Atlanta Hawks at Bulls Game 1: Ready or not it’s Teague’s Time
Chicago–Teague is the starter at point guard for Game 1.
“I’ve always had faith in this kid,” L.D. said today at shootaround at the United Center.
Teague joins the “regular” lineup with J.J., Marvin, Josh and Al.
It’s a tough situation for Teague. He’s suddenly elevated from part-time rotation guy to checking D-Rose on the road in the playoffs.
“I expect him to go out and be Jeff Teague,” Drew said. “He brings a unique package with his speed, his quickness, his ability to get into the paint. He’s a solid defensive player. I don’t care who put on Rose no one guy can stop him. It’s got to be total team effort.”
There is perhaps no more volatile subject among by blog people than Jeff Teague. The drama is no doubt influenced by the emotional subtext of Hawks’ fans futile and frustrating wait for a bona fide point guard.
Some of Teague’s fans have elevated him to near-mythical status. They seize on his good moments as proof of his untapped potential and cite L.D.’s lack of patience and trust to explain away the bad moments. This group reacts angrily to criticisms of Teague.
If Teague’s detractors acknowledge his good moments at all, they ask why there are not more of them. His poor performances are proof of his limited potential. Teague’s critics tell those in the first group to stop deluding themselves.
I’m exaggerating a bit in both cases but you get my point.
I’m still not sure about Teague. I’ve just always thought he deserves more burn because of his production and potential, the team’s weaknesses and the need for the Hawks to figure out if he’s their point guard going forward.
You’d like to say this is when we can finally find out about Teague but what would it really settle if he can’t get it done in this series?
If you like Teague now and he bombs, you can say he hasn’t been properly developed and shouldn’t be judged under these circumstances. If you’ve been skeptical he’s a player, a poor showing would be just another reason to believe the same. (Of course Teague also could play well and then all of my blog people would be happy.)
This is the hand Teague has been dealt. He faces a sizable deficit in talent and experience against D-Rose. There isn’t much in the way of past performance to make any prediction of how it will go: Teague was on the court with Rose for just 13 minutes during the three regular-season games.
“He’s guarded him before,” L.D. said. “This is not anything out of the ordinary. He has guarded some tough guys.”
The Hawks have focused much of their defensive preparation on pick-and-roll coverages. But D-Rose is a strong iso player, too, so there will be times when a Hawks defender must find some way to prevent Rose from getting to the basket.
“We are asking a lot for the guys that are guarding him to contain him,” Al said. “Obviously we are going to be there to help but the guy that is on the ball has to try to do the best job to keep Rose in front of him.”
More often than not, that guy is going to be Jeff Teague.
“He’s been in situations before where he hasn’t played much, and he has stepped in and answered the call,” Drew said. “I’m expecting the same thing.”
Notes
- Boozer says he’s going to try to play.
- Hinrich is here. The Hawks are picking his brain. “That’s why he’s on the trip,” L.D. said. “He can probably do Jeff a lot of good. Stay in his ear about defending Rose.”
- Hinrich on Teague: “I think Jeff can really play. I think it’s just a matter of him getting an opportunity. I think he will be good.”
- Will Hinrich be in Teague’s ear? “I kind of just want to leave him alone. If there is something along the course of the game that I think he can help him with, I will try to do that. Right now I will just leave him alone. The coaching staff does a good job making sure guys are prepared. I’m sure he’s excited.”
- Hinrich was propped up on the trainer’s table with a contraption that iced nearly his entire leg. “Hopefully at some point it will get to where I can test it out and see where it’s at,” he said. That doesn’t seem like he’s close to returning to vigorous activity, but Hinrich isn’t ruling out playing in the series: “You never know.”
- Hinrich said he suffered the injury before contact: “As soon as I went up I felt a pop. It started swelling. I didn’t know if it was the hamstring. Initially I was concerned it was my knee.”
- J.J. on the second round: “We want to come out and make a different impression this year. I think the attention to detail is there and everybody is focused.”
- Al on the same: “In the past when we got to the second round we’ve been physically fatigued as a team. We are fresher as a team. We feel more confident.”
- Al on playing against Noah: “It’s weird, man.”
- Al on teaming with Noah at Florida: “He can make others around him play even harder and push them and motivate them. He’s the kind of guy who brings that energy and has that edge to his game. I think he really makes people around him better. I think he goes under the radar a lot with his game.”
- J.J. on the Bulls: “We know it’s going to be a fight this series. We have got to come out and do the little things like win the hustle plays, keep these guys off the glass.”
- L.D. on Smoove’s declaration that it’s all about D: “I agree with that wholeheartedly. But offensively, the last time we came here regular season played really, really well for a half. We came out for the second half and it was our offense that absolutely killed us. Bad offense is just as a good as a turnover. If you don’t get good shots and force that team to work and you start hoisting up crazy shots, it is just as bad as a turnover.”
- L.D. on rebounding: “Our bigs are going to have their hands full keep their guys off the glass. Our guards have to come in and be out secondary rebounding force. We have got to win the rebounding game. We’ve got to make sure we attack the glass and come up with all the loose balls. We can’t start heading back down until we secure that basketball.”
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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1,164 comments Add your comment
O'Brien
May 2nd, 2011
4:39 pm
From the previous blog;
Sleepy,
Jamal only took 4 shots in that game, but whose fault was that? More often than not (in the regular season), Jamal struggled when he played significant minutes at PG, because he is a scorer first, not someone who runs the offense.
And in that game where the Hawks rallied to beat the Bulls, Jamal went 5-13, and finished with 12 points, 4 assists, 2 steals in 31 minutes. The Hawks won 83-80 because of defense. We limited the Bulls to 30 second half points.
KevinM
May 2nd, 2011
4:40 pm
Teague is on a short leash…count on it.
Collins get less PT this series and Marvin extends his minutes….his success should depend on how well he keeps Deng from getting hot.
Joe will have his hands full with Rose. Perhaps we let Rose get his points, and shut down the rest of the roster.
And Game 1 is a must to show we are serious about removing last years’ train wreck. Respect comes to those who compete. Last year, they didn’t compete.
I don’t think we could have set up a better matchup for the playoffs.
BigTimeTECHFan
May 2nd, 2011
4:41 pm
Let what happens hapen in game 1, let Teague play a lot:
1. If he plays bad, it will motivate him to play better in game 2, he will have time to figue it out, relax a little
2. If he plays good, he will be that much better in game 2.
O'Brien
May 2nd, 2011
4:43 pm
If Teague comes out shaky, I hope LD doesnt take him out of the game at the first time out. Give him a chance to settle down, because we will need him this series.
And if Teague somehow plays well, and Jamal somehow struggles, I hope LD will reward Teague with more PT.
With the Bulls being active on the glass, we really need Josh and Al to hang out in the post more. I hope LD constantly reminds them to go inside.
Slim
May 2nd, 2011
4:44 pm
@MC
@Northcyde
“Darrell . . Collins shouldn’t even play this series. The matchup and focus are different. The Bulls aren’t going to toss the ball down to Noah to let him work on Collins. And Noah is way too active, fast, and athletic for Collins.”
“When the Hawks won the only game vs the Bulls, it was all due to the work and rebounding that Horford was doing while mainly playing center.”
Actually Zaza and Pachulia combined for 37 minutes and Horford played 41 minutes mostly at power forward.
“What we need, is for Horford and Smith to collectively get 20+ rebounds a game. Jason Collins has never kept active bigs off of the boards.”
* the blowouts come from Smith being 6′8 and 6′10 Gibson or 7′0 Noah or 6′9.5 Boozer reaching right over Smith, pushing him under the basket, pushing him out of the way like Collins did to Rose etc. Josh Smith is better at the 3 or off the bench to go right at Deng.
* Collins started the 2nd half when Noah exited and we went on a 13 pt run to get back into the game. We did not have Josh Smith. Collins pins, Noah, Horford grabs the board, he and Josh take off sort of like the 80s Showtime Lakers with 6′8 Magic. They dont have nothing they go to post ups, of which we have 3. smdh
Josh should be running out in front and finishing at the rim. Trying to foul out Luol “I play 40+ minutes and am a major cog in the team as I have no backup” Deng not trying to outmuscle Boozer for petty rebounds and block Derrick Rose (who is going to draw many fouls on Smith for the 3rd game btw) #forestfromthetrees MC
It was not a bad pick
May 2nd, 2011
4:44 pm
Hawks in 6th..we are better, point blank…
If JT has a bad series, can we all finally agree that we should have took Collison?…
Slim
May 2nd, 2011
4:46 pm
no rebounds, no rings.
And
P.S. Marvin takes 4 shots a game, obviously the Hawks don’t trust Smith on him. But wouldn’t we want Deng trying to beat us with his jumper instead of Rose?
If Smith can beat him in the post and Deng sits down with fouls, isn’t that a good thing?
Astro Joe
May 2nd, 2011
4:53 pm
Man, I can’t believe the 2nd round playoff series is becoming a referendum on Jeff Teague. This isn’t the summer league… if he can’t cut it, keep working down the bench until you find someone who can. He gets the first shot at proving himself… no one is asking him to shut-down Rose or have a CP3 moment, just contribute to the team’s success by playing smart and hard. No excuses why he can’t make that happen. Smart and hard.
Section 303
May 2nd, 2011
4:56 pm
It’s all right there for Jeff Teague. He just needs to go get it!
Fired up for this game. Can’t wait!
James on Pharr Rd
May 2nd, 2011
4:58 pm
About Najeh
If you notice that Najeh hasn’t chimed in yet, it is because he is in the film room. Apparently he’s prepping to guard Rose tonight….Go Najeh, or should I say Jeff…
I am looking to be surprised by the Hawks…
bldvl89
May 2nd, 2011
4:58 pm
Praying like hell that Teague plays a lot better than he did during his last college game in the NCAA Tournament, when Norris Cole, Cedric Jackson and the Cleveland State Vikings completely destroyed Wake and forced Teague into more turnovers than Cleveland State had as a team.
James on Pharr Rd
May 2nd, 2011
4:58 pm
Would much rather see Zaza start though…
James on Pharr Rd
May 2nd, 2011
5:00 pm
^ And play Al at the four-a couple of hard deterrent fouls in the paint might help set the pace for Rose if you know what I mean Dwight. LOL
ag
May 2nd, 2011
5:00 pm
When I say 40 minutes, that means he is playing good defense on Rose and Woody-Lite will continue to match him against Rose. I truly hope (which most of us think) he will play JT the first 6 minutes of each half. Remember the Portland game, JT played well because he was on the floor at the end of the first quarter when he scored 6 points in under 20 secs.
Beast from the East
May 2nd, 2011
5:01 pm
Ready or not?
NOT
Sorry, but that is a tall task to ask of Teague. That being said, he’s the best option because Crawford plays almost no defense. Gonna be a tall order without Heinrich. The Hawks mathc up well everywhere else, but guarding Rose is a glaring weakness. Prove us naysayers wrong, Teague!
ag
May 2nd, 2011
5:01 pm
Playing Collins in this series is a waste and AL beast Noah so he should stay at C.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 2nd, 2011
5:02 pm
Good lineup.
Shut up LD.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 2nd, 2011
5:04 pm
From the previous blog:
“I would hate to be in Teague’s shoes. If you play well, you help the idiot who has tried everything in their power to destroy you.
But if you don’t play well, you prove the idiot “right”.
I’d go out and play great, and trust people have enough sense to see that LD’s an incompetent coach.”
I agree. It never benefits any player to not play his best. If I were Teague, I’d ball out in these playoffs, fight for the starting job over the summer and in training camp, and if LD (or his successor) still insisted on burying him on the bench, I’d demand a trade by December.
Teague is going to play well in this series. Maybe not well enough for the Hawks to win, but he’s going to play well.
KCG
May 2nd, 2011
5:07 pm
The Hawks should go with the big line up of either Collins or Zaza at center. The only game that we won against the Bulls was when Josh was hurt and we were forced to go big and put Al at the 4. The other 2 games when we went small we got blown out.
Michael Cunningham
May 2nd, 2011
5:12 pm
@Geemack: “MC, Do you get the sense that the players feel they can win this series. or do they seem to just want to have a good showing? What’s the mood of the team?”
seems about the same as before Orlando: quietly confident that they can win.
Michael Cunningham
May 2nd, 2011
5:13 pm
@JeJe: “MC, Is it the Hawks’ mentality this year that they want to win the series, or that they do not want to get swept?
The name of the main article now is “Players insist they won’t be swept out of Eastern Conference semifinals for third straight season.”
That doesn’t tell me these guys want to win the series”
my reading of J.J.’s comments is that they want to win.
KevinM
May 2nd, 2011
5:15 pm
“It was not a bad pick
May 2nd, 2011
4:44 pm
Hawks in 6th..we are better, point blank”
Have you been watching the same Hawks team I have? Really, when everyone is telling you our offense is non-existant? When CHI wins only 18 more games than we did this season? Did we really compete well against them this year? We had that one surge of a comeback…that’s all we can hang our hat on.
But Boozer is hurt, and Rose may be cautious, but I can’t see our Hawks being as good as CHI. Nothing matches, offensively or defensively.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 2nd, 2011
5:22 pm
“You’d like to say this is when we can finally find out about Teague but what would it really settle if he can’t get it done in this series?
If you like Teague now and he bombs, you can say he hasn’t been properly developed and shouldn’t be judged under these circumstances. If you’ve been skeptical he’s a player, a poor showing would be just another reason to believe the same. ”
True.
As a proud member of Team A (the group that says Teague has untapped potential and his inconsistency is primarily a result of poor coaching decisions) that is exactly what I will say if Teague doesn’t play well. It will entirely be LD’s fault.
With that said, he will play well. Will he dominate the game? No. But I think he will generally play well on D — as well as anyone can play on the MVP of the league — and he will make enough plays on O to make his presence on the court worthwhile.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 2nd, 2011
5:25 pm
“Bad offense is just as a good as a turnover. If you don’t get good shots and force that team to work and you start hoisting up crazy shots, it is just as bad as a turnover.”
Very true, especially when you are playing against a dominant rebounding team, which the Bulls are.
KevinM
May 2nd, 2011
5:26 pm
Make Bogans and Noah beat you on offense….make Rose play defense.
Keep Marvin’s minutes low because he won’t fulfill everyone’s pleas here. No way he matches Deng’s production.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 2nd, 2011
5:26 pm
“Wow . . Bin Laden is dead ( supposedly ), and Teague starts for the Hawks. What’s next? They gonna find Tupac alive somewhere in the Bahamas?”
Hawks win the championship?
KevinM
May 2nd, 2011
5:27 pm
Lately, it sure looks like we are still using last year’s offensive schemes…..Marvin and Josh standing behind the line, Joe and Jamal dribbling looking for an opening.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 2nd, 2011
5:34 pm
“If you notice that Najeh hasn’t chimed in yet, it is because he is in the film room. Apparently he’s prepping to guard Rose tonight….Go Najeh, or should I say Jeff…”
Haha… are you suggesting I am Jeff Teague? I don’t look like a balding 12 year old so no.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 2nd, 2011
5:44 pm
Here’s a prediction for tonight’s game.
Hawks come out strong and play the Bulls even in the first quarter. They actually manage to take a lead early in the 2nd. By the end of the 2nd, the Bulls erase the lead and lead by two or three at halftime. Hawks hang in there throughout the 3rd. In the 4th, LD insists on playing Jamal at point guard against Rose, the Bulls pull away, and the Hawks end up losing by 15.
ag
May 2nd, 2011
5:46 pm
ND I disagree. Yes, he has not been developed, but hey I will say he has to prove himself to everyone else. He has done enough for me to jump on his bandwagon, now he has to prove he belongs to everyone else. We did not know Rondo existing until the playoffs, so Jeff has to do his thing.
The worst thing LD can do is play JT six minutes first half (i.e Denver, Milwaukee, etc games) then play him token minutes second half. He needs to be on the court EVERY minute Rose is on the court.
cp
May 2nd, 2011
5:51 pm
@Wink. great post
I hope Teague does well tonight. He is in a tough situation but as Grandad and northcyde say, if you can ball then you can ball. I just hope LD doesn’t pull him if he makes a mistake. Dude hasn’t really played significant minutes in a while. We just need him to be solid
@SteveW. I read a rumor a few years ago that BK actually tried to trade up and get Noah but he wasn’t offering a lot to get that pick. It was a rumor so I don’t know how much truth is in it.
KevinM
May 2nd, 2011
5:54 pm
OT, but who thinks Tiger let Smoltz have it after his attempt to make the cut this weekend? Smoltz was +27 in his failed attempt.
drmaryb (*_*)
May 2nd, 2011
5:56 pm
Creepy!
“Attorneys Gary Kreep and Orly Taitz (TAY-ts) appeared Monday before a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Pasadena. They argued that the lawsuit, which was dismissed two years ago, be remanded back to U.S. District Judge David Carter.
______________________
Attorneys Gary Kreep and Orly Taitz (TAY-ts): LOL!
One guy is a Creep, the other is an Orly Tay-ts? Either way, their lives can’t be good nor filled with laughter and Joy. I was gonna say, we would find Osama Bin Laden before they could prove Obama was not born in America. From the looks of things – I was right.
Our fine President resolved two major issues that bothered some and none of the others as well as the almost 10 year widest man hunt by doing two things:
He delivered a Birth Certificate and a Death Certificate all within inside of one week!
I would say that was one helluva week. If only he could to today by delivering a Hawks win as well. Then I could just skip the game and smoke that “after great-sex cigarette” in bed – now.
____________________
Let’s Go Hawks! I got a sneaky feeling that tonight is gonna’ be a good night, i just do. something is in the air.
Carter determined the federal court system is not the proper venue to challenge a president’s election.”
_____________________________
yodaddy
May 2nd, 2011
6:04 pm
The Hawks will shock the world
drmaryb (*_-)
May 2nd, 2011
6:15 pm
The Complaint Department!
No matter what any coach does, they will find something to complain about. The Fanatics are crazy just by the nature of their name:
Fanatics!
Illogical, unreasonable and NEVER satisfied with nothing. A good cocah will NEVER read the newspaper. They do it in LA and Miami and Boston and Memphis too. Hell, they do it anywhere a sports event is taking place.
You got Teague and now you want Collins/ZaZa. Bump all of yall!
Just shut up and eat your popcorn, try not to choke on the kernels or, just go ahead, do yourself a favor and choke. Put yourselves out of your own misery. God forbid if you can enjoy a game.
____________________
I can’t even scroll the blog anymore, it’s loaded with cry babies.
Let’s Go Hawks! Drew – Do You! Put your best 5 on the floor and roll the ball out there. May the best team win 4 out of 7. I can live with the outcome.
O'Brien
May 2nd, 2011
6:21 pm
I hope fans dont declare Teague a bust if he has a bad series in the second round of the playoffs after playing sparingly all year and didnt really play in the first round. that would be a knee jerk reaction (imo).
That being said, there is no reason for jeff not to play well on defense
drmaryb (*_-)
May 2nd, 2011
6:25 pm
He Got Jokes?
“Haha… are you suggesting I am Jeff Teague? I don’t look like a balding 12 year old so no.”
_______________
I was just wondering why Teague’s hairline was running away from his forehead?
That’s why I called him – Donatello (a teenage mutant ninja turtle)
several months ago. If he borrowed Kevin Durant’s back pack, his look would be complete.
Will tonight be The Revenge of Donatello?
NagoyaHawk
May 2nd, 2011
6:28 pm
When you read up on what everybody is saying about the game, you wonder why we even try. It seems to be over before it started.
clay
May 2nd, 2011
6:30 pm
I think Teague is going to turn some heads tonight and suprise some folks. He plays great D and he is very speedy with the ball. Good change of pace guard. Teague steps up tonight…you can take that to the bank
ag
May 2nd, 2011
6:37 pm
Scoop Jackson predicted Hawks to win tonight and lose series. Skip Bayless said the Hawks will be swept. AG says Hawks will win tonight.
Rev in Tampa
May 2nd, 2011
6:44 pm
Speed don’t slump…
I think Teague will play a good game tonight. I am with drmary. It just seems like the Hawks are really focused right now. I think they will win tonght.
zachdahater
May 2nd, 2011
6:44 pm
JEFF TEAGUE HAS GOTTEN SO FEW MINUTES THIS SEASON THAT HE CIRCLES THE DAYS ON HIS CALENDER WHEN HE ACTUALLY GOT TO BE IN AN NBA GAME FOR MORE THAN 10 MINUTES!!!!!!
LD should’ve TRAINED Teague for THIS moment. OTHER teams have BACKUPS that come in and KILL IT! Look at the Grizzlies! Look at Gary Neal hitting that game tying shot for the Spurs! Teague COULD NEVER hope to do that from how little we used him!!! I REALLY hope Jeff is prepared, SORRY that Jeff has to play with a team that doesn’t do business right work on rookies, but IT’S YOUR TIME, SHOW ME TONIGHT BABY!!!! GO HAAAAAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Worldwide Clyde
May 2nd, 2011
6:45 pm
If the Hawks fall behind it will be Teague’s fault. We need to keep Marvin on the bench and have Smoove guarding Deng. Stopping Deng is the key.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 2nd, 2011
6:53 pm
Whatever happens in this series, this is still hilarious.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 2nd, 2011
7:12 pm
http://twitpic.com/4sf39g
Najeh Davenpoop
May 2nd, 2011
7:16 pm
Apparently LD is playing Smoove on Noah and Al on Boozer. I like that idea.
Grandad
May 2nd, 2011
7:17 pm
It’s about the Team
If the the Hawks fall behind it’s Teague’s fault
- no -
if the team falls behind, it’s the team’s fault.
If Josh takes a bad shot, it’s Josh’s fault
- sort of -
LD should share the blame, but that’s on the individual.
If Al sits the whole 2nd qtr because he has two fouls,
that’s LD’s fault.
- of course -
The team was penalized by their leader & decision maker.
But my point remains;
we put too much emphasis on who plays:
where, when, how, why, & how much.
Rather than the “team won” [or lost].
Not to disagree with Mary Ellen,
but to amend what she said earlier:
“put the “best” five players that -play together- out there”
and let’s play.
(+/-) stats for one player are misleading;
we should focus more on (+/-) for five player combos.
What does this have to do with Teague?
He does not have to beat Rose !
The Hawks [team] must defeat the [Bulls] team !
Sorry, Bulls in (5).
Thibs COY over LD.
I just destroyed my whole dissertation.
Rico Niles
May 2nd, 2011
7:23 pm
MC: Jeff Teague will play better than we expect with lots of surprises. This Kids deserves a shot at breaking through the Mike Woodson era of not trusting and playing Rookies or Sophmores. Originally I did not know Jeff Teague until he came to the Hawks.
Jeff will be s solid if not great point guard in this league. The Hawks have better give him the chance next year and let him play through his lack of PT struggles or allow some other team to benefit from his future progress…
This series will prove that we have found our Chris Paul and besides, Teague is a better defender.
SteveW
May 2nd, 2011
7:33 pm
Teague seize the moment?
He seized it about 5 times during the season. Even brought over almost all of the doubters to his side.
And then LD would snatch it away.
I think if Teague plays like DRose – which he won’t, LD will pull him all during this series so he (LD) won’t look like such a horrible coach for not playing him all along..
I think LD makes decisions on factors other than winning sometimes.
SteveW
May 2nd, 2011
7:34 pm
BK would have got run out of town for drafting Noah?
I think he got run out of town for drafting Acie and Shelden