Atlanta Hawks at New York Knicks: Teague’s time? It depends
Remember back when Teague was going to challenge Bibby for the starting point guard position? I don’t, either, because it never really materialized.
And now it seems Teague isn’t assured of regular minutes and will split time with JC2 based on matchups. So when the Hawks played Washington, which used a lot of zone defenses Thursday, L.D. gave JC2 the nod over Teague: “I just really wanted to go with another shooter.”
It could be different today against the Knicks and going forward.
“[Toney] Douglas has got speed, he has got quickness, he looks to score,” L.D. said. “So there is a chance [Teague] may be the first guy coming off. But if I get in an instance where I need some more offense, if we get off to a slow start, which I’m hoping we won’t, then I could go with bringing in another scorer in like Jordan.”
L.D. acknowledged that less minutes for his best on-ball defender would put more pressure on the other perimeter guys.
“It puts more onus on every individual guy, especially when we have to defend the pick-and-rolls,” he said. “When Jeff is in the game, I expect him to be up the floor up and picking the ball up and harassing the ball. He is probably the one guy on our team who is better than anybody. If I choose to go a different direction it is going to put more onus on the other guys to be better in the halfcourt. But our defense is not going to be predicated on what one guy does. It is going to have to be a total team effort.”
No Joe, Maybe Jamal
J.J. was back in New York, so that meant answering questions about why he re-signed with the Hawks instead of joining the Knicks.
“Staying in Atlanta was the best fit,” he said. “We’ve improved and gotten better every year. It’s a situation where I was already established, comfortable, and our style of play fits me.”
J.J. said Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni, his former coach in Phoenix, was a draw. It also was “enticing” when the Knicks signed Amar’e Stoudemire, Johnson said.
Left unmentioned: The $30 million extra he’s earning with the Hawks.
Jamal is still popular in New York, so he also drew a media crowd. He said if he doesn’t receive an extension from the Hawks (which he said he doesn’t consider a dead issue), then he would be open to signing as a free agent with the Knicks next summer.
“Why not?” he said. “I like where I’m at. I really do. But if things don’t work out with Atlanta, then it’s not the end of the world.”
Jamal said he thinks about his contract situation “at times” but stopped short of saying it’s a distraction.
“There’s nothing I can do about it,” he said.
MC
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158 comments Add your comment
Dre
November 27th, 2010
1:05 pm
Let’s go HAWKS!!!
STEEL(FormerlyVenomSpitter)
November 27th, 2010
1:13 pm
It betta be his time
STEEL
November 27th, 2010
1:13 pm
At least Nate isnt on the knicks anymore
STEEL
November 27th, 2010
1:14 pm
Wow Marvin actually got the rebound and the put back
Sautee
November 27th, 2010
1:23 pm
It scares me when Josh hits jumpers early. Hope he doesn’t fall in love with the jumper.
STEEL
November 27th, 2010
1:24 pm
Yea Josh needs to drive ALOT more
SWAT Native
November 27th, 2010
1:25 pm
I think you hit it on the head, MC. Teague needs to become a regular part of the rotation before we start to even think of him as a starter. All that other talk was way premature.
Bailey
November 27th, 2010
1:29 pm
Horford is still not getting enough touches on offense! How many times are people going to have to constantly reiterate this before it finally changes!?
bigdave
November 27th, 2010
1:34 pm
Josh=untouchable.
bigdave
November 27th, 2010
1:35 pm
Horford will get his jump shot opportunities..
Bailey
November 27th, 2010
1:37 pm
bigdave,
Horford needs more post-up opportunities as well. So many times during games, he has great post position and his teammates don’t pass him the ball. When you have a guy who can score in the post like that, you should take advantage of him.
STEEL
November 27th, 2010
1:39 pm
Man zaza is a horrible player
bigdave
November 27th, 2010
1:40 pm
Jamal needs to get the ball to Al..
bigdave
November 27th, 2010
1:43 pm
Baily..
thats what Al does in the post. not very impressive, and rarely draws fouls..
i just dont see the maturation in his post game to come down and feed him on the blocks WHEN we have other guys making shots..
his game is pure face up/pick and pop.
STEEL
November 27th, 2010
1:46 pm
ZAZA=THE WORST PLAYER ON THE HAWKS
Bailey
November 27th, 2010
1:49 pm
I wonder if L.D. is going to give Smoove the Horford treatment and take him out for the rest of the half with that second foul.
Sautee
November 27th, 2010
1:50 pm
Marvin is actually playing decent today.
STEEL
November 27th, 2010
1:50 pm
Remember Marvin has games like this every once in awhile then he’ll have 10 consecutive bad games
Bailey
November 27th, 2010
1:51 pm
bigdave,
I don’t agree with that at all. He’s great at pick and roll and actually draws fouls very well in the post. The problem is that usually when Horford has good post position, his teammates don’t find him, or they run another play. In this quarter, they have been finding him in the post, but he’s been getting doubled quick. That is by design. You don’t double a guy in the post who doesn’t have a legit post game.
Von
November 27th, 2010
1:53 pm
What is up with L.D.’s rotation in this quarter? Powell and Collins coming in midway in the second quarter? I don’t know in the world this is about.
ignition
November 27th, 2010
1:53 pm
Well looks like it.. Both Al & Smoove out..
bigdave
November 27th, 2010
1:54 pm
Collins/Powell> ZaZa/Powell
STEEL
November 27th, 2010
1:55 pm
Damn Marvin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
bigdave
November 27th, 2010
1:55 pm
duck..
Melvin
November 27th, 2010
1:55 pm
Did Marvin just jump off a trampoline???? A flying duck…
terrell
November 27th, 2010
1:55 pm
Duck!!!
bigdave
November 27th, 2010
1:55 pm
i like that lineup..
mike.. joe.. marv.. josh p.. twin..
STEEL
November 27th, 2010
1:56 pm
Agree with bigdave. Zaza should be the last to leave the bench.
ignition
November 27th, 2010
1:56 pm
I’ve NEVER seen Marvin display any form of manhood before that dunk…
He must have read my post the yesterday..
Von
November 27th, 2010
1:56 pm
Wow, Marvin with the Jam! He must have had a good night last night..
bigdave
November 27th, 2010
1:56 pm
i swear Jason should get ZaZa’s mins..
Sautee
November 27th, 2010
1:56 pm
LOL at Joey Crawford having to hold Marvin up after his jam.
terrell
November 27th, 2010
1:58 pm
Did he just say Marvin hadnt been to the freethrow line in 4 games??
bigdave
November 27th, 2010
1:58 pm
and ZaZa has made some hustle plays.. but its evident..
Josh P gives u potential shot making ability.. Collins smart defender.. uses body well.. and rebs. they just play well together.. like they understand their roles.. Z is everywhere at times.. does too much..
bigdave
November 27th, 2010
1:59 pm
beautiful basketball from Joe..
bigdave
November 27th, 2010
2:00 pm
LD should review the tape and ink these rotations..
quality players on court at all times.. all while everyone is fresh..
ignition
November 27th, 2010
2:01 pm
They give Stoudermire a lot of calls…
bigdave
November 27th, 2010
2:01 pm
Marvin @ pf
should be interesting..
bigdave
November 27th, 2010
2:02 pm
CollinS!!!!!!
cp
November 27th, 2010
2:02 pm
I forgot Marvin could dunk. He almost fell on that dunk the ref had to hold him up smh lol… Well I guess this is his good game since he has been terrible recently. And D’Antoni is a very overrated coach.
bigdave
November 27th, 2010
2:03 pm
good contest..
defense full of energy.. hands in faces, even if it wasnt assigned cover..
good half.
bigdave
November 27th, 2010
2:04 pm
Bibby has earned the lions share of pg mins..
he is much better early this year..
terrell
November 27th, 2010
2:05 pm
Collins > Zaza. And Zaza makes 5 mill more than Collins. Wow!
Von
November 27th, 2010
2:05 pm
From what I can tell, it is going to be L.D.’s policy throughout the season to sit his starting bigs for the remainder of the half if they pick up two fouls during the first half. Regardless of what he said in his previous interviews, it looks like that is what is going to happen.
terrell
November 27th, 2010
2:07 pm
Dont blow it!!!!
Von
November 27th, 2010
2:08 pm
It’s kind of crazy to think that the Duck was actually the Hawks’ best player in that first half with 9 points (4-4), 6 rebounds, and 2 assists. He also played more minutes than any other Hawk though, but at least they were productive and efficient minutes.
terrell
November 27th, 2010
2:10 pm
lol @ the Knicks for getting rid of Jamal and Nate. Better known as, the Hawks Killaz.
bigdave
November 27th, 2010
2:10 pm
i dont mind LD playing his bench if they arent liabilities.. i think he wants to instill familiarity amongst his players. building continuity, and chemistry .. it could prove beneficial long term. its almost like he’s trying to take lemons and make lemonade and develop a solid bench. he’s killed the total 2nd unit concept and has gone to a hybrid of bench and starting players..
nice.
Von
November 27th, 2010
2:11 pm
LOL. I just noticed that Zaza, in less than 6 minutes of play, had more field goal attempts than Horford. Something is definitely wrong with that picture. Zaza, unless his attempts are open layups/dunks, right at the rim, he shouldn’t have more attempts than anyone, let alone one of our starting big men. At least a point guard didn’t block any of Zaza’s shots yet.
terrell
November 27th, 2010
2:12 pm
Yeah Von, he does that every now and then.