Blazers at Atlanta Hawks: Horford out; Zaza and Teague in
Teague and Zaza have been in and out of L.D.’s rotation this season. Now they both will start tonight with Hinrich at shooting guard, J.J. at small forward and Josh at power forward.
Zaza gets the nod because Al, according to a Hawks spokesman, hurt his left ankle (not the one he injured before) when he came down on Deng’s foot at Chicago last night. Teague will start and Marvin goes to the bench because Atlanta’s free fall has prompted the lineup tweak that Drew has hinted at since before the All-Star break.
“We’ve lost four in a row,” Drew said. “I’ve got to shake things up. We’ll see if we start with more energy.”
Teague didn’t play at Chicago until garbage time despite Hinrich’s foul trouble and D-Rose’s easy (for him at least) drives into the lane. Now Teague gets Andre Miller, a matchup that Drew had concerned when Teague started at Portland while Hinrich got up to speed.
Zaza had one of his best games of the season at Portland, a couple days after L.D. indicated he favored Josh Powell and Zaza said he was unhappy. Two games later Zaza got just six minutes against the Thunder and then one minute against the Knicks.
After playing 22 minutes against the Lakers, logging 17 at Chicago and now starting tonight, Zaza presumably is back in Drew’s rotation.
“He’s done a good job,” L.D. said. “Looking back at our last game we played them, he played pretty well. Hopefully he will bring that type energy tonight. With Camby and Aldridge, they are pretty long. I was toying with the fact of starting Twin but elected to go with Zaza just [for] more of an offensive presence. It gives me a bit more flexibility.”
As for Al (who was in the training room pregame), L.D. said he thinks he’s still favoring the right ankle after suffering the injury at Miami on Jan. 18.
“I know he’s been a little sore,” Drew said. “I can tell he’s not moving as well as he has in the past. I saw it early in last night’s game. He tried to turn and shoot and had nothing, no lift on it as if he didn’t want to put any kind of pressure on it.”
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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380 comments Add your comment
drmaryb (*_-)
March 12th, 2011
9:54 pm
All the Drew haters have no idea, how draining and hard it is to coach a bunch of knuckle heads with money. You put a little scratch in the pocket and the ears tune you out.
That’s just human nature, and not just in basketball either.
I think the greatness we speak of when referring to Phil Jackson and Pat Riley is their ability to push the right buttons for each unique player.
And, it’s deep yall. You not only manage roles and skill sets, but the dreadful personalities. e.g. How do you motivate a wet sponge like Joe?
This guy probably sleeps 10 hours per day.
So, give Drew some credit for pulling Jamal into his office and closing the door at half time, to get in that 10.8M dollar azz. Josh should be next.
Like doc rivers told Tony Allen in a play off series last year,
“You are the rebounding Allen! Ray is the jump shooting Allen!”
Drew need to tell Josh, “You are the blocking/dunking Josh! Kirk is the ball handling/PG – Kirk!” That analogy would have been better if Kirk’s name was Josh, but you see where I’m going with that – right?
Great Team Win!
Like Coach said, “Teague was SENSATIONAL!”
JeJe
March 12th, 2011
9:54 pm
Jeff Teague > Choke Johnson
MsDee
March 12th, 2011
9:55 pm
Im not looking for Teague to score 24pts and have 5bks every game..just the defense alone tonight was amazing!! All I ask out of Teague is to play what the defense gives him. Sometimes, he trys to much too soon and finds himself on the bench sooner than he liked. Just play smart offensively like u did tonight, he didnt force anything and thats why he had ONLY 1 TO.
Tremaine
March 12th, 2011
9:59 pm
ASG is sitting on a gold mine and don’t even know it. All they have to do is make a couple of move to make this a championship caliber team. To bad they are to busy chasing dollars.
J from the A
March 12th, 2011
10:02 pm
Since the All Star break, Teague has been looking better, not starting-quality “better,” but perhaps rotational-consideration “better.”
But tonight he was a freakin’ beast on both ends of the court. Was tonight Teague’s break-out game, or was his performance a bit of a fluke?
tony
March 12th, 2011
10:06 pm
I was very impress with JT tonight. I think the kid should remain in the starting lineup. LD’s reluctance to start him early in the season has cause us a draft pick. Good job Teague.
Not Sund
March 12th, 2011
10:21 pm
I know the playoffs are the way the Hawks season will be measured, but do they need to win 50 games to maintain some respect around the league as a good team?
Geemack
March 12th, 2011
10:28 pm
Not Sund,
The Hawks can the rest of their games and know one will respect them, because they have quitters tendencies.
Watch how they fold when they play good teams.
W.R.Terrell
March 12th, 2011
10:33 pm
Well we won thanks to a terrific game by Jeff Teague. He brought enthusiasm, energy, pride along with honor to his chosen profession. That was exciting to see. Did you notice that dummie . LD finally took his ass out of the game the middle of the 3rd quarter and we flourished. That was because no one was taking dumb ass shots. When LD put him back in the game at the 5 or 6 minute mark in the 4th he started that stupid stuff again. Sit his dumb ass down we manage to play better without his stupidity. Hilton Armstrong will provide defense, rebounds and blocked shots, especially when Al comes back. Marvin is as sorry as ever and will continue to be. Good game for the “SOFT’S”
rusty
March 12th, 2011
10:44 pm
Drmaryb I have been saying all season long jt should be starting, but you always said mb was your man. I always knew that jt could make this team run & would change our defense. I always said that jc2 was really good, but you pooshed that to.starting out liking ld but soon realizing how dumb he is makes me feel good as even you are now realizing that. Also you always thought jj was the greatest , I always thought he hurt the team in a lot of ways jogging the ball & playing slow. Jt makes this team a lot better should have been given a chance last year. I could say the same thing to nortcyde but I don’t like to talk to a jt hater & a jj azz kisser
Hawks Fan In New Orleans
March 12th, 2011
10:44 pm
Drew looks even dumber, with a lack of vision/grasp of the game by not playing Teague last night in any meaning portion of the game now that Teaugue got the start and went off. I give Drew no credit for the win. Keep the fight alive JT0!!!
Rev in Tampa
March 12th, 2011
10:49 pm
I’m sorry I missed the game. Sounds like Teague had a statement game. I am going to freak if LD plants Teague back on the end of the bench next game.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 12th, 2011
11:02 pm
Small lineup: Teague/Kirk/Joe/Smoove/Al, with Damien/Jamal/Zaza/Marvin in that order off the bench
Big lineup: Teague/Joe/Smoove/Al/Collins, with Kirk/Damien/Jamal/Marvin/Zaza in that order off the bench
Clearly Teague plays better with the starters. Clearly Marvin provides more energy as a bench player. Clearly Damien plays consistently well enough to deserve a prominent role. Clearly Teague and Kirk are capable enough at the point guard position to where Jamal should not see a single minute at the point. These are all very easily observable things.
Seriously, if LD buries Teague on the bench again this year, as far as I’m concerned it’s a fireable offense.
Rufus1
March 12th, 2011
11:05 pm
LD is an IDIOT!!!!!!
Last night he lets Jamal guard their best offensive player for 20min and he scores 30+…..
Tonight his ONLY quick, athletic PG, scores 24pts with 5 steals and we are not sure he will play the next game……LD IS AN IDIOT!!!!!
Wabe
March 12th, 2011
11:14 pm
Free Jeff Teague.
Period.
Knowing the Hawks though, Teague will still sit on the bench to rot after his next mistake.
Bum organization. Should’ve been playing him since the kid walked in the league.
Wabe
March 12th, 2011
11:18 pm
Be real Larry Drew. How do you not give this guy consistent burn after this?
He’s shown more than enough flashes. He seemed to put the whole package together tonight. I don’t expect him to play the type of complete game he played tonight every time on the court, but he’s more than good enough to consistently impact games, which should give him PT.
The Hawks could have themselves a PG a couple years down the road, if they don’t decide to play the stopgaps they aquire in favor of the young gun who needs PT TO DEVELOP!!!!!!!!!
cp
March 12th, 2011
11:22 pm
Hate I missed the game but glad to see that Teague played well. Many of us on here have been saying he plays better with the starters. He played pretty well on the west coast trip and got put back on the bench but hopefully this time LD keeps him in the rotation. Teague,Hinrich, Joe, Josh, and Horford is a nice lineup..I guess we have to wait to see what LD will do
Wabe
March 12th, 2011
11:26 pm
Even Teague, JJ, Damien, Josh, and Horford works.
LD needs to tweak his rotations ASAP.
Get the starting unit and the bench balanced. He needs more options than just Jamal coming off the bench. Have Hinrich and Jamal come off the bench to give the bench more pop.
We better not see the status quo from here on out. I was pretty heated seeing Teague get buried on the bench after Hinrich got acclimated, which souldn’t have happened. Teague played well enough in his spot time to earn more burn. But obviously, LD wasn’t watching the same games we were watching.
RED ZONE 1
March 12th, 2011
11:52 pm
I’m going on record to be the guy who coined the phrase TEAGUED!!!! Portland was the first team to get TEAGUED. Next the BUCKS, and then the rest of the league!!!! I told everybody, he is the second coming of Rajon Rondo!!!!
Art Vandelay
March 12th, 2011
11:56 pm
Seeing Jeff playing so well was awesome! I’ve been a big supporter ever since we drafted him. He was great in the ACC… one of the best in the division! I don’t see how he didn’t deserve PT as soon as he got in the league…
I am however sad to see Jordan Crawford playing well for the Wizards. I thought we got a steal when we drafted him, and now he’s put up 22 pts and 16 pts for Washington is back to back games and he was 3rd on the team with 16 shots (even though he missed 1/4 of them).
We could have really used him on our team. Oh well.
tjhook
March 13th, 2011
12:58 am
I missed the game – did Jeff Teague get any playing time. It’s a shame a first rounder can’t get on the floor.
honest_abe
March 13th, 2011
1:06 am
wow! .. didn’t know you had it in you teague. the “emergence” of teague will be the only way i see the hawks making some noise this year.
Not Sund
March 13th, 2011
1:14 am
Hey Poop, thanks for coming to the light. As broke as the spirit are they can’t afford to keep L.D. another season if the Hawks lay an egg this year.
He has clearly mismanaged this team.
JeJe
March 13th, 2011
1:44 am
Najeh is 100% on point. Teague is better with the starters
Marvin is BETTER OFF THE BENCH EVEN IF HE STILL SUX (LIKE HE DID TONIGHT)
JeJe
March 13th, 2011
1:46 am
Teague has a great body for a quick aggressive point guard – no homo.
Let the guy play.
Hawks Snap 4 Game Losing Streak; Teague Leads Hawks in Win vs. Blazers « Soaring Down South | An Atlanta Hawks blog
March 13th, 2011
8:46 am
[...] Anyway, Al Horford was not dressed for last night’s game. He injured his ankle against Chicago (2 days ago). Horford was replaced by Zaza Pachulia in the lineup. Jeff Teague also replaced Marvin Williams in the starting lineup. Coach Drew said that the Hawks needed to switch things up since they’ve lost 4 in a row. [...]
drmaryb (*_-)
March 13th, 2011
12:19 pm
Drive – Time!
“3HR DRIVE FROM FT GORDON”
__________________
You must drive 40 MPH. Atlanta is only 174 miles from Augusta and the speed limit is 70 MPH. Aye, hawks_4_Life, you need a ride, I’m from that region (Aiken-Augusta).
Jokes aside, are you stationed there at Ft. Gordon?
If so, kewl. I know there’s not much to do there, but I got people there who could hook you up, with some home cooked meals.
And, if you are in the Military? Thank You for your service.
ICECOLD
March 13th, 2011
6:04 pm
only thing you can do is give teague a chance… kirk does not have to start.. its not like he is a all star point guard.. but he is a great defender.,. thats what you need from your point guard postion.. but coming off the bench. is a good move for him too…
or kirk can play shooting guard.. i rather him start then marvin !!!
zachdahater
March 14th, 2011
4:09 pm
OH MY GOD!! I just noticed something BIG BIG BIG that the Hawks don’t do that would make life a lot easier on the offensive end!!!!!!!!!! The Hawks don’t set many screens for the player that has the ball! Let’s face it, the Hawks will always play some one on one. But whenever Joe has that ball, he will ALWAYS have his shot contested unless he makes a nice move. But if you look at Lebron (especially in Cleveland) like 60% of his shots are made after a screen. He gets SOOO many open jumpers. We need to set screens for players if we’re going to continue a lot of one on one. Hilton Armstrong sets screens almost automatically I noticed. He can’t do much, but he’ll set you some good screens. But after watching other teams, and watching MY Hawks, I was surprised at how very few screens we set considering the large amount of one on one play we do.
W.R.Terrell
March 14th, 2011
5:39 pm
Have they traded “smoove” and marvin yet? Eveyday I look to see if that has happened and everyday i’m a lil bit disappointed. I guess i’ll suffer threw the wannabe superstar “smoove” another game. LD may be getting some sense if he wants to coach another year. Try Hilton Armstrong he can’t be any worse then marvin, hell ain’t too many players of his caliber and the NBA is happy about that. Tomorrows game will be interesting because Milwaukee is really not capable of giving us a good game but with that “smoove” idiot anything is possible. Let’s see if the word defense rings a friggin bell and will ISO Joe stop POUNDING, POUNDING, POUNDING. Worse case scenario is that Milwaukee beats us by 15 and with the”smoove” and marvin that is a good possibility.