Atlanta Hawks: Jeff Teague looks forward to being ‘focal point’
Caught up with Jeff Teague at the Hawks’ youth basketball camp in Suwanee. As we were talking, some dude came up and expressed his dismay at the Hawks trading for Devin Harris and signing Louis Williams because he saw this as a threat to Teague’s playing time.
I smiled because the guy’s angst sounded familiar. It’s the same sentiment I hear all the time from my blog people, who tend to freak out whenever there’s a better-than-terrible guard on the roster who can play the point behind Teague.
Never mind that Teague ranked third on the team in minutes played per game last season and logged about 80 percent of the minutes at point guard, according to 82games.com. Forget that Teague remained the starter after Kirk Hinrich returned from injury last season. Set aside Danny Ferry’s statement that the Hawks “will be more of Jeff’s team than it has ever been.”
Like that dude who cornered Teague, my blog people think back to Teague’s history with Larry Drew and just know that he’s waiting to trap door Teague.
Teague does not have those same concerns.
“I was going to come in confident and ready to play,” he said. “I’m familiar with Coach Drew. I was ready. When the trade happened I saw it as an opportunity to step up and play even better. That’s what I’m going to do.”
Seriously, though, I don’t mean to dismiss my blog peoples’ concern over whether Teague will get more opportunities. You have good reasons to be a bit skeptical, not least of all the fact that Teague made another big jump in scoring efficiency last season but his usage actually decreased a bit.
Some of you blame Drew for that but, from my seat near Atlanta’s bench, I can tell you that Drew regularly barked “Go get it, Jeff!” when Josh Smith, Joe Johnson or Al Horford collected a rebound. Drew wanted the ball in Teague’s hands so the Hawks could play faster (at least until it became Joe’s show late in games).
Instead, Teague usually would stay on his side of the court and wait for the ball to come his way or make a halfhearted effort to convince his teammate to give up the rock. He’s got to demand the ball if it’s going to be his show.
“I’ve got to be more of a leader,” Teague said. “I looked to other guys last year like Joe and Marvin [Williams] and those guys. I feel like it’s my time to step up and be a leader along with Josh and Al and try to be that third guy.”
Perhaps 2012-13 will be the year when it all comes together for Teague. The organization gets behind him; Drew gives him more opportunities in the offense; Teague finally becomes more assertive, and the absence of Joe means there’s one less guy for Teague to defer to. At the very least, there should be more shots to go around.
Even Teague isn’t sure how the lineup is going to shake out, noting that the Hawks are “a lot smaller but a lot faster.”
He said he can envision Harris playing alongside him at two guard. The same goes for Louis Williams. Maybe it’s Josh at small forward with Zaza Pachulia at center (which would make for a small frontcourt off the bench unless Ferry adds another center). Or maybe it’s Kyle Korver at small forward with Harris or Anthony Morrow at shooting guard (but I still can’t shake the image of Teague shutting down Korver in the 2011 playoffs) .
Right now, the Hawks have an awfully small backcourt with three guys who like to work with the ball in their hand (though Harris did play off ball some in Utah). Teague said they can make it work.
“We all can score the basketball,” he said. “We don’t really have a big two right now. We have a lot of shooters but Joe was a big two. We are just going to have to do it all collectively with Joe and Al and [now] I feel like I can be an elite point guard.”
He’s got a long way to go to reach that level but he got better last season and there’s still room for growth.
Teague’s 3-point shooting was better until his percentages took a big dive over the final 25 games. It appeared Teague lost confidence in his 3-pointer when he started missing a few but he brushed it off.
“Everybody goes through a slump during the year,” he said. “Mine just happened to be at the end. Hopefully I can come back shooting even better and be more effective.”
Even when Teague was making 3-pointers, opponents defended him by going under screens. With that in mind, Teague said he’s focused on his mid-range J this summer, another aspect of his game that improved significantly last season.
Teague got to the basket frequently last season but didn’t finish strongly or draw a high rate of fouls when he got there.
“I can’t do anything about fouls,” he said, smiling. “Finishing on layups, that’s on me. I can go in there and dunk the basketball. I could just take it right to the rim but I shot floaters because I thought guys could come over and block it.”
Teague also will have to be sharper defensively on screen-rolls. He went through periods where he seemed to be nonchalant about fighting through screens.
That’s reflected by the 0.8 points per possession posted by opposing pick-and-roll ballhandlers, a number that ranked 117th in the league according to Synergy Sports Technology. Also notice that Teague’s opposing PER is a pedestrian 16.2 in spite of an effective field-goal percentage allowed of just 47.3–those 17.5 field goal attempts and 9.6 assists per 48 minutes stand out. A player with Teague’s physical skills can do better.
Teague said he only recently got a chance to meet with Ferry because of the GM’s busy schedule and Teague’s two-week trip to China for an NBA outreach program. Teague said Ferry’s a “smart guy” with a plan that includes Teague as a major piece.
“He told me he was looking forward to working with me and he really liked my game,” Teague said. “He didn’t know how the trade and stuff would go but he knew I was going to be a focal point.”
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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297 comments Add your comment
SteveW
August 3rd, 2012
12:20 pm
I actually think Josh Childress, off the bench, if his head is into it – and he’s into conditioning, which he hasn’t been – could help us.
Needs to learn to shoot the basketball
Buddy Grizzard
August 3rd, 2012
12:22 pm
As far as who to sign at SF, Barnes and McGrady remain the best options. It’s looking like charges against Barnes may get dropped because the arresting officer had a personal agenda. T-Mac could come back and get all the minutes he can handle. The question is, did he play so few minutes last year because his body couldn’t take it (after starting most of the previous season for Detroit and playing point guard)? Or did T-Mac play so few minutes because Larry Drew was in love with a scrub like Willie Green?
Astro Joe
August 3rd, 2012
12:24 pm
OB, let’s play Josh around 32 minutes at SF and Ivan around 16 minutes at SF. Sign Blatche to a 1-year contract. That should ensure that we get the lottery pick I want next summer to start rebuilding the team. Maybe we can sign Gilbert Arenas to be our 3rd string PG, also.
Balance Is Key
August 3rd, 2012
12:37 pm
“On the contrary, Teague can play shooting guard and SHOULD play shooting guard when he is on the floor with Lou Williams. Lou is a better passer, playmaker and is better at taking care of the ball.”
Lies From the Pit!!!
In what universe is Loius a better passer and playmaker??? Smh….NO!
Devin Harris is the ONLY guard on this roster who has and has to potential to AVG 20+ PPG. He Starts at SG alongside Teague If Drew has any sense.
Balance Is Key
August 3rd, 2012
12:39 pm
Lou Is NOT better at taking care of the ball that Jeff.
BK
August 3rd, 2012
12:45 pm
Melvin,
I do recall the talk about Dwight Howard and he is a big man that acts like a big baby.But we talk about every position for the hawks other than center there has to be someone else out there that we could really get..But who? Next thing is LD needs to go bye bye and get a real coach..LD is a joke,if Danny wants to clean house lets start with the players leader LD and get a real one..Someone who knows how to coach..With a good cach and real center we can win..
Rod from College Park
August 3rd, 2012
12:45 pm
Melvin,
Stop wasting your time debating with these idiots. They would not know talent if it walked up and slapped them in the face. Blatche is better skill wise, than every big man we have not named Josh or Al, and with Al its questionable. Same things were said about Javale McGee before he went to Denver, and he was probably the most dominant defensive big in the playoffs last year. Sometimes guys need a change of scenery and some professional teammates to help them mature. The Wizards team is and has been a joke for the last couple of years. I would have no problems taking a risk on Blatche. The talent is surely there. Remember, so of these same idiots thought Marvin Williams was a great basketball player. LOL
steven a smith
August 3rd, 2012
12:49 pm
Buddy Grizzard
August 3rd, 2012
12:18 pm
I just don’t want the Hawks locker room to be a rehab ward for guys like Blatche who haven’t proven that they care about winning.
“If anyone knows rehab wards, it’s Buddy Gizzards.” You have to fresh out of REHAB to come up with some of your basketball analysis.
hawksfancents95
August 3rd, 2012
1:03 pm
my last blatche post
blatche and mcgee is no comparison. yes both played for the wiz but javale has been critiqued for his lapses in judgement, blatche has bee scrutinized for his lack of EFFORT/CARING. how do you get a 40 mill deal and not care?? javale is a very good player and to be honest id take javale for AL if DEN would do that, javale is a true 7foot C that is very athletic and clogs the paint. blatche shoots bad shots and plays poor Defense. blatche will end up signing in toronto or a bottom feeder cuz he is currently toxic and no contending team wants that regardless of his past skill level. its not even like he was an all-star or close to that level anyway.
SteveW
we need to get GEE 1st, or move to McGuire, then Pietrus in that order.
vava74
August 3rd, 2012
1:05 pm
Rod,
To say that McGee was the most dominant defensive big in the playoffs last year is a bit of a stretch.
Here are Bynum’s stats against him:
First Round LAL 7 7 37.4 0.512 0.000 0.738 4.3 8.0 12.3 1.4 0.3 4.0 1.1 1.4 16.7
It’s not that Bynum ran over him, but his stats were substantially better than for instance Perkins in the second round.
McGee flourished, but to call him dominant on D is a stretch.
Apart from that, I see no problem in checking out Blatche. He is talented and we are rebuilding, so he fits our strategy.
Worst case scenario, we waive him.
Middle case scenario he becomes a trade chip.
Best case scenarion he flourishes.
Astro Joe
August 3rd, 2012
1:11 pm
People who equate defense to shot blocking are clueless. I guess Josh Smith is a better defender than Dennis Rodman, huh? And you have to love these “dominant” defenders who don’t get out of the first round… big difference makers.
O'Brien
August 3rd, 2012
1:16 pm
McGee was a malcontent in Washington. But he played well enough in Denver to get $10+ mil per year on his new contract.
I think Blatche deserves a second chance as well (if the price is right).
I don’t see the ASG signing him though, because they tend to stay away from guys like him (Ivan being the exception, and his problem was mostly temper related).
Astro Joe
August 3rd, 2012
1:24 pm
OB, you mean shy away from guys with slightly above average talent who have extremely poor work ethic, are super-selfish and ultimately are paid to stay away from a team that is hoping to land their 3rd or 4th consecutive top 5 lottery pick? I have no idea why they wouldn’t move heaven and earth to bring those guys to this team that has historically had their own work ethic challenges. Not to mention, why Danny Ferry can’t see the resemblence between Blatche and Duncan… after all, they are both tall. Surely when Ferry was thinking about running a team again, he was thinking about signing players like Blatche.
hawksfancents95
August 3rd, 2012
1:29 pm
i enjoyed everything you said in that last post at 1:24 Astro Joe
Astro Joe
August 3rd, 2012
1:32 pm
Blatche was able to get a massive contract after putting up big scoring and rebounding totals after taking over Antawn Jamison‘s starting spot at the end of the 2009-10 season, but that contract has looked worse every day since it was signed. Even when Blatche is “in shape,” he plays horrible defense, has poor shot selection, doesn’t take care of the ball or pass it well, and doesn’t play with a lot of energy. As Michael Lee notes in his column, Blatche still has 3 years and $23 million left on his contract after this season. The Wizards had better hope that this benching helps Blatche, because it’s almost impossible to imagine any other team taking Blatche off the Wizards’ hands any time soon.
Astro Joe
August 3rd, 2012
1:35 pm
Ferry should find more guys with their own fan website.
http://www.andrayblatchesucks.com/
hawksfancents95
August 3rd, 2012
1:55 pm
I want to take back about what i said about matt barnes after i read the report. barnes is not trying to be a B.A, it sounds like the officer had an issue with Barnes and made it more than what it was.
So now that CJ Miles is signin with cleveland i would think Alonzo Gee will go elsewhere.
Our list should be
1.Alonzo Gee
2.Domin McGuire
3.Matt Barnes
4.Mickael Pietrus
hawksfancents95
August 3rd, 2012
1:59 pm
also if at all possible we can’t let Miami sign Greg Oden because I know he can still play and if Miami gets Oden imagine how they can use him, even in limited minutes.
Dwayne Wade
Ray Allen
Lebron James
Chris Bosh
Greg Oden
holy moly that lineup with wade and lebron bringin up the ball would be to much for everybody, the only counter to that squad would be(if it happens)
Steve Nash
Kobe Bryant
Metta World Peace
Pau Gasol
Dwight Howard
kwooden
August 3rd, 2012
2:02 pm
What is all this talk about Blatche, we don’t need another PF, we’ve got at least 4 if we keep Mike Scott. We need a SF!
Astro Joe
August 3rd, 2012
2:09 pm
kwooden, Blatche can be an All-Star at every position. He just needs to play in a championship caliber organization with a world class head coach. That’s why folk are suggesting he join the Hawks.
Rod from College Park
August 3rd, 2012
2:40 pm
“its not even like he was an all-star or close to that level anyway.”
So I guess 16.8ppg and 8.2 rpg is no where close to all star level. Those numbers look very similar to a guy who plays for the Hawks who every said should have made the all star team.
“It’s not that Bynum ran over him, but his stats were substantially better than for instance Perkins in the second round.
McGee flourished, but to call him dominant on D is a stretch.”
I know you are not comparing Bynum and Perkins offensively are you. I called him one of the most dominant defensive bigs in the playoffs last year, and I standy by that.
“People who equate defense to shot blocking are clueless.”
I guess Mutumbo was voted defensive player of the year a couple of times because of his great perimeter defense, and his steals huh. LOL SMH
Najeh Davenpoop
August 3rd, 2012
2:40 pm
“Harris is 29. Three seasons ago he averaged 21 PPG/7 APG….Yes, JT has some upside, but not that high.”
Why not? Four years into Devin Harris’ career, when he was 24, Harris was putting up a pretty unspectacular 14 points and 6 dimes per game. His 21-7 season came the year after that. Teague is still only 23 and doesn’t have nearly the same amount of playing time under his belt at that age as Harris did.
Najeh Davenpoop
August 3rd, 2012
2:49 pm
Blatche is talented and would probably be at worst the second best back-to-the-basket scorer on this team if he was signed. I’d be willing to sign him if the Hawks had a coach with any clout whatsoever. I am not confident that LD is the guy who can turn his career around. And maybe just as important, if I am looking for a 3rd string center (which is what Blatche would be on this team, behind Horford and Zaza), I’d rather have a guy who plays D and blocks shots than an offensive black hole who looks to score all the time.
M.Cunningham
August 3rd, 2012
2:53 pm
Actually the only Focus teague needs to be about is focusing on the D12 trade for Him and Al. Or focus on bringing towels to the guys on the bench and the starters when we take time out.
M.Cunningham
August 3rd, 2012
2:55 pm
“So I guess 16.8ppg and 8.2 rpg is no where close to all star level.”
Well 12pts 8rbs been doing it for years
pointguardslim
August 3rd, 2012
2:57 pm
Mike Scott is garbage
Astro Joe
August 3rd, 2012
2:59 pm
Rod, Mutombo? Mutombo averaged around 11.5 boards and 3+ blocks for like 10-12 seasons. Find me one season when McGee came close to that. Defense is about stopping the opposing team from scoring, which comes from defensive rebounds AND blocks. Think about the best big men defenders in the past 10 years, they have all been outstanding rebounders (e.g., Ben Wallace, Dwight Howard, Tim Duncan). A blocked shot may not even result in a change of possession. That is why it isn’t remotely the best way to define a big man’s defensive ability. And it is also the reason why Theo Ratliff isn’t considered the defender that Mutombo was… rebounding.
M.Cunningham
August 3rd, 2012
3:00 pm
Actually. Of the current centers with less than 9 years of experience Al ranks# 12, which is about what the hawks would rank in comparison to all NBA teams the past past 3 years. So If you like being # 12
Your gonna love Al Horford
M.Cunningham
August 3rd, 2012
3:03 pm
People who equate Denying low post shots, Altering shots and Blocking shots with low post defense
KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE HELL THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT.
Co-Sign!!!
August 3rd, 2012
3:05 pm
People who equate – Denying low post shots, – Altering shots and – Blocking shots with low post defense
KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE HELL THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT.
hawksfancents95
August 3rd, 2012
3:06 pm
Rod from CP
someone has to score for the 4th worst team in the NBA. Him going 17 and 8 is great on the stat sheet but thats not worth anything if your teams record is 23-59. he was good that year but he wasnt close to being an all-star.
agree to disagree
Melvin
August 3rd, 2012
3:20 pm
hawksfancents95,
Kevin Love made the all star team and his team didn’t make the playoffs. No one consider him a loser.
Rod from College Park
August 3rd, 2012
3:24 pm
“someone has to score for the 4th worst team in the NBA. Him going 17 and 8 is great on the stat sheet but thats not worth anything if your teams record is 23-59. he was good that year but he wasnt close to being an all-star.”
It’s actually worth the value of his contract, because that is why he got paid.
Rod from College Park
August 3rd, 2012
3:32 pm
Mutombo was considered a great defender because of his shot blocking prowess. No getting around that. Sure he rebounded well, but he was a great shot blocker, and protector of the rim which made him a great defensive player.
hawksfancents95
August 3rd, 2012
3:52 pm
kevin love averaged 20 and 15 in 2010-11, same year blatche went 17 and 8. both teams sucked and its hard to give cosideration to a guy with great stats on a bad team because those numbers have a higher discrepancy based on how bad the teams were. given minutes every night SOMEONE will have some good stats but your on the losing end more than not so its hard to think those numbers are true.
as for k.love last year, he had two great years in a row and even though his team was not 1-8 seed at the break the twolves were very close.
and to be honest i used to like andray blatche, i thought he was a good player with talent but he just got too non-chalent and blew the oppurtunity. im just saying he is not a good fit for the hawks right now. andray will get signed to a lottery team and may surprise me and be productive, change of scenery and atmosphere usually does help.
Ra'mon
August 3rd, 2012
4:09 pm
O’B, I’m just curious about Love still. He’s still giving interviews seemingly implying that this is the make or break season for Minnesota’s management to make him believe they’re committed to winning. And Minny may feel that If they can get a young All Star center (Al) with two draft picks for Love, that its worth considering. And then, because you have had that dialogue this season. You revisit that same scenario at trading deadline or next off season if Minny seems to be reeling and not a playoff team. Looking at the West, with an injured Rubio, Roy will have to be the old Roy for them guys to even contend for a 7-8th seed with this roster. And I don’t see it happening. Love is spending time with other PLAYOFF PERFORMERS on the USA team. That only makes him want to be one even more.
hawksfancents95
August 3rd, 2012
4:14 pm
im sooooo down for al+1st+1st for kevin love, if minE starts to suck. then next year we pick up james harden at very close to max. and go
Lou Will James Harden Josh Smith Kevin Love ZaZa
that is ECF written all over it
sounds more like a 2k team though
Melvin
August 3rd, 2012
4:25 pm
I’m all for the Hawks going all in for Dwight this season even if they have to trade Al and Teague for him. Worst case scenario if they can’t resign Dwight or Bynum next summer. They could still resign Josh, then sign Kaman or Al Jefferson (to cap friendly contracts) along with a wing player like Harden or Tyreke or OJ. If Josh walks, then go after Ibaka or sign both Kaman and Jefferson..
Teague or Harris
Harden or Tyreke or OJ
SF
Josh or Ibaka or Jefferson
Kaman or Jefferson.
Just a thought.
SteveW
August 3rd, 2012
4:42 pm
Jordan Williams has alot of skill, but no athleticism, and no work ethic so it seems. Waive his $473,000.00 salary and sign Blatche to the vet minimum.
If we start ZaZa, Blatche, then Petro wouldn’t be a bad backup pairing.
And Miami needs Greg Oden like the Men’s Olympic basketball team needs 5 more dominant players – Not!!
Oden would be a good addition to the Hawks – if he can ever stay healthy. He did dominate Al in the Finals that year.
SteveW
August 3rd, 2012
4:46 pm
A great shot blocking center will alter 3 shots for every 1 he blocks (these are my unscientific observations). And he will make guys think on a couple more drives for every shot he blocks.
A dominant, shot blocking C is a fantastic defensive presence, if you’ve ever played the game.
Or a shot blocking PF for that matter. Shot blockers matter.
Teague is a great shot blocker for a 6-2 guy. Funny to watch him sky and swat the pumpkin into the stands.
SteveW
August 3rd, 2012
4:48 pm
Signing Blatche and waiving Jordan Williams shouldn’t be that difficult – unless we see something in Jordan Williams, or Blatche is sitting around eating Pringles for training.
Michael Cunningham
August 3rd, 2012
4:50 pm
new blog posted. shutting down this thread.
Buddy Grizzard
August 3rd, 2012
4:52 pm
“Blatche is sitting around eating Pringles for training.”
That’s my concern. Josh Smith is this team’s unquestioned leader now. He will be an All-Star and have a breakout season as the Hawks’ first option. He will lead his team to the playoffs in a year when a lot of prognosticators are projecting the Hawks as the 9th-best team in the East or worse.
If Josh Smith goes to Danny Ferry and says “we should get Andray… I think he can get it together and help this team,” then I say sign him up. Josh Smith is the only person I trust to make that call. Everybody else is playing fantasy basketball with stats from three seasons ago.
Sautee
August 3rd, 2012
5:22 pm
“Lou Is NOT better at taking care of the ball that Jeff.” – Balance is Key
Too bad the numbers tell a different story:
Among guards, Lou had the #5 spot in assist to TO ratio at 3.11 / 1.0
Teague was 30th at 2.4 / 1.0, still a respectable number, and Teague WILL be improving. But for the present, based on last season’s nimbers, Lou is demonstrably better at taking care of the ball than Jeff.
http://www.nba.com/statistics/player/Assists.jsp?league=00&season=22011&conf=OVERALL&position=5&splitType=9&qualified=Y&yearsExp=-1&sortOrder=6&splitDD=All%20Teams
(click on the AST / TO tab on the top right to assort the order)
drmaryb.(""_*).
August 4th, 2012
5:40 am
i havent posted any comments on this blog. i dint even know this blog was up? smh.
Hawk EyE Atlanta
August 4th, 2012
8:25 pm
When are we going to ge an article on evaluations of our summer league players and find out what Drew and ferry and other Hawks feel about them as well! Seems like we just skipped over Summerleague. Give us some info on Pape Sy, Keith benson, and John Jenkins and other noteworthy players! Come on MC!!!!
Back again!
August 5th, 2012
5:59 pm
Trade Al