Atlanta Hawks: The next step for Jeff Teague?
I’ve noticed that when Jeff Teague drives to the basket, opposing bigs sometimes focus more on blocking out their man than aggressively helping to challenge Teague. I think some numbers explain why that might be.
Teague is tied for eighth among starting point guards in shot attempts per game at the rim (4.4) and is 14th in shooting percentage at the rim: 58.5, compared to an average of 60.5 for starting point guards. Teague ranks tied for 11th in the amount of shots he attempts per game from 3 to 9 feet (1.7) and is 12th in shooting percentage from that floater range: 35.4 percent, slightly above the league average of 35.1 for starting point guards. Teague’s free-throw rate of .25 is second-worst among his peers in the top 10 of shot attempts per game at the rim.
Here’s a comparison of the 20 point guards who attempt the most shots per game at the rim (stats don’t include Thursday’s games):
| Player | FGA/gm rim | FG% rim | FT rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Russell Westbrook | 7.0 | 62.2 | .31 |
| Tyreke Evans | 6.6 | 62.4 | .36 |
| John Wall | 6.3 | 57.1 | .45 |
| Derrick Rose | 5.8 | 63.2 | .34 |
| Rajon Rondo | 5.7 | 62.0 | .43 |
| Ty Lawson | 5.5 | 62.0 | .30 |
| Tony Parker | 4.5 | 64.0 | .32 |
| Brandon Jennings | 4.4 | 58.2 | .20 |
| Jeff Teague | 4.4 | 58.5 | .25 |
| D.J. Augustin | 3.8 | 55.4 | .26 |
| Deron Williams | 3.6 | 52.0 | .33 |
| Kyle Lowry | 3.5 | 54.9 | .34 |
| Mike Conley | 3.5 | 65.6 | .23 |
| Chris Paul | 3.1 | 66.2 | .27 |
| Jrue Holiday | 3.1 | 56.0 | .17 |
| Brandon Knight | 3.0 | 56.8 | .17 |
| Darren Collison | 2.9 | 55.7 | .32 |
| Raymond Felton | 2.9 | 60.8 | .22 |
| Ricky Rubio | 2.4 | 52.1 | .41 |
| Jarret Jack | 2.2 | 64.6 | .26 |
I think if Teague becomes more of a threat to finish when he gets to the basket then he might start drawing more fouls. Theoretically, help defenders would be more aggressive in trying to stop him (and the refs might give him more benefit of the doubt), leading to more foul calls.
Since Teague can be such an emotional subject for some of my blog people, I feel like I have to add disclaimers to anything that can be perceived as even mild criticism of his game.
None of this means I believe Kirk Hinrich should take Teague’s minutes. Teague deserved his shot long ago and has used his opportunity to prove he’s a good scoring point guard. I just think these numbers show that, unless Teague somehow starts shooting from mid range like Steve Nash and Chris Paul, this is the best way he can become an even better scorer.
(By the way, peep my story on Zaza Pachulia that ran in today’s AJC.)
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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228 comments Add your comment
Dawg
February 18th, 2012
7:24 pm
Teague will be here longer than Drew.
Sautee
February 18th, 2012
7:30 pm
T-s,
Nice link, man. Got any links that show that Horford was making problems? Cause I’ve never seen a story that suggested so. So if that’s the difference SURELY there would be such a story.
And about your buddy Teague there is this: Of all the PGs in the league with 40 or fewer starts, only Rubio and Kyrie Irvin have more assists. If you think that the 8th PG in his draft is going to be better immediately than two top 5 picks, well, I’d say your expectations are a little high. He’ll get better with experience, as almost all young PGs do.
System Update
February 18th, 2012
7:39 pm
How about asking of all the point guards with 3 or more years of experience. Better yet how about putting him in the category where he competes? of all guards in the NBA
Its amazing how you guys try and manipulate data to say your favorite Scrub is not a scrub at all.
LOL
Yea, 2 things. Most players have agents and are taught what is the politically correct thing to say. And 2 it doesnt take a rocket scientist to figure out that if MC says there is some locker room unrest and strife going on behind closed doors that we can figure out the bull crap. Zaza is just saying… you dont get that madness from him. This has been a mo better team since Al was banished to the injured self-destruct league.
System Update
February 18th, 2012
7:45 pm
new category:
Of all the point guards who are mentally challenged teague is has leading stats in every category.
Of all guards whose first name starts with j and last name with t….
of all guards, on a south eastern team, who inherited the starting position when the starter got injured…..
of all guards who have only played for 2 coaches or less….
Of all guards who cant work their way out of a paper bag….
Of all guards who did not earn the starting position…..
A SCRUB BY ANY OTHER NAME… IS STILL A SCRUB
Section 303
February 18th, 2012
7:58 pm
Watching the game tonight on Tybee Island. If anyone is in the area, my wife and I are at the Quarter Grill watching with some friends.
Sautee
February 18th, 2012
8:01 pm
“Sautee you are back in 2009. Get a grip. I am a zaza fan and always will be. hes getting better and is a great warrior. His good out weigh his bad.”
So you’re saying that his good outweighs this:
T-S
July 2nd, 2009
8:39 pm
“THOSE WHO FELT THAT ZAZA THE HUMAN TURNOVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN DUMP 1 1/2 YEARS AGO WERE RIGHT. ADD MY NAME TO THE LIST”
Hey, T-s, I’m glad that you could get over those feelings. It shows maturity.
O'Brien
February 18th, 2012
8:03 pm
Najeh,
Deng was -20 in 35 minutes PT
O'Brien
February 18th, 2012
8:06 pm
doc,
I was wondering the same thing. Can anyone share Gearon’s comments from the season ticket holders meeting?
System Update
February 18th, 2012
8:06 pm
lol Sautee
Zaza Lost his job to a scrub named Al, and was playing poorly. I called him out on it, Hes playing great for Zaza but not the type of center we need to win a championship… Whats your point?
System Update
February 18th, 2012
8:09 pm
comments from Gearon.
” that fcked up ass al hoford blocked my trade with that fake ass injury csh!t trick. the mudderfrker. Sorry ass teague is a boneheadbitch. I aint gonna get this hawks no damn center. Fck them. next stupidass quesion.”
Sautee
February 18th, 2012
8:14 pm
T-s,
My point is your un-admitted change of heart, and stick poking you about it. Nothing more harmful, just some gentle jest..
How bad do you have to be to lose your job to a scrub? Never mind, you can’t admit that in Al’s rookie year he was playing with passion that we need from him when he returns. Wish I could have said that about his playoffs last year.
northcyde
February 18th, 2012
8:19 pm
Donte, the fact that Teague had 8 assists in a game doesn’t mean that he’s a true PG.
Joe Johnson once had 17 assist in a game. That doesn’t make him a true PG. Teague wasn’t a true PG nor a high assist guy in college. He played more of a scoring lead guard. Teague’s worth to the Hawks is his ability to get to the rim and his defense. But n one is going to confuse Chris Paul with Jeff Teague.
You are right though. He’s the best PG we’ve had here since Mookie
Najeh Davenpoop
February 18th, 2012
8:22 pm
“I don’t see Rondo in Teague. I see Tony Parker with a 3-pt shot. The difference is when Tony was 23, he already had 300 starts in the league. He was a better finisher & drew fouls at twice the rate of Teague.
15+ pts. 3+ rebs. 5+ assists. 1+ steal. That’s where Teague should be by playoff time.”
Co-sign. Tony Parker is the best comparison for Teague. I think he’s fully capable of 2 steals per game, though. He’s pretty close already.
northcyde
February 18th, 2012
8:23 pm
And if I remember right, that 17 assist game was vs Indiana back in 2006. He had some crazy statline with 17 pts -9 rebounds, and 9 assists. I think he shot something like 3 – 16 fg that game.
System Update
February 18th, 2012
8:27 pm
Sautee, you are a wise and honorable man. Now archive that for those days when we are having a pow wow.
I have always been a Zaza fan, since he got in Garnett’s face, that was leadership and courage. If Al had Zaza’s heart….
Zaza was actually brought here to start. He is very capable of being a starter. He was extremely clumsy and error prone and I called him on it, but not to put him down but to lift him up. Thats what you are missing.
I got some running to do. Good chatting with you as always Mr, Sautee, I miss a blogger name Snowman who would get on me big time for criticizing Zaza.
3 years is a long time and Z is better now still not the guy to take us there but he may be equal to or better than Al right now.
Big Foot
February 18th, 2012
8:39 pm
The reason Teague couldnt start when he got here is teague is mentally deprived. Hes not smart enough. So he couldnt start. He couldnt move Old Bibby out. Teague is just not the guy you give the ball to and say run the team.
I see more a Roy Marble or a Royal Ivey in teague with shades of Ed Gray.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 18th, 2012
8:51 pm
Twin out for an additional 3-4 weeks according to MC’s Twitter.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 18th, 2012
8:52 pm
“Deng was -20 in 35 minutes PT”
Dude looked like a more coordinated Marvin. Mike James was the best player on the court for the Bulls. A damn travashamockery for him to make it over Josh.
Astro Joe
February 18th, 2012
8:57 pm
Maybe Deng was tired after going for 20 & 10 assists in his previous two games where he played 40+ minutes?
Slimjr
February 18th, 2012
8:57 pm
Detective Sautee at your Service! lol
Impressive archive Sir for sure…….
Hope JT goes for 16 and 8 tonight!!!!! Larry leave Jeff alone man!!!!!!!!!!
soullrenaissance
February 18th, 2012
9:16 pm
Big Foot – that is just pure bovine excrement and you know it. LD is just partial to older, slew-footed, lack-luster, playing-time pirate, point guards and Woody died by that mantra.
Old Man Peabody
February 18th, 2012
9:18 pm
? What’s the difference between Teague and Lin.
Rev in Tampa
February 18th, 2012
9:21 pm
Sautee, I don’t know whether to be impressed by your memory or offer you counseling.
Section 303, I’m jealous. I did my pastoral internship at the Independent Presbyterian Church in downtown Savannah (Bull & Oglethorpe). If you do the downtown tour while your are there don’t pass up a chance to peek inside the sanctuary. It is quite impressive. And if you are a church-going man the pastor, Terry Johnson (a man), is my favorite preacher.
soullrenaissance
February 18th, 2012
9:21 pm
Its funny but as some previously pointed out on these blogs. Woody was a couple more bad games from being resurrected as interim-head coach with Bibby as his older, slew-footed, lack-luster, playing-time pirate, point guard to lead the Knicks into oblivion. LOL.
Air Zaza
February 18th, 2012
9:24 pm
System Update, I agree with you on Teague but your points on Horford is silly. Horford is clearly the best player on the team. When you say he isn’t, you show you have the Basketball intellect of a squirrel.
Air Zaza
February 18th, 2012
9:25 pm
Bibby when he first came to Atlanta first two seasons was a much better PG for us than Teague. Teague is our most talented PG since Terry. He’s not our best PG, that would be Bibby. We still don’t have a starting PG for our system.
Sautee
February 18th, 2012
9:43 pm
“Sautee, I don’t know whether to be impressed by your memory or offer you counseling.”
LOL, Rev, I could ALWAYS use the counseling. I’m even Presbyterian. But as far as memory, no, I just had to remember which blog in the archive to hunt for. It wasn’t that daunting.
Michael Cunningham
February 18th, 2012
10:04 pm
new blog posted. shutting down this thread.