Hawks may have finally found their point guard: Jeff Teague
Jeff Teague has been solid as the Hawks' emergency starter at point guard this series since replacing the injured Kirk Hinrich.
After an inspiring win over Chicago on Sunday night, the Hawks are all even in their second-round playoff series against the top-seeded Bulls going into Game 5 in Chicago. But regardless of how the rest of this series plays out, there’s one important positive that is being overshadowed when it comes their future: They may have found a legitimate starting point guard in Jeff Teague.
Teague couldn’t get off the bench for Mike Woodson. He couldn’t get off the bench for Larry Drew either, which prompted the Hawks to deal for Kirk Hinrich when they sent away Mike Bibby. When Hinrich was injured at the end of the Orlando series and scratched for the second round, few expected Teague would be a competent replacement.
But through four games in this series, Teague probably has been the Hawks’ best and most consistent player. He has used his speed and is gaining more confidence in running the offense and guarding the NBA’s MVP, Derrick Rose.
“I have to give Jeff Teague a lot of credit,” Joe Johnson said after Sunday’s 100-88 win. “He has really stepped up and played big in this series. He had a few big defensive plays where he got steals and came down the court and he maybe could’ve taken the shot. But he pulled out and ran the offense. That’s big for a second-year guard. He’s been unbelievable.”
Hinrich, who could be available for the Eastern Conference finals if the Hawks go on to upset the Bulls, said his replacement is “playing great. He’s taken advantage of his opportunity. He’s been solid, good defender.”
Surprised?
“As long as he would just go out and play and not worry about the scenario or anything like that, I thought he would be just fine,” he said. “Obviously he has the ability and he’s fast and he can finish at the rim.”
After all of the franchise’s miscalculations at point guard, it could be that the search is finally over.
By Jeff Schultz
♦
Earlier: Hawks, Josh Smith bounce back in major way over Bulls
Earlier: LIVE BLOG: Collins starts but will Hawks show up?
Earlier: Hawks’ constant Sybil act reaffirms changes are needed
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169 comments Add your comment
Ted M
May 9th, 2011
11:06 am
the Holyfield fight was at least an entertaining fight to watch. but yep your right, he was fighting flabby old white guy w/64 losses and couldn’t knocking him out. How he could possible think he could still be the undisputed champ is beyond me…he must be literally be delusional.
Truth
May 9th, 2011
11:10 am
He has 100 kids to feed.
How can you be bankrupt. He made MILLIONs
Khao$
May 9th, 2011
11:12 am
Woody is the reason Teague has been underdeveloped. He crushes young guards (Salim, Acie). By the time Drew got him, his confidence was so shaken, he was a shell of his former college self. Now that he’s in a position where he doesn’t have to worry about getting yanked, he’s stepped up.
Woody was here three years to long.
Ryan
May 9th, 2011
11:17 am
ALl this ‘Trade Josh Smith!!!!” talk is beyond absurd. We need JOsh smith to be any good. YOu get rid of Josh smith, this team is pedestrian at best.
TheAntiMe
May 9th, 2011
11:19 am
He has 100 kids to feed.
How can you be bankrupt. He made MILLIONs
lol – For a moment there, Truth, I thought you were speaking of Osama bin Laden.
phil
May 9th, 2011
11:31 am
Holyfield has always been delusional….who cares anymore anyway….
As for the Hawks, I wouldn’t be too sure about them winning anything here. They have to step on the court and bust it for 48 minutes to get anywhere….that’s always iffy with JJ and Smith on the team, not to mention pitiful, inept, helpless, lazy Marvin Williams….
I know this….it’s a wierd and rare year where this thing is fairly wide open….that doesn’t happen in the NBA….we have a shot….will we take it? Doubtful but that’s why they play the games….it’s basically up to JJ and Josh….
phil
May 9th, 2011
11:32 am
But so goes Smith, so goes the team….he has to put forth the effort or else he kills us….play him if he wants to play, sit him when he doesn’t….simple really.
ICECOLD
May 9th, 2011
11:33 am
THEY GOTTA GIVE UP MARVIN NOW FOR SOMEBODY ( ANYBODY ) WITH A EXPIRING CONTRACT SO THEY CAN RESIGN TEAGUE FOR 65 MILLION, AND RESIGN JAMAL CRAWFORD FOR 3 YEARS 35 MILLION.. MARVIN CONTRACT FOR ANYBODY THATS EQUAL WITH AN EXPIRING CONTRACT!!!
LOOK, JOSH STARTED AT THE 3 LAST NIGHT AND HAD A GREAT GAME!!!! THATS OUR 3 .. HE NEEDS TO BE IN THE MIDDLE, THE SMALL FORWARD, SINCE HE DOES IT ALL, HE CANT JUST BE LIMITED TO GUARDING THE POST, HE NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO REBOUND AND BLOCK SHOTS FROM THE WEAK SIDE!!
JEFF TEAGUE- NEXT YEAR HE CAN AVERAGE 16 POINTS, 7 ASSIST 2 STEALS AND .07 BLOCKS A GAME!!
THEN WE NEED A CENTER THATS GOING TO AVERAGE 8 POINTS AND 12 REBOUNDS AND 2 BLOCKS A GAME!!! , AND WE STRAIGHT!!!
THE LAKERS ARE KIND OF ABOUT TO BLOW UP THEIR TEAM, GET BYNUM, OR PAUL GASOL.. FOR MARVIN AND ZAZA, OR MARVIN, CASH AND 1ST ROUND PICK. OR MARVIN AND ARMSTRONG OR SOMETHING..
WE WOULD BE STRAIGHT
starting five would be
Jeff Teague
Joe Johnson
Josh Smith
Al Horford
Andrew Bynum ( when he is injured, start collins and let magnum rolle back him up.. )
LETS GO HAWKS!!!!
David
May 9th, 2011
11:33 am
Jury is still out…..lets see him play consistently over a longer period of time – his defense is still sketchy IMO
Sunshine Falcon
May 9th, 2011
11:35 am
I loved the M-V-Teague sign, too.
Given his chance; he has really stepped up!
Dr. Warren
May 9th, 2011
11:41 am
Marvin for Bynum? Sounds great. I’d also like to trade a ‘95 Ford Taurus for a 2011 BMW. Any takers?
JeJe
May 9th, 2011
11:41 am
Cmon Schultzy.
We all know Hinrich will start at PG next year and Teague will be buried on the bench.
Just like in the home game vs. Portland in March when Teague played JUST AS WELL and hardly played in the game after that
Zing
May 9th, 2011
11:48 am
Hawks don’t need to fire LD, LD just needs to sneak into Mike D’Antoni’s office one night and copy his playbook. With Teague running the point and Hinrich and Jamal coming off the bench, this team is BLAZING.
gcs
May 9th, 2011
11:51 am
Does that make Kirk Hinrich the Wally Pipp?
.
TheAntiMe
May 9th, 2011
11:54 am
We all know Hinrich will start at PG next year and Teague will be buried on the bench.
Just like in the home game vs. Portland in March when Teague played JUST AS WELL and hardly played in the game after that.
You could be right, JeJe, but you never know. There could yet be some hope for Teague. After all, if I can recall correctly, shortly after the Hinrich trade when JT started a game out west I do recall that Larry Drew said the he did like Jeff Teague’s package.
yo mama
May 9th, 2011
11:56 am
too many dumb asses in Atlanta cant realize that Josh Smith is the Hawks, its his team, his city. You cant let him go. We do need a true big man at center, but that is a trade in the off season. trade bait can be either joe or jamal. they are expendable, and i would rather see a trade with joe leaving. promote wilkens, and get the big man we need.
JeJe
May 9th, 2011
12:01 pm
What people don’t mention either is not only is Teague having an excellent series, but it’s with Derrick Rose guarding him
JeJe
May 9th, 2011
12:06 pm
TheAntiMe,
LD also said Teague will always have a role on this team. He said this when Teague was getting very sparse minutes. To me, that quote means he will never be starting PG for this team.
I would let Craw walk and let Hinrich start at SG or play 6th man and play 30min
Poor Hinrich. Going from team to team with prodigal PGs ahead of him
Truth
May 9th, 2011
12:07 pm
If Lakers get rid of Bynum it will be for D. Howard not Marvin Williams
Some fans here are idiots
Zing
May 9th, 2011
12:08 pm
Barring a total collapse in these next several (hopefully many) games in the playoffs, I think Teague has won the starting PG position. Hinrich’s a good player, but he’s come off the bench the last couple of years and can play multiple positions. With the likely departure of Jamal, they’ll need a new 6th man, and he’s likely it.
PLEASE TRADE JOSH SMITH AFTER SEASON
May 9th, 2011
12:11 pm
BIG UPS TO JEFF!
Chill
May 9th, 2011
12:13 pm
You know. Most of the fans have been clamoring for Teague to play since LAST season. Anyone with any basketball sense knows that this team in particular needed a point guard who could run the floor/break, penetrate the defense, setup his more passive teammates and play good man on man defense. However the hawks dragged their feet in putting him in the lineup because simply put they evaluate talent as well as Charles Barkley hits a golf ball. Teague was on his way to Salim Studamire and Acie Law status if it wasn’t for Hinrich’s injury. As good as he is playing i am Disgusted that it took this long to play him. The only way a player truly gets better, especially a point guard is to actually PLAY THE GAME! What a novel concept.
PLEASE TRADE JOSH SMITH AFTER SEASON
May 9th, 2011
12:15 pm
WHERE WERE THE JOSH SMITH FANS FRIDAY NITE, WHEN HE WAS JACKING UP THOSE AIRBALLS?
decriz
May 9th, 2011
12:16 pm
I’m taking back all the bad things I said about teague. my mistake, hehe.
Anyway, i have a suggestion. why don’t we get Lindsay Hunter to teach Teague best perimeter defense so that Jeff the ‘JET’ can achieve his full potential on defense. They’ve got similar lengths and quickness and i’m sure JET can elevate his D the same way. Lindsay Hunter is probably the best at guard defense so let’s get him. We’ve already got Mark Price for offense and playmaking, let’s also get Lindsay as well.
oldbird
May 9th, 2011
12:17 pm
Why is the headline in ths sports section of ajc.com about a blown call instead of the Hawks being tied 2-2 with the number 1 seed? Is this the first time a call went wrong or was missed in the NBA? Dang, we won by 12, what’s the big deal?
Chill
May 9th, 2011
12:18 pm
Now that Teague has emerged we can sit Bibby and not have to trade him, Jordan Crawford or our #1 pick for next year for some like say Kirk Hinrich, Oh wait a sec…….
oldbird
May 9th, 2011
12:18 pm
By the way, if we could convince Josh to live in the paint instead of the perimeter, he could have thise kinds of nights all the time.
Chill
May 9th, 2011
12:25 pm
Having Jordan Crawford would really come in handy after we fail to resign Jamal Crawford after this years free agency period. See the Domino affect that takes place when you don’t play Teague for two years?? The Hawks Front Office…IT”S FAAAAAANTASCTIC!
adam
May 9th, 2011
12:25 pm
How many times did joe screw around with ball at the perimeter to just pass it to jeff so he could cut inside and score or distribute? I’ve been waiting for larry to figured out jeff should get some playing time all season. Now if he’ll just figure out to coach the talented team he has.
rudy
May 9th, 2011
12:28 pm
stay focus……
Truth
May 9th, 2011
12:31 pm
there is a reason he is an NBA coach.
Everyone needs to chill.
glacialspeed
May 9th, 2011
12:32 pm
Thank goodness the Hawks realized this before doing something stupid like trading Jordan Crawford for a fading veteran point guard. Oh wait.
Truth
May 9th, 2011
12:35 pm
Jordan Crawford would have never been the player he is in Atlanta.
He would have got 10-15 minutes. And probably not had as much freedom.
anyways anyone can go to a bad team and average 20+
Mike Jay
May 9th, 2011
12:38 pm
I find it hard to blame Woodson and LD fro not playing and devolping Teague more. Both in woddoson last year and LD’s current status they need to win to keep their jobs. Without long term confidence from their MGMT in regards to their jobs both coaches were forced to play the lineups that had the best chacne of winning right now and keep their jobs. So why would they play a raw ,albeit talanted rookie who has proven to be inconsistent up unitl now? i wouldn’t take the risk either.
Magic Johnson
May 9th, 2011
12:41 pm
@yo mama
Joe Johnson is not expendable, this team has great chemistry and is winning with Jason Collins clogging for Rose.
I would do Marvin for Thabeet AND sign Al Thornton for $1-2 million a year.
B'Red
May 9th, 2011
12:46 pm
Joe Johnson is a not a supestar, and I’m sick of people calling his that. His is just an average Joe!!!!!!!!
TheAntiMe
May 9th, 2011
12:50 pm
You’re right, JeJe, LD does at times seem to be speaking out of both sides of his mouth. He probably has a very good career ahead of him as a politician after his coaching days.
There are, however, a couple of things going for JT over Kirk Hinrich. With Teague being much younger you would think that he has a lot of potential upside to be shown if given the chance to mature. With Kirk, what you see now is as good as it’s ever going to get.
In my mind though, probably the most important thing that JT has over Kirk is that – other than Joe – the ASG does not impress me as an ownership that likes spending money. I could see where the ASG just may try to impress, strongly even, upon our GM that it just may be much more efficient to lock up Jeff Teague long term and to see about trading Hinrich short term as Hinrich is making 9 mil and Teague is making just a tad under 1.5 mil.
phil
May 9th, 2011
12:51 pm
JJ indeed is no superstar….isn’t that obvious though?
Andrew Bynum? We want him on our team? I think not….Even Magic Johnson called him a thug yesterday….
Chill
May 9th, 2011
12:52 pm
@ Truth
You’re right Jordan crawford probably wouldn’t have as much freedom here as he does now in Washington. However he would provide you with a good punch off the bench. A punch we will need when we fail to resign Jamal…
Also, No not everyone can average 20 points with a bad team….Exhibit A.. Marvin Williams, Exhibit B…Sheldon Williams. The defense rest.
B'Red
May 9th, 2011
12:54 pm
who got paid.
Reggie
May 9th, 2011
1:20 pm
Wait did someone actually suggest Marvin and Hilton Armstrong for Andrew Bynum?…sigh…whoever said that just run in the middle of traffic on 285 right now!
Bill
May 9th, 2011
1:29 pm
J Smith must show up every game not just ever other game…I like LD as Coach but he’s got to demand they do there jobs..not easy when they make millions and LD makes peanuts to compare. He has got to be the boss..come hail are high water. Ownership is ??? Go Hawks kick azzzzz!
DS
May 9th, 2011
1:37 pm
Reggie, I know right? People ask for the dumbest trades here…but I can see something like Marvin and Zaza for Kaman or Marvin for Thabeet. Both teams need a SF. GS has their C on Jordan and Houston doesn’t even care for Thabeet. Neither is the greatest C in the league, but ANYTHING at this point is better than Marvin.
papason
May 9th, 2011
1:41 pm
M Williams needs to be traded for anyone, He is sorry and does not know how to play the game of
basketball.. Sad part is he continues to get the start except for last night… Please Sit his butt down , give the min to Damien at least he hustles…
nique
May 9th, 2011
1:52 pm
No doubt that Teague needs to be starting next year.
FACTS
May 9th, 2011
1:54 pm
Sorry fans we can’t allow Larry Drew & Rick Sund to wiggle their way out of this situation. Bottom line is they are resposible for not giving this kid his fair chance to make contributions to this franchise…bad coaching or mismanagement call it whatever you want….we will never join the elite teams of the NBA until we get some fresh ideas floating around this organization.As for Marvin he is untradeable nobody wants him….we tried to move him before the dealine this year there were no takers….we are very young at all positions take advantage of these assets now…. because in about 5 yrs we may start to look like that Lakers team that got thumped yesterday!!!!!
DS
May 9th, 2011
1:55 pm
*Clippers has their C on Jordan…
decriz
May 9th, 2011
1:56 pm
the best 6th man replacement for Jamal Crawford is Shannon Brown. Highly explosive with great offensive skills and energy, perfect for the ‘Highlight Factory’. Let’s make a move to get him! Jamal Crawford and Marvin Williams for Shannon Brown, Matt Barnes and others. Matt Barnes will at worst give you similar Marvin numbers but he had his moments in Golden State.
ATLtodolavida
May 9th, 2011
1:57 pm
Coast-to-coast Teague is reminiscent of Spud Webb, but a little taller and potential to be even better.
decriz
May 9th, 2011
1:59 pm
@DS you said it man, anything is better than Marvin right now.
why do these Hawks (Joe, Marvin, Jamal) play like sissies? They are all have size, athleticism and strength but are afraid to make strong moves or take it strong to the hoop. Marvin is even longer in terms of overall length/standing reach than Josh or Al but he plays far smaller than his ’size’. There a lot of smaller guards who play ‘bigger’ than him.