…and move on.
I’m happy for the LD…and again…I think the ASG may have gotten lucky…gambling on an unproven HC…with no HC experience…CUZ right now LD is looking like gold. It’s amazing the amount of excitement I have for the upcoming season…most of that is attributed to approach that is being employed by LD.
However, that should in no way…diminish what Woody did for this organization in his tenure as HC. You don’t continue to slam a guy…that helped revive your organization…especially if you’re the Hawks…Just saying.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SadDawg
September 30th, 2010
10:28 am
I take it both Crawfords have the “dog.”
KevinM
September 30th, 2010
10:52 am
What’s funny is when someone says this team is happy and if they’re happy, they work better together.
Does it really matter if they get along or not? Are they not employed to play basketball? I don’t believe I have heard of any locker room confrontations in the past that has caused a riff between players.
I don’t care if they’re happy or not. If they don’t play well, they should lose minutes. So far, all I see if players getting raises.
If you think replacing Woody/Randolph/Mario makes this little engine perform perfectly, then you’re convinced this team can only go so far.
- I see lots of talk about removing the iso from no-show.
- I hear how everything is falling into place for Marvin now that he has a new voice.
- I hear how the parts are so interchangeable that teams will have to match up with us.
What I see though is the same core, and an assistant who now wants to seperate himself from anything related to the former coach. Good move, LD, you got the job.
Now you have 2 years to prove that you know more than the coach who was hired here, was resigned here by the current GM and ASG, and the coach who improved this team every year.
It is a huge step back if you don’t improve upon last year’s results. And you have this core intact for years going forward because it sounds like that Al will get done before the CBA instead of waiting to see how cheap he could be resigned for.
The scapegoat right now is Woody this offseason. Will it be Woody’s fault if the team doesn’t look any better this season?
vava74
September 30th, 2010
10:54 am
oh oh… (from Yahoo Sports):
“…In practice on Wednesday, the Celtics watched Garnett do things they hadn’t seen in two years. Once, he grabbed a rebound, fired the outlet pass and recovered to still beat every big man down the floor. No one witnessed that a year ago. Not once. He’s been fantastic for the Celtics and that can change everything.”
vava74
September 30th, 2010
10:56 am
If Garnett has somehow found the fountain of youth, then the Celts could be able to overcome some of their losses (Thibodeau, Tony Allen, Perkins).
Nonetheless, I still think that the loss of Perkins (since he will not be able to play at 100% next year even if he returns from injury) will not be properly compensated by the O’Neal and O’Neill duo.
vava74
September 30th, 2010
10:59 am
KevinM,
This coming season will be much harder than last year’s due to many factors of which 2 are extreeeemly influential:
1. Last year we were extremely lucky with injuries;
2. The talent pool in the East is now deeper;
Teezo
September 30th, 2010
11:04 am
Clyde
September 30th, 2010
3:03 am
I know this is off subject but what’s up wit Eddie Long? Ain’t preachers suppose to wear robes? He preach wit tight muscle shirts on.
SHAKING MY GOT DAM HEAD
——————————————————————————-
Hahahahahahahahaha…WOW…
Teezo
September 30th, 2010
11:09 am
Anyway, I got that laugh out…If Drew doesn’t see any fight in JT or trying to put some fight in him, then he just doesn’t have it…Potential or not, you have to wanna be the starting PG doing whatever it takes to get that job, bringing in Nick is gonna do what???…I hope it pans out, but as we all know, ATL hasn’t had a PG with some fight since M. Blaylock…Peace…
Rod from College Park
September 30th, 2010
11:22 am
vava74,
“Nonetheless, I still think that the loss of Perkins (since he will not be able to play at 100% next year even if he returns from injury) will not be properly compensated by the O’Neal and O’Neill duo.”
You can’t be serious. I need some of what you are smoking.
Melvin
September 30th, 2010
11:25 am
Mike is Back, co-sign your 10:24 post…
The Truth
September 30th, 2010
11:32 am
O’Brien comments
“The Truth,
Isnt it a little early to be wondering if Sy is injury prone, or soft?”
“Sy is a second round pick who was brought over to get acclimated to the NBA, and might even spend some time in the D-League, so there is no reason for the coaching staff to rush him.”
Not really, he was such a mystery man when he came here, I’m just curious about him. Considering the great length LD went to acquire him, like many, I’m looking for the diamond. Sy is in the NBA now. Many intriguing questions will come his way. As long as they are just questions and not defamatory charges, then he is no different then any other NBA player. But I wonder about many things. Like why you bother to lecture me about Sy, things I already know.
vava74
September 30th, 2010
11:37 am
Rod,
Shaq’s man to man defense was never his forte. Now, he can’t defend his own shadow and is easily and repeatedly exploited on the pick and roll.
Jemaine is limping most of the time and his defense has always been very much an ON-OFF exercise since he does not like to bang and always complained that he was not a C.
Perkins is a blue collar guy, an excellent defender at his position and a guy who does not need shots to be happy and do his thing.
So, defensively, Shaq and Jerm are miles away from Perkins and offensively, they are both too eager for the rock.
In my book, without Perkins the Celtics D is MUCH weaker and their offense will suffer from lack of shots to make them happy.
Melvin
September 30th, 2010
11:53 am
Vava,
It will be foolish to writeoff the Celtics. They have a coach who know how to pace those guys thru the regular season and they have the vets that can still play at a high level and knows how to turn the switch on when needed. Hence, their good road record from last season and their appearence in the Finals. Let’s not forget they took the toughest road to the Finals and overcame the adversity (Mia, Orl, Clev).