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
Najeh Davenpoop
May 2nd, 2011
8:52 pm
And just as I say that…
Jamal on Korver is not a good matchup for the Hawks defensively.
bigdave
May 2nd, 2011
8:52 pm
Korver killing Jamal. off screens. running him ragged.
Luke Cage
May 2nd, 2011
8:52 pm
4 pts from Collins is a bonus
Luke Cage
May 2nd, 2011
8:52 pm
FINALLY
bigdave
May 2nd, 2011
8:52 pm
that will be all day for Horford.. he has to make it.. Collins hitting em.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 2nd, 2011
8:52 pm
Collins’ nickname should be Visa for real.
Melvin
May 2nd, 2011
8:53 pm
Collins will draw a charge every game…LOL
omar
May 2nd, 2011
8:53 pm
I don’t believe the refs willl ever call a moving screen
Rev in Tampa
May 2nd, 2011
8:53 pm
Jamal is not playing any defense at all on korver. He is just standing there while he shoots. not even taking a step in korver’s direction. AWFUL!
cp
May 2nd, 2011
8:53 pm
get Al and Josh back in get Jamal out
bigdave
May 2nd, 2011
8:53 pm
great take Joe.. best player on the floor.
Melvin
May 2nd, 2011
8:54 pm
LOL,, I notice that Pape Sy is active for tonight… Put Pape on Korver
Najeh Davenpoop
May 2nd, 2011
8:55 pm
Good strong drive by Joe to draw the foul. Too often in the regular season in situations when he could drive and draw contact in key momentum shifting situations he settles for jumpers. That time he drove and drew contact. Successful trips to the line are a reliable way to shift momentum back in your favor.
As formidable as the Bulls looked during that run, the Hawks are still up by 7 with a chance to extend it back to 9. That is a good sign.
northcyde
May 2nd, 2011
8:55 pm
Collins giving us offense . . wow. A little surprised that he’s playing instead of Zaza though.
JJ trying to be special tonight. Exactly @ bigdave. As of right now, he’s the best player on the floor.
Brandon
May 2nd, 2011
8:55 pm
Joe has been the best guard in this game so far. Let’s hope that we can still say that by the end of the game. Also, our bench guys have given some quality minutes so far. I just hope Drew doesn’t hurt us in this game by sitting Al for too long. Right about now would be a good time to re-insert him into the game. Show some trust in Al, and let’s extend this lead.
Melvin
May 2nd, 2011
8:56 pm
Rose probably sat on the bench more mins in this 1st half than he did the entire 1st round against Indy…
drmaryb (*_-)
May 2nd, 2011
8:56 pm
Bull Crock!
As the Bulls prepare to end the Atlanta Hawks’ season in the next week or so, I’m still not sure which helps the Bulls more:
The Hawks with Kirk Hinrich too injured to play or the Bulls with Carlos Boozer too injured to play?
With Hinrich down because of a hamstring injury, the Hawks have to start Jeff Teague. With a straight face. Teague had the job a while ago, then lost it, and now gets it back by default. Put Teague in a starting lineup that already includes center Jason Collins, and you’ve got two guys who are averaging fewer points than Keith Bogans and barely as many rebounds. Combined, I’m talking. Combined.
Starting with fewer scoring options against the best defensive team in the league is no way to go through the playoffs, son. Without Hinrich, the Hawks lose the one defender who might stand a chance against Derrick Rose and a guy who can organize an offense. Without Boozer, meanwhile, the Bulls lose nothing on defense and just a fake inside presence on offense of late.
Boozer’s toughest matchup seems to be the first eight minutes. If he gets off, he has a game. If not, he might as well be resting his turf-toe injuy so he can make a difference against Miami or Boston.
Because this playoff series is all over and because that’s when Boozer has to show up.
Yeah, I realize the Hawks upset Orlando in six games and saved the Bulls’ signing affidavits against Magic center Dwight Homicide. I’ll give Atlanta credit for making the all-or-nothing Magic look bad.
But sorry, there’s no way the Hawks can stay with Rose short of, well, homicide. And the Bulls just don’t let opponents shoot against them. Not more than one game in a row, anyway.
While the Hawks have quality players in Horford, Joe Johnson and Josh Smith, in my world the hood ornament for the Hawks is former Bull Jamal Crawford. He might be the worst defensive player in the league, maybe in the league’s history. He doesn’t even try. It’s as if he wants the Bulls to score just so he can get the ball back and jack up another shot.
That, see, is the other part of the Hawks’ weakness: stupid or undisciplined shots, take your pick. Sure, the Hawks can shoot lights out, and they probably will for one game, the one win they’ll get in the next eight days. They shot lights out in that big comeback against the Bulls the first time the teams met, but that was the only half of basketball the Hawks took from the Bulls this season.
Look, the Hawks finished near the bottom of the league in blocking shots and forcing turnovers in the regular season and ranked in the bottom half of the league in opponents’ field-goal percentage. Oh, and the Hawks aren’t much for offensive rebounds. The Pacers ranked high in most of those categories during the regular season and frustrated the Bulls terribly by winning some of those areas in the playoffs.
The only threat is playoff irritant Zaza Pachulia, and we’re talking physical threat, not offensive. Pachulia is averaging a foul about every five minutes in the playoffs, in case you’re wondering who Atlanta’s Jeff Foster might be.
Providing Rose stays healthy and Bulls players aren’t big fans of Atlanta’s world-class strip clubs, the only way this goes beyond five is if the Bulls remain too stupid or too stubborn to play the first half. That inability to prepare to play before the fourth quarter forced the Bulls to work harder against the Pacers than they should’ve had to. They figured it out by Game 5 and got some needed rest. I’m betting they figure it out quicker against the Hawks, especially if they rest Boozer.
______________________
Whatever. That writer is talking a whole lot of ISH! I bet he eating crow now, I wonder what it taste like?
______________
Hey yall! Rose ankle is screaming, that’s why he’s on the bench. He has absolutely no explosiveness from what I can see. Ankle sprains are worse than fractures.
ignition
May 2nd, 2011
8:56 pm
Jamals D is just awful.. Joe lookin strong.. Keep up the ball movement I count 4 Teague assist so far.. My count.
Sautee
May 2nd, 2011
8:56 pm
Twin is the most professional player on the team. By far.
northcyde
May 2nd, 2011
8:56 pm
It would be a mistake by LD to leave Horford on this bench, if we can’t push this lead to double digits. Don’t leave that dude stranded on the bench if they cut this back to 4 or 5 points.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 2nd, 2011
8:56 pm
Zaza has two fouls or else he’d probably still be in the game.
Brandon
May 2nd, 2011
8:57 pm
Good job, L.D.! Al is back in the game. Hooray! Drew is learning!
Melvin
May 2nd, 2011
8:58 pm
Josh they are not going to give you that call under the rim…
Rev in Tampa
May 2nd, 2011
8:58 pm
josh has to be stronger than that on the post defense
Najeh Davenpoop
May 2nd, 2011
8:58 pm
Wow, tough shot by Jamal.
bigdave
May 2nd, 2011
8:58 pm
Crawford looking like MJ
northcyde
May 2nd, 2011
8:58 pm
LOL . . what a terrible shot by Jamal . . that he of course makes.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 2nd, 2011
8:59 pm
They are really calling some ticky tack fouls on the Hawks. Al, Smoove, and Zaza have each picked up one questionable foul.
Melvin
May 2nd, 2011
8:59 pm
Bulls are getting too many calls…
bigdave
May 2nd, 2011
8:59 pm
great d there Josh..
steven
May 2nd, 2011
8:59 pm
back to sloppy ball
bigdave
May 2nd, 2011
8:59 pm
that whistle is crazy.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 2nd, 2011
8:59 pm
First bad play Teague has made tonight.
cp
May 2nd, 2011
8:59 pm
smh come on Teague
Luke Cage
May 2nd, 2011
8:59 pm
Damn Al
O'Brien
May 2nd, 2011
8:59 pm
Mike Fratello calling out JJ for not making an attempt on the Rose layup.
JJ took that possession off defensively.
And another turnover by the hawks. Come on guys. We need to close the quarter out strong.
northcyde
May 2nd, 2011
9:00 pm
Idiotic foul by Horford. Know the situation Al.
Rev in Tampa
May 2nd, 2011
9:00 pm
hawks are beating themselves.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 2nd, 2011
9:00 pm
3 fouls on Al.
Melvin
May 2nd, 2011
9:00 pm
Teague didnt trip by himself…
J.J.M.
May 2nd, 2011
9:00 pm
refs dont want the hawks to win
Luke Cage
May 2nd, 2011
9:00 pm
still refs favoring bulls with alot of these calls
O'Brien
May 2nd, 2011
9:00 pm
Man, Fratello on JJ again. Said if he had committed the foul when he had the chance, Al wouldnt have to commit what turned into his 3rd…
bigdave
May 2nd, 2011
9:01 pm
Hawks going small..
Luke Cage
May 2nd, 2011
9:01 pm
Always take Korver
Sautee
May 2nd, 2011
9:01 pm
BS touch foul. it’s the playoffs, refs.
drmaryb (*_-)
May 2nd, 2011
9:01 pm
Horford fouling and passing up shots still? What a joke!
Najeh Davenpoop
May 2nd, 2011
9:01 pm
Nice steal and finish by Teague. The D from Joe created the turnover.
Luke Cage
May 2nd, 2011
9:01 pm
Sweet
Melvin
May 2nd, 2011
9:01 pm
Teague is a baller…