Atlanta Hawks: No need for Teague to look over his shoulder
Vivlamore reporting. Here is my feature on Jeff Teague that will appear in the Tuesday print edition of the AJC.
You can call Jeff Teague the head of the snake.
Hawks coach Larry Drew and forward Josh Smith both use that description for the team’s evolving point guard. For where and how Teague goes, the Hawks usually follow.
“When he’s going well then chances are we are too,” Drew said.
Things have been going well of late. The Hawks (9-5) have won six of their past seven games. Teague had back-to-back double-digit assist games, a career first, and another contest with six steals, a career best, in that span.
After playing sparingly his first two seasons, Teague has been a staple of the Hawks’ lineup the past two. He has started the last 92 games, beginning with the playoff series against the Bulls at the end of the 2010-11 season, including all 80 regular-season games.
Although Teague put up career-best numbers in points, assists, steals, rebounds, blocks and shooting percentage last season, the Hawks acquired Devin Harris and Lou Williams in the offseason. Both are veterans with a proven the ability to play point guard in the NBA.
Drew didn’t want Teague looking over his shoulder. As part of the coach’s offseason cross-country tour to visit players, Drew made a stop in Indianapolis.
“That whole looking over the shoulder thing, we tried to dismiss that very early,” Drew said. “I just want him to understand, along with all the rest of the players, we are all in this together where guys are going to get playing time. There are going to be some nights when it’s not your night. There are going to be some nights when you are going to be carrying the club. Under no circumstance do I want, and I don’t care who is behind him, that he has to look over his shoulder.”
Teague, 24, has been in the situation throughout his professional career with players like Mike Bibby and Kirk Hinrich on the roster and competing for playing time. Drew explained that Teague would be his starter in a more up-tempo offense.
“To come to Indiana, not too many people come to Indiana on their off time,” Teague said. “For him to come out there, I knew he meant business and I appreciated it.”
There have been struggles this season. Despite scoring 15 points against the Kings two weeks ago, the start of a six-game win streak, Teague played less than 20 minutes. Drew said he didn’t like the way Teague was playing and went with Williams instead. Teague had a combined 38 assists in the next four games, including the double-digit efforts against the Bobcats and Clippers.
There are going to be mistakes the new up-tempo offense. Drew doesn’t want Teague to look to the bench after a turnover.
“I’m just getting more comfortable,” Teague said. “That’s all I can really say. Last year, was different for me. It was like getting thrown in the fire. I didn’t really have a chance to play my first two years. I was learning on the fly. This year, I’m a lot more comfortable.
“I didn’t play (his first two seasons). I didn’t have a chance to make a mistake. (Then head coach Mike Woodson) was cool. He told me at the beginning of the year I probably wouldn’t play much. I knew going into it. Coach Drew, we got familiar with each other in practice my rookie year. He knew what I could do. He told me if you go out there and try to make plays, I’ll never be mad at you. He’s stuck to that.”
The Hawks see a more confident player in Teague. The quiet-spoken player is never going to be one to talk a lot – although he’ll talk a little trash in post-practice 3-point shooting contests. It’s his decision-making maturity that has impressed.
“I think he’s seeing the game a lot better than he has in the past,” center Al Horford said. “I think that comes from experience. He knows when to shoot the ball now and when to pass. He’s doing a really good job of that. I think in the past, maybe he had me for open shots and maybe he would realize it but he wouldn’t pass it. Now, it’s like second nature. If he doesn’t have a great shot, he’s passing the ball and getting us easy baskets. He’s the reason we are playing so well.”
Teague averaged 10.1 and 13.8 minutes, respectively in his first two seasons. Last season he averaged 33.1 minutes and so far this year is averaging 31.0 minutes. In that time, he is averaging 13.6 points, 7.1 assists, 2.4 rebounds and 1.8 steals.
Teague has another year remaining on his contract after being the team’s first-round pick (No. 19 overall) in 2009. He will be a restricted free agent next season, meaning the Hawks have the right to match any offer he might get from another team.
“He’s really starting to mold into a really consistent point guard,” Drew said. “… As I told him, I don’t ever want him to lose his aggressiveness, particularly pushing the basketball, being creative and attacking. I do want him to be smarter in the decision-making, be a little bit more selective. More importantly, just let your natural basketball instincts take over. He is really starting to find his niche in that area.”
- Chris Vivlamore
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70 comments Add your comment
Just Joe
December 4th, 2012
6:04 am
My prediction: Gasol to Toronto for Calderon and Bargnani.
That’s the kind of deal that the Lakers always find a way to pull off.
Just Joe
December 4th, 2012
6:08 am
Kendall Marshall and John Jenkins played well together last night. Jenkins went for 22 pts in 29 minutes (on only 1-2 shooting from 3).
Al Horford to Phoenix for Marcin Gortat and Kendall Marshall.
vava74
December 4th, 2012
6:13 am
Just Joe,
Gortat is below average defensively. He puts up good, boxscore filling numbers but his production does not stack up with winning basketball.
This year without Nash to bloat his offensive numbers he is not looking particularly good.
Check 82games.com
Ray
December 4th, 2012
6:15 am
@ Slimjr
Again to have Teague play 40 mins per night would be the end of him. Why do you think Joe Johnson disappeared every time we get to the playoffs?
As for all these trades popping up don’t worry Gasol will go to SA spurs if anything, and not only that, all this talk about CP3 means Jeff Teague will be traded honestly I’d rather keep Teague. As for Dwight Howard would love to have him here, but let’s just see how the season plays out this year.
I don’t think Dwight is going to get along with Kobe after awhile especially if they mess up in the playoffs.
vava74
December 4th, 2012
6:34 am
Ray:
“Again to have Teague play 40 mins per night would be the end of him. Why do you think Joe Johnson disappeared every time we get to the playoffs?”
JJ disappeared because he was not good enough to be employed as constant ISO threat against playoff defenses.
JJ is a great player, but he was primarily a catch and shoot guy in PHO who had the ability to take out players with his dribble or post smaller guys for easy scores.
When he came to ATL, Woody relied on him to get the job done and converted JJ from a deadly catch and shoot guy into a primary ball handler and ISO player.
However, back then, no playoff teams worried if JJ went for 35 points since the rest of the guys were pretty horrid and JJ getting 35 did not matter for the end result.
This basically meant that playoff teams did not bother doubling and trapping him hard so he looked good in that task. Basically they did not even bother to scout him very well too.
This changed when the Hawks improved and became a playoff team, with teams needing to put a good all round effort to win games against us, including playoff bound teams.
Hence his good, but not overwhelming performance in the BOS 3-4 series. That series marked the transition of JJ from “we don’t care that much if he gets hot” into “let’s make sure that he does not get hot”.
BOS’ first step was to, come the playoffs, scout JJ better and double him and trap him hard.
Woody never adapted his offensive strategy to re-direct JJ to a more mixed game with JJ playing more catch and shoot and getting the ball off picks in order to keep defenses honest and guess how and when JJ would get the rock.
Then, LD did manage to improve our offense a bit, BUT to close games and against playoff teams still relied on the completely disastrous strategy to try and make JJ produce what only a few in the league can produce in constant ISO plays from the wing position.
Those few are no more than 4 or 5 players: Lebron, Wade, ‘Melo, Kobe, … and even those had trouble being in really winning basketball under that type of ISO oriented offense.
Even Lebron struggled to perform under pressure in that type of repetitive game and went to greener pastures where he got help from another top flight player and WON THE RING whilst playing point forward from the PF slot.
‘Melo never got past the 2nd round of the playoffs and Kobe only won it all under Phil and playing within the triangle offense which relies on passing and spacing.
The 40 minutes per game did not help, but that was a very distant secondary factor in comparison with the REAL reason.
57 STATES
December 4th, 2012
7:46 am
Jt looked like he was looking over his shoulders while he was playing man defence against the Cavs. somebody tell him to read this article and stop doing that.
Buddy Grizzard
December 4th, 2012
8:27 am
“Gasol to Toronto for Calderon and Bargnani.”
Don’t know about Bargnani but I bet TOR would take Gasol. They’re trying to win now (and not succeeding).
vava74
December 4th, 2012
8:47 am
Buddy,
I saw TOR playing the Rockets the other day and I think that they are close to breaking through and become decent.
Their record does not reflect, IMO, in any way the talent and the coaching they have there and I think Lowry’s injury and return messed up their start.
Valanciunas – I believe – will be a very decent NBA player. Good size, good hands and footwork, good touch, …
But my favourite player in that roster is Ed Davis. That kid is a terrific garbage man who is slowly developing other facets of his game.
vava74
December 4th, 2012
8:50 am
C-Viv,
I noticed something watching JJ2 with the Jam and I would like you to confirm it for me.
JJ2’s feet looked huge for his size. His feet almost looked Will Perduesque…
If this is confirmed, maybe that will be his handicap as a defensive player. When the feet are too big it’s like trying to move with flippers on your feet.
DS
December 4th, 2012
8:51 am
I agree with Grandad. Spurs would take the championship with Gasol…but who would they give up to get him?
Buddy Grizzard
December 4th, 2012
8:58 am
The Jazz played their third game on Monday without Marvin Williams as he continues to battle concussion-like symptoms.
Utah missing the X factor.
I MUS WRITE
December 4th, 2012
10:19 am
Dont believe the hype teague will always be looking over his houlder. LD is trying to play nice because he knows theres a good possibility he wont be here next yr.
Pau Gasol is Joe johnson ……Overpayed declining veterans -No thanx…We would be fools to pay Gasol 19 mil next season. In a real system JJ1 is less effective and he is losing his ability to get by guys off the dribble -he looks really slow at times -thats just great 20 million dollar jump shooter. Glad hes sumone elses problem now
This is gonna sound crazy but right now today I would rather have brook lopez over DH12. That guy has sum stuff around the hoop. He doesnt rebound or defend ike Howard but if i had to choose right now LOPEZ all day.
Players we must keepfor 2013-2014….Ivan,Korver,Morrow GIT TEAGUE A CONTRACT NOW!!!
Lets rid ourselves of Toliver -Stevenson-Petro
Samurai Squirrel
December 4th, 2012
10:25 am
You guys are crazy to propose that Jeff Teague play 40 minutes a game. No one in the NBA does that. Perhaps it’d be a good idea in the playoffs, but certainly not in the regular season.
If Teague is a restricted free agent after this year, I am all for letting him test the market and trying to find a good contract for himself. If what he comes back with is not franchise crippling, re-sign him. He is a good player, but I don’t know that he is a key cog in the Hawk’s future. Too many tear-drop runners and not big or aggressive enough for what I would want at point guard.
Supreme Grand Poobah
December 4th, 2012
10:29 am
Orlando beat LA the easy way. They played hack-a-Dwight, and as expected he missed 12 free throws. You guys want to bring him here when he is so easy counteract? If Gasol doesn’t come here, I hope he gets to go to a good team. If the idiotic Laker coaches would play him in the low post, where he belongs, he could still be a 20/10 man. However, 17 foot jumpers are not his game. I guess we’ll keep holding on to “Smoove” (aka “clank”).
Just Joe
December 4th, 2012
10:50 am
vava74…you can’t put too much weight on the opponents PER from 82games. It only takes in to consideration the stats that your opposition puts up, which can largely be effected by your own teammates ability to defend or not defend. If Josh Smith is trying to play help defense on a guard that’s slipped by Teague, and Josh’s man winds up getting an offensive rebound and putback, then Josh’s opponent’s PER goes up (rebound & made bucket), while Teague’s goes down (his counterpart missed the shot).
drmaryb.(""_*).
December 4th, 2012
10:58 am
First Take!
Stephen A. putting DHoward on Super-Blast for his FREE THROW shenanigans. LOL … Stephen A. says, “DH! .. FIX your damned FT’s!!! You are disrupting your team’s offensive rythym-sp when, the ball stops for you to MISS all those FT’s!!!” – paraphrased -
Do we still want this guy?
Does Kobe take half of DH’s usual shots away?
Does Pau take the other 1/ 3 of DH’s shots away?
Is DH’s deficiencies being exposed by more fundamentally skilled/sound players?
Can DH really thrive in a ‘3 AMIGOS’ player system?
Is DH closer to Tyson Chandler’s skill set than Shaq;s, (The Original Super-Man)?
TOL! (Think Out Loud!)
Samurai Squirrel
December 4th, 2012
11:08 am
This Lakers team is just like when the Lakers tried to go crazy and add Karl Malone and Gary Payton in the 2003-2004 season to play alongside Shaq and Kobe. That was one of the original “Super Friends” teams. That team made it to the Finals and then fell apart against Detroit. Hmm.. the superstar players lost to a “team concept”. Parallels there, people!
Melvin
December 4th, 2012
11:12 am
O’Brien,
I’m glad Teague decided to take practice serious b/c he could still be wasting away on the bench…
drmaryb.(""_*).
December 4th, 2012
11:16 am
Under The BOARD WALK … Down by the sea!
““In watching our last game, we took a step back defensively,” Drew said. “We’ll go watch film … because I want these guys to really see how bad we were defensively. … ” -LD-
_____________________
I was going to comment on this defensive statement … but, the poster named: REBOUNDING … has already hit the NAIL on the head in his response here:
“Coach Drew please play Ivan more. He is one of the best rebounding players on the team. Practice should focus on rebounding and free throw shooting! Defense could be great but if you can’t clear the defensive glass you’re giving the opponent too many opportunities. That is the main reason the team lost to the Cavs.’ – REBOUNDING -
NUFF SAID!!!
Rod from College Park
December 4th, 2012
11:20 am
LOL. People saying they would not want Dwight because of free throws. The guy is coming off of major back surgery. He will never be a great free throw shooter, but I’m sure many of you would take Shaq is his prime. Any combination of Josh and Dwight Howard would immediately make us the best defensive team in the league. I don’t think there is any way the Lakers let him leave LA even at the expense of Kobe. Dwight is the future of the Lakers unless he talks his way out of there.