Atlanta Hawks: Jeff Teague seeking balance
Miami–After watching Jeff Teague’s strangely passive play against the Rockets and hearing coach Larry Drew’s pointed critique of his performance afterwards, I thought back to what Teague, Drew and Josh Smith said before the game.
If you recall, after Teague’s strong game against New Jersey on Friday he mentioned that teammates were telling him they were open on drives to the basket but that his game is scoring. But after watching the video of that game, Teague said he saw their point.
“You can be aggressive, but be aggressive and make plays for others,” Teague said before the Rockets game. “Me being a point guard, I’ve got the ball and I can get guys involved so they can play defense. It’s hard to play defense if you don’t touch the ball. Josh made a great point. One time I went to the hole [against New Jersey] and I tried to make a tough, left-handed layup. I looked at the film, and he was open on the baseline. He talked to me. We talk all the time. I’m glad he did that.
“[Teammates] tell me to be aggressive. Joe [Johnson] told me, ‘If the lane is open, take it. Use your speed.’ Josh told me the same thing. But as a young guy you score a couple layups you start thinking it’s an easy play.”
Teague said the conversation with Smith happened on the bench and it wasn’t heated. Smith said he thinks Teague is still fine-tuning his game.
“I think that’s s big key in his growth process, knowing when to be aggressive and when to get his teammates involved,” Smith said. “I know it’s something you have to learn, and in his career he’s always been a scorer. It’s definitely going to be a learning curve but we are patient because he is doing some good stuff off the dribble, getting to the rim and being able to create for himself.
“I think he’s now more cautious and mindful of trying to get his teammates involved, especially when me and Al [Horford] run the floor. We don’t get that many plays [called for them] so when we run the floor, that’s when we expect the ball. Just a little touch. That’s the main focus on knowing when to get teammates involved. He’s been doing good so far. He’s s been watching film and seeing who’s open on the dribble drive.”
Before the Rockets game, Drew also said he didn’t plan to rein in Teague.
“I’m not going to tone him down,” he said. “I want him to be himself. There have been a lot of great point guards in this league who have had a score-first, pass second mentality. That’s who Jeff is. I don’t want to take that away from him.
“At the same time I have to coach him and show him when he does penetrate and get to the basket, sometimes it’s a late dish. I think he’s dong a great job with that. Jeff is still learning. We will continue to watch him and make sure he understands that at that position all the tools that are necessary.”
So Teague’s coach and his teammates are encouraging him to be aggressive but also get other guys involved. I wonder if the second part of the message had Teague thinking too much against the Rockets. And then I also wondered if Drew’s “scoring is overrated” comment after the Rockets would have the same effect.
But today at shootaround, Drew said what he really meant is that he wants Teague to be more assertive. Lester Conner and Nick Van Exel delivered that message to Teague and Drew was talking to Teague about it as shootaround wrapped up.
“He was not aggressive,” Drew said. “I’m going to find out why that was. You don’t go from having the game he had against [New Jersey] and then he didn’t take a field goal the whole first half [at Houston]. He has to be aggressive. He is really the head of the snake with our team. Yeah, our big three [is] Joe, Al and Smoove, but what Teague brings to the table we don’t have anyone else that can do that: break the defense down, get into the paint at will.
“When he is aggressive, it makes us that much better. When he’s passive as he was against Houston, he’s just another ballplayer. He’s got to be aggressive. He’s got to be in his attack mode.”
We’ll see if Teague is more aggressive tonight in the first game of a big week for the Hawks. By now it’s clear Teague is a guy who takes what his coaches and teammates say to heart. Remember, he cited their encouragement as a reason for his coming out against the Bulls in the playoffs. During training camp he said feeling like his teammates trust him is the biggest factor in his confidence this season.
As the point guard on a veteran team deep with scorers, Teague is probably always going to have someone telling him they need more touches. Obviously Teague should listen but Drew said he also has to learn how to selectively filter that talk.
“It comes with the territory,” Drew said. “Sometimes you have go to learn how to shake that off. Sometimes you have got to let it go in one ear and out the other. It’s OK. I think it’s healthy for a young guy who does have that mentality of being a scorer and being a passer. It will balance itself out eventually.
“Jeff is still very young. He’s very receptive. If he were the type of player where if somebody said that to him and got upset or mad [it would be a problem], but he’s not like that. He wants to learn. He takes criticism. He really absorbs information and does a good job in communicating. He’s not a selfish-type player. It’s just his DNA is [that of] a scorer.”
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
111 comments Add your comment
truly1
January 2nd, 2012
3:31 pm
“It is hard to play defense when you are not getting the ball on offense”. WHAT!!!!
Ok how come noone said anything about this last year when JC1 shot the ball all the time.
truly1
January 2nd, 2012
3:33 pm
“Its hard to play defense when you are not getting the ball on offense”
WHAT!!!!
Noone told the chicago bulls that last year
STRETCH
January 2nd, 2012
3:34 pm
Anyone know when Hinrich is coming back?
truly1
January 2nd, 2012
3:35 pm
“Its hard to play defense when you are not getting the ball on offense”
WHAT!!!!
I think if you cant shoot and you can be and allstar playing defense you should do that josh smith.
truly1
January 2nd, 2012
3:36 pm
“Its hard to play defense when you are not getting the ball on offense”
WHAT!!!!
Isnt that what you get paid for. Isnt that what championship teams do.
Grandmaster JeJe
January 2nd, 2012
3:42 pm
FIRE LD
STOP using the damn bench lineup. We need our starters to play more minutes.
And stop just taking Marvin out for no reason
And Amnesty Josh. What a pain to watch
Slimjr
January 2nd, 2012
3:44 pm
Josh is Brutal to watch and its tiresome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MattP
January 2nd, 2012
3:53 pm
Anyone think Drew will bench Teague once Hinrich comes back? I have a feeling he will.
Slimjr
January 2nd, 2012
3:59 pm
I would not be surprised if LD benches Teague…
Then I will say:
FIRE LARRY!
Will
January 2nd, 2012
4:03 pm
J. Smith doesn’t have the basketball knowledge to tell J. Teague how to be a pg.
If teague just plays every gm like he’s capable, he would be the team leading scorer
and they would win a lot more gms, but apparently their seem to be 1 or 2 other guys
in the starting lineup who wants to be the hero.
If Smith wants the ball that bad, how about getting your azz under the basket and getting a couple
of rebs for a change or play some consisted defense for a change, or stop shooting 40 ft jump
shots air balls.
This guy Smith he still doesn’t get it, and probably never will. If he just played around the
basket, he could go down as one of the leagues greats at the fwd position, because he
would be unstoppable. Unfortunately for him and the hawks they will never get the respect
they are seeking.
northcyde
January 2nd, 2012
4:20 pm
WTF??
See . . this angers me.
And for all of you who talk ish about Joe Johnson and his lack of being a leader, I bet JJ wasn’t the one talking to him saying “man I was open, pass me the ball.” JJ has supported Teague from Day 1, and even said at the beginning of the year “The Hawks will be as successful as Teague is” ( or something along those lines ).
See . . what went on in the Jersey game was Teague getting to the rim at will, at the expense of others who wanted more shots. ( we know who that someone is ).
Then you got the coach sending these mixed messages to the kid.
Drew and Smith . . just STFU and let that kid do his thing. Let him play to his strengths. He got “passive” because he wanted to please everybody, instead of simply playing his game.
So what Drew? Would you rather Teague to pass to Smith so that he can brick up even more open jumpers? Pass to JJ so he can miss more midrange jumpers?
We all know that Teague is not a TRUE PG. He wasn’t that in college and he isn’t going to be that in the NBA. Don’t be messing with that kid’s head already. Let that dude play his game.
Let these players play to their strengths.
LOL @ Drew getting on Teague, while Josh Smith is a whopping 5 – 22 on his jumpshots . . and JJ has missed 11 of the 14 shots he’s taken from 16 – 23 feet.
News flash Mr. Drew . . . Jeff Teague has only taken SEVEN jumpers on the season . . but gotten to the rim 21 times, converting on 14. That LEADS THE TEAM in shots at point blank range ( something your “Big Three” can’t claim to be doing )
Josh has taken 22 jumpers, but only has 12 shots at the rim . . yet, you’re messing with Teague?
Incredible.
northcyde
January 2nd, 2012
4:34 pm
Astro Joe
January 2nd, 2012
2:07 pm
Thank goodness the comments came from Josh, if the identical comments had come from Joe I(or LD for that matter), many on the blog would have been accusing Joe of trying to keep Teague under his thumb. But since most of the Josh loyalists tend to gravitate toward Teague, this will undoubtedly be viewed positively.
****************
Exactly.
Then Josh talks about “it’s hard to play defense, when you don’t touch the ball on offense.”
Had JJ said this, it would be Armageddon on this board.
Here’s a suggestion Josh . . how about YOU play like Shawn Marion used to play, and crash the offensive boards and put them back in the hole. Seeing that you’re currently shooting 37.5% FG, maybe a few offensive put backs will help your scoring average.
Slimjr
January 2nd, 2012
4:38 pm
“Then Josh talks about “it’s hard to play defense, when you don’t touch the ball on offense.””
Gearson, GET THIS GUY OUT OF HERE ASAP!
JOSH FOR DERRICK WILLIAMS!
northcyde
January 2nd, 2012
4:40 pm
And MC . . let me address this comment to you.
You’re doing outstanding work this year. A lot of us can see some of the stuff that is going on, but you’re really bringing some of the things we’re seeing to its proper light. You’re asking the right questions and getting the right answers. Great job man.
Slimjr
January 2nd, 2012
4:41 pm
Gearon^^
Slimjr
January 2nd, 2012
4:44 pm
MEMO TO JOSH SMITH:
READ MY LIPS, YOU ARE NOT A SHOOTER AND NEVER WILL BE…
TEAGUE KEEP DRIVING IF JOSH IS ON THE FLOOR!
Najeh Davenpoop
January 2nd, 2012
4:45 pm
I agree with LD that Teague has to be more assertive, but that goes beyond just looking for his shot more. He has to demand that his teammates (particularly Josh) give him the ball so he can run the fast break. He has to go get the ball from teammates who have the ball in positions where they don’t have an open shot or passing lane. Those are ways in which he can run the offense without necessarily racking up the assists in the stat sheet.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 2nd, 2012
4:48 pm
With that said, I hope LD realizes that lack of defense and rebounding were the primary reasons for the loss, neither of which was primarily Teague’s fault.
cp
January 2nd, 2012
4:49 pm
@tyger I’m sorry but any of your post regarding Teague has no credibility. I remember when you said that Donald Sloan of all people would make Teague expendable. Really? An undrafted guy who showed nothing in the preseason is going to make Teague expendable? Dude just stop it. I’m starting to think Teague didn’t give you an autograph or something. I dont recall you saying anything after his first 3 games. He has one bad game and here you come. I guess you were waiting on that to happen.
I think Teague will be fine. I dont see the problem with his play so far. How about the coach calling out our bigs for lack of rebounding. How about telling Josh to stop jacking up bad shots or to start boxing somebody out. How about the coach learning how to substitute or how to ride the hot hand. Marvin is playing well yet our coach has him on the bench when he should be playing. Teague has one bad game and some fans on here are overreacting as usual.
And co-sign northcyde’s post at 4:20
Joe
January 2nd, 2012
4:53 pm
Josh Smith giving advice, that’s rich, how about jsmoove, u stop taking that awful jumper and start playing more at the rim. Teague gets it, you haven’t got a clue after 5 – 6 years in the league.
Go Hawks!!!!!!!!
JOSH, LET TEAGUE PLAY HIS GAME!!
January 2nd, 2012
4:53 pm
SMGDH. Josh Smith isn’t concerened about winning a championship, instead, he is concerned about stuffing up the stat sheet. For some reason, I think he is heckling Teague to be his #1 option to pass to, because he wants to be an all-star. For goodness sakes man, drive to the damn basket. Aren’t you tired of throwing up jumpers that never go in? Aren’t you tired of hearing the boos in Phillips Arena? Don’t you want it to stop? DRIVE TO THE BASKET,STOP THINKING YOU ARE THE BEST MID-RANGE SHOOTER IN THE LEAGUE, AND FOCUS YOURSELF ON WINNING A CHAMPIONSHIP!!
JOSH, LET TEAGUE PLAY HIS GAME!!
January 2nd, 2012
4:56 pm
AND LARRY DREW REALLY NEEDS TO STFU. TEAGUE IS THE BEST PG ON THIS TEAM (EVEN THOUGH HE ISN’T A TRUE PG)!! STOP TRYING TO RUIN HIS CONFIDENCE BEFORE YOU FIND YOURSELF ON THE STREETS LOOKING FOR A NEW JOB.
FIRE LD !!
Slimjr
January 2nd, 2012
4:56 pm
Josh we are on to you Sir..FA after next year wanna stuff that staff sheet to get a deal like Andre got a few years ago? Hmmmmmmmmmmm.
Slimjr
January 2nd, 2012
5:00 pm
Andre Iguodala got about 22 million more than Josh when they were both FA’s a few years back…
Andre was and still is a superior offensive player..
Josh21
January 2nd, 2012
5:03 pm
makes me sooo mad hearing the bull that ld keeps saying to/about teague…. pathetic excuse for a coach.. first PG in many years we’ve had been good enough (and young enough – bibby) to actually do something other than slowly dribble the ball upcourt, stay strictly outside the perimeter and shoot wide open J’s every now and then. i love actually having a quick pg who can get to the bucket, that opens up so many other options for the team when ur pg can get in the lane and make others collapse
Najeh Davenpoop
January 2nd, 2012
5:04 pm
“As a PG, Teague needs to speak up and help lead the team, but I feel like he doesn’t talk much. All he does is try and listen to the coaches and other players, which is fine, but as the PG, you have to speak up too (imo).”
It took Rondo two years as a starter to become assertive enough to do this. Teague has only been starting for ten games. I think he’ll be fine.
vava74
January 2nd, 2012
5:08 pm
northcyde January 2nd, 2012
4:20 pm
Precisely
hawkfan
January 2nd, 2012
5:17 pm
i think teague will be fine he’ll earn his playing time (even when hinrich comes back) starting this week when he goes up against cole, chalmers, and rose just give him time, it’s all a learning experience
JOSH, LET TEAGUE PLAY HIS GAME!!
January 2nd, 2012
5:23 pm
It’s going to be interesting tonight. Will Drew take out Teague for not passing to smoove? Will he take out Marvin for absolutly doing nothing? We’ll find out.
Grandmaster JeJe
January 2nd, 2012
5:25 pm
FIRE LD
FIRE JOSH
Astro Joe
January 2nd, 2012
5:34 pm
Sometimes player development takes more than handing a guy the ball and giving him minutes. It also takes some good ole fashion teaching (the verbal kind). What we don’t want is for Teague to be the same player in 3 years as he is now. And while some may believe that he will get better just because of games played, then you must not have any friends who still do the same dumb ish as an adult that they did as a child. If you’re not taught how to do something right, you may never learn. (BTW, haven’t we read some fairly critical words from Doc Rivers regarding Rondo through his early years as a PG? The QB of the team needs to have thick-skin because he plays a key position, especially in today’s NBA).
Rod, I saw both Budinger and Kevin Martin use a bunch of screens to get open looks. Trust me, Budinger is on my fantasy squad and it was my first time watching him in a game, so I was paying close attention. I’ll admit, I was too busy watching Teague in the 3rd quarter, trying to figure out if he was going to break into tears after his 0 FGAs in the first half. Maybe the notion that our PG was distraught (for a myriad of reasons) had something to do with the lackluster offensive production the other night.
LOL at all of the Josh bashers the past few days. In a war between Josh and Teague, there seems to be clear evidence on who gets the love in these parts. Of course, some of that is likely due to “Keep Hope Alive” that Teague delivers to an otherwise jaded group of bloggers.
Hawks keep it close throughout tonight’s game and lose in a nail-biter. Teague & Smith have big games. And you can quote me on that.
Disgusted
January 2nd, 2012
5:46 pm
This stretch will tell alot about where the hawks are.
Enough OJT on Teague, its his time to play and show what he has. They just need to commit to giving him added time and either he can do it or he cannot.
Slimjr
January 2nd, 2012
5:51 pm
Miami by 25, then Chicago, the team to beat by 30+…..Ugly………
truly1
January 2nd, 2012
5:51 pm
“Its hard to play defense when you are not getting the ball on offense”
WHAT!!!!
Josh smith please dont talk to Teague please
Ole Hawk's Fan
January 2nd, 2012
5:53 pm
Northclyde posting Jan 2nd @4:20pm
I agree with your comments 100%. When I read the article, my comments were WTF, JOSH of all people talking about can’t play defense if he doesn’t touch the ball is a LOSER talking. I was wondering in that Houston game why JT wasn’t attacking the basket and why he was pulled so early. Now the truth is coming to LIGHT. Isn’t the goal is TO WIN regardless of who is the top scorer. Josh is a SELFISH Knucklehead and put personal achivements ahead of TEAM! Ship him out of here quick. He will never get IT. Watch how he plays tonight against Miami. He is always argueing he should have gotten a call as the other team pushes the ball up the court. Atl has had enough of his SELFISH ANTICS. Get him out of the ATL!
#1 Hawks Fan.. JOsh Gotta Go!
January 2nd, 2012
5:57 pm
I’ve said all along and fully agree with everyone who finally realizes….Josh Smith has the lowest Basketball IQ that I’ve seen in a long time. It’s almost idiotic to keep throwing up “BRICKS” year after year,game after game, and turn around and do the same thing the next game. This guy is super athletic and should easily be in the top 5 in the league in rebounding and shot blocks if he was willing to accept what he actually does well.Its sad though that he is what he is and will always be a “WHAT IF GUY”
truly1
January 2nd, 2012
5:57 pm
“Its hard to play defense when you are not getting the ball on offense”
WHAT!!!!
This is why the Hawks havent been able to get over the hump. In back to backs during a long season if you have that attitude you lose.
morehouse man
January 2nd, 2012
5:58 pm
rod from college: it is very hard to score on the bench
truly1
January 2nd, 2012
6:02 pm
“Its hard to play defense when you are not getting the ball on offense”
WHAT!!!!
Does anybody wonder why we can beat teams as talented as we are on a nightly basis. We could be the Chicago bulls of last year every year but you cant have this mentality
“Its hard to play defense when you are not getting the ball on offense”
Walter R. Terrell
January 2nd, 2012
6:04 pm
8 years?….my bad. I had to remember that I felt Josh was the 2nd coming of Dominique for a moment or two and the years flew by and so did wishing and hoping…lolol…His first 3 years had me seeing the makings of a great ball player, everything tailed off after that, he never got better then what we see from game to game and i’ve been waiting for “PO” to catch up with “TENTIAL” for a longggggg time, and it ain’t gonna happen. Hopefully tonight will not be the massacre that most are expecting. Here’s my wish list (1) Josh does not be a PG or jump shooter, (2)Jeff plays his game (3)Joe earns his money (4)AL bangs and bangs (5) Marvin ends the starving and (6) Tracy does his thing. Thanks for the reminder “terrell” of 8 years, makes me even more hostile.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 2nd, 2012
6:08 pm
” I felt Josh was the 2nd coming of Dominique”
If you thought a non-lottery pick was going to be the second coming of Dominique, you deserve to be disappointed.
SteveW
January 2nd, 2012
6:09 pm
AJ – So what do you want out of Jeff Teague? DRose, CP3? I’m just not sure I’m following you on Teague and crying and other issues.
I mean you’ve got Josh one of the, Captains of the team telling him to look for him. It just comes across like you want JT to fail, and the dude has not failed on any consistent basis in a long time.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 2nd, 2012
6:10 pm
“And while some may believe that he will get better just because of games played, then you must not have any friends who still do the same dumb ish as an adult that they did as a child. If you’re not taught how to do something right, you may never learn.”
And if you don’t get the opportunity to screw up and learn from your mistakes, you will almost certainly never learn. Woody never understood this and neither does LD.
#1 Hawks Fan.. JOsh Gotta Go!
January 2nd, 2012
6:11 pm
Marvin Williams is playing inspired basketball so far this year, why he was benched in the Houston game was asinine. Josh should have been benched for continuously throwing up bricks from 20 feet and bringing the ball up court like he’s th point guard on the team and throwing the ball to the perimeter on the drive instead of going hard to basket for the layup or a foul…
SteveW
January 2nd, 2012
6:12 pm
AJ – I mean we’re like “Al, crash the boards”, “Josh, quit taking stupid shots and making bad passes”, “JJ, where are you?”, “Marvin be more assertive”, last season Jekyll and Hyde with Jamal and ZaZa. But Teague is going to be solid, low TO’s, good D, and will score if he can. The case could be made he’s our most consistent player at doing things that help us win.
SteveW
January 2nd, 2012
6:14 pm
For Teague’s sake, I do wish he would get traded sometimes to a team with a better Coach. He deserves better.
SteveW
January 2nd, 2012
6:15 pm
Anyhow – If the Heat want to hurt the Hawks tonite, they should full court press Teague and Pargo all nite with Chalmers and Cole. I don’t think we could stand up to the assault.
#1 Hawks Fan.. JOsh Gotta Go!
January 2nd, 2012
6:19 pm
It’s kinda funny when you raelly think about it…we have a point guard (Teague) that really a shooting guard in a point guard’s body…we have a shooting guard(JJ)who is truly a small foward thats too slow to defend real small forwarsds…we have a small forward (marvin)who doesn’t have a shooters mentality…we have a PF(jsmoove), who want’s to be a piont guard…and we have a Center(Big Al) who is in all reality a power forward who wants to be a small forward(Jump shot master)…and you wonder why this team is all screwed up…Huge Identity Crisis!!!!!!! Couple that with no one knows their role……NO COACH!!!
#Occupy the Paint
January 2nd, 2012
6:19 pm
My wish for Horford: To bang and bang IN THE PAINT.
For Josh: Take all your shots IN THE PAINT
For Joe: Take your man INTO THE PAINT
superiorblogman
January 2nd, 2012
6:19 pm
No matter what anyone says. His feelings are hurt by being called a score first PG. Believe me on that.