Pistons at Atlanta Hawks: Teague and the (new) Rook’
Just four games into the season and there are some sure signs that Teague has graduated from Rook’ to rotation guy and the new Rook’, JC2, likely is going to have to go through much the same thing as Teague did last season.
First on Teague: Did you see how he checked in at Cleveland in the third quarter last just after the Cavs took their first lead since the first?
“I was kind of shocked, to be honest,” he said. “When I subbed in, we were up two. I thought he was going to pull me back and say, ‘Let Mike play,’ but he told me to go in. That made me want to go out there and play even harder knowing that he believed in me. I’m glad we came back and pulled out a victory.”
Teague almost immediately missed a bad jump but he stayed in the game. He missed two more jumpers near the end of the period yet no one went to the scorer’s table to replace him. Teague didn’t come out until 6:19 of the fourth quarter, by which time he’d contributed a block, steal and a couple free throws while playing good on-ball defense.
L.D. said leaving Teague out there is part of a long-term plan: “A big part of Jeff’s growth process is his ability how to play through those situations. In the past he probably was yanked out of the game when those situations come up. I told him and all our bench guys I expect them to play through those situations.”
JC2, it’s clear by now, isn’t going to see many of those kind of situations. The exceptions will be games like tonight, with Jamal sitting out with an injured toe.
I asked L.D. before the Cavs game if Jordan was still into it after going from playing big minutes in the preseason to spending most nights on the inactive list.
“I’ve got to keep him engaged,” Drew said. “He’s going through a situation a lot of rookies go through. He went from being the man in college to coming to this level and their roles change. He played a lot in preseason because a lot of guys were hurt. It’s a role that he’s going to have to accept and he just has to stay ready.
“There are no guarantees as far as what can happen, injuries can settle in [rotation] guys can get sick. He has to stay ready at all times. He is not going through anything that any other rookie has not gone through. It’s just a matter of being prepared, accepting his role and staying ready.”
J.J. said he’s not sure how JC2 is handling his circumstance but he’s tried to keep him up.
“I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t tough [for Jordan] because it is,” he said. “But it is part of it. Once he pays his dues he is definitely going to be one of the good players in this league.”
Injury report
L.D. said Jamal suffered a turf toe injury when he was fouled last night.
L.D. thinks Teague hasn’t been as aggressive since injuring his ankle during the preseason. Teague said the ankle is affecting him “just a little bit.”
“It’s hard to go to the left sometimes,” he said. “Once I get to running, I am all right.”
Worst than the injury is the tape job Teague is forced to play with: “I hate ankle tape. I hate it.”
Out for the Pistons: Rip Hamilton (foot), Chris Wilcox (hamstring), Will Bynum (hamstring), Jonas Jerebko (Achilles) and Terrico White (foot).
Last time the Hawks played the Pistons in a situation like this, they lost 90-88 at The Palace (without Joe, but Detroit was missing Rip, Prince, Wilcox and Maxiell).
“These are games that historically not been good to us [against] teams with injuries,” L.D. said. “We have to come out and establish ourselves early.”
MC
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228 comments Add your comment
~~MAC-ToWN~~ (Area Code 478 Westside Macon)
November 3rd, 2010
9:12 pm
embarrassing performance by Joe tonight
cheshire
November 3rd, 2010
9:12 pm
lol. Joke Johnson.
O'Brien
November 3rd, 2010
9:12 pm
Wow. What a move by Josh. Wow
Melvin
November 3rd, 2010
9:13 pm
JSmoove….
Najeh Davenpoop
November 3rd, 2010
9:13 pm
Joe with another dumb azz play.
Wabe
November 3rd, 2010
9:13 pm
That was a hell of move…
J.Smith = on point
Najeh Davenpoop
November 3rd, 2010
9:13 pm
About damn time Joe.
O'Brien
November 3rd, 2010
9:13 pm
JJJJJJJJoe Johnson. Finally!
~~MAC-ToWN~~ (Area Code 478 Westside Macon)
November 3rd, 2010
9:13 pm
bout time
cheshire
November 3rd, 2010
9:13 pm
good lord, finally Joe
Wabe
November 3rd, 2010
9:13 pm
And finally…
JJ
Ree Roe
November 3rd, 2010
9:14 pm
There ya go Joe
-REEspect Roe!!
bigdave
November 3rd, 2010
9:14 pm
Josh holding down the left trigger and moving the analog back…
for that nice spin layup..
Sleepy
November 3rd, 2010
9:15 pm
Joe Dumars needs to be fired because ughhhhhhhhh the Pistons are awful lol
Joe finally breaks thru ……
Wabe
November 3rd, 2010
9:15 pm
The Hawks have buckled down defensively in these last 5 minutes.
Najeh Davenpoop
November 3rd, 2010
9:15 pm
Marvin sprained his knee according to MC’s Twitter. I’m guessing that means he stays back in the ATL with Jamal while the rest of the Hawks travel to Minnesota, and hopefully he gets better by the time the Hawks play in the Childress Bowl on Sunday.
~~MAC-ToWN~~ (Area Code 478 Westside Macon)
November 3rd, 2010
9:15 pm
John Kuester makin Mike Woodson look like Phil Jackson
Melvin
November 3rd, 2010
9:16 pm
What the heck is the Pistons coach doing with his rotations???
Hawks Fan In New Orleans
November 3rd, 2010
9:17 pm
I cannot watch or listen to the game right now – but according to gamecast, they are pulling away with the win just in the nick of time – finally playing with the “urgency” Horford talked about last playoffs.
O'Brien
November 3rd, 2010
9:17 pm
Najeh,
Just the Hawks luck, Marvin and Mo might be out. If that happens, then JJ starts at SF, Jamal starts at SG, and Jordan plays backup SG.
But we have no backup SF, if that happens. At least we dont play again until Sunday.
~~MAC-ToWN~~ (Area Code 478 Westside Macon)
November 3rd, 2010
9:17 pm
5-0 is gonna look sexy but it’s very scary how we are having to “survive” against these type of teams.
Stizz
November 3rd, 2010
9:19 pm
If you can win games with two of your key guys (Bibby, Joe) having bad games and two other key guys out (Mo,Jamal and now Marvin) that’s a pretty good sign. And oh yeah, I think Josh is staying put. When you have as much talent as he does at age 24, still plenty of time to iron out any kinks.
Ree Roe
November 3rd, 2010
9:19 pm
Damn @ Marvin. Wonder how long he’ll be out. As for this game, keep playing good D guys
-REEscind Roe!!
Kwa
November 3rd, 2010
9:19 pm
YO jc1 aint got frickin TURF TOE he caught feelins cause he was pulled last night at end of game
~~MAC-ToWN~~ (Area Code 478 Westside Macon)
November 3rd, 2010
9:20 pm
ball game.
bigdave
November 3rd, 2010
9:20 pm
credit to ZaZa tonight.. for coming up with big buckets/plays when we needed them..
Josh carried us tonight..
Brandon
November 3rd, 2010
9:21 pm
I hope this is a sign that we can say goodbye to those old 4th quarter meltdowns, because this team has been dynamite going down the stretch so far this season.
Najeh Davenpoop
November 3rd, 2010
9:21 pm
It’s still too bad that the Hawks are putting it on cruise control for stretches against these bad teams, but one way or another it’s good to be 5-0. Hopefully they make it 6-0 on Sunday against what looks like the league’s worst team.
Wabe
November 3rd, 2010
9:22 pm
Don’t care what it took…
5-0 is a great start.
Najeh Davenpoop
November 3rd, 2010
9:22 pm
^^ I meant Friday, not Sunday.
Hawks Fan In New Orleans
November 3rd, 2010
9:22 pm
Kwa – probably so and the fact that Horf got extended and he didn’t, SMH
Melvin
November 3rd, 2010
9:22 pm
Now Joe hit a 3….SMH
i_am_soulstar
November 3rd, 2010
9:22 pm
Ugly win, still a win
O'Brien
November 3rd, 2010
9:24 pm
I’m surprised to see Bibby play 33 minutes, considering he was 0-3 from behind the arc, and only had 5 points, 4 assists.
Compared to teague who had 7 points, 2 assists in 11 minutes.
That being said, game ball goes to Josh. he was even making jumpers. Marvin also had another good game. 11 points, 8 rebounds.
Brandon
November 3rd, 2010
9:25 pm
This may not have been the prettiest win, but the team continues to show maturity with a big turnaround in the fourth quarter. They went from being down by 5 midway in the fourth to winning by 9. On a night where Jamal Crawford was out, and Joe couldn’t throw it into the ocean for most of the game, that’s pretty impressive for the Hawks, even if it was against a struggling pistons team.
truthspitter
November 3rd, 2010
9:26 pm
Oh well a win is a win I guess but Joe continues to shoot bad and Smoove continues to shoot too many jumpers. Al really did not play well tonight and ended up with 18 pts and 8 rebs but he has to do a better job on the boards. The bench was subpar tonight without Jamal. I hope Marvin is not hurt because I do not like Zaza playing too much. His lack of defense is just depressing. 5-0 nonetheless, I will take it.
Brandon
November 3rd, 2010
9:27 pm
O’Brien, on your comment about Bibby playing heavy minutes tonight, that was probably because he was the best remaining option for LD to go with, considering the depleted roster. JC was out, Marvin was injured, and I don’t think LD fully trusts Teague going down the stretch. That’s my take on the matter.
vava74
November 3rd, 2010
9:27 pm
thank god for charlie villanueva! a 6′10” Jamal on defense!!!
Brandon
November 3rd, 2010
9:29 pm
By the way, I hope that Minnesota shows us the same hospitality that they are showing the Magic tonight. I would love for the Hawks to keep it rolling and go up to 6-0 on Friday. I’m wondering if we’ll be without Marvin on that night. Hopefully, not, considering Mo Evans is out also and JC is questionable.
~~MAC-ToWN~~ (Area Code 478 Westside Macon)
November 3rd, 2010
9:29 pm
Hawks 7-0 goin into ORL game
Stizz
November 3rd, 2010
9:30 pm
Josh pulling a Raheem Morris on Hawks Live claiming to be the best team. Lets pump the breaks and play some playoff contenders first before owning the top position Josh.
oldtimer
November 3rd, 2010
9:30 pm
Great win for Hawks. Scared me to death. Really tough seeing JJ like that.
Smoove the MVP of the Hawks.
Now if i am JJ, i do a Lebron or D-wade, and work with Sund, take a pay cut, so that Jamal can stay. Without Jamal, if JJ is not hitting we are in trouble, and people will see the contract by JJ is handicapping Hawks. Hope JJ will work with Sund and take a cut, to keep Jamal
Sautee
November 3rd, 2010
9:31 pm
LOL at truthspitter sounding SAD that we won. I guess venom plays better when the news is bad.
Sautee
November 3rd, 2010
9:34 pm
Zaza seems more confident on offense. We should feed him inside more until he proves he can’t do it.
Hawks Fan In New Orleans
November 3rd, 2010
9:37 pm
truthspitter is not a fan – he is a cynical obsever. lol.
5 and 0 JEAH!
cp
November 3rd, 2010
9:38 pm
Good win although it was ugly…This is why we should have signed a backup sf this past summer. Some guys are hurt and we are thin at that position. Josh Powell has Sheldon Williams type hands. This dude fumbles a lot of great passes and he shoots way too many jumpers.. It was ugly but a win is a win. Good to see Teague attack the basket the way he did and play solid d.
Samuel
November 3rd, 2010
9:38 pm
Obrien,
Are we still on the Teague should get more minutes theme. It’s Woody’s fault I guess. Hawks must have the sympathy of the scheduling Gods. Six scrubbs in a row to start the season. The real season starts next week. We shall see if LD and the Hawks are ready to move among the elite.
LD=COY
Najeh Davenpoop
November 3rd, 2010
9:42 pm
Teague played 15 solid minutes today, attacking the basket and making things happen. He made 3 or 4 nice passes, finished strong on at least one layup in transition, and changed the pace defensively. Yes, he made a few mistakes, but those come with the territory for a young player. And as many of us have already said over and over again, those mistakes would be much more infrequent now if Woody had allowed him to work through them in his rookie season.
Najeh Davenpoop
November 3rd, 2010
9:46 pm
L.D. said leaving Teague out there is part of a long-term plan: “A big part of Jeff’s growth process is his ability how to play through those situations. In the past he probably was yanked out of the game when those situations come up. I told him and all our bench guys I expect them to play through those situations.”
Sounds like LD agrees with us too…
bigdave
November 3rd, 2010
9:53 pm
sounds crazy.. but Bibby defended (this back court) a tad bit better than Teague..
when posted by taller opponents, Bibby has proven to be tough to score on..