Jeff Teague gets his FIRST START!

[HawksFan87]

Secaucus, N.J.–Joe Johnson is out tonight. He’s not going to play tomorrow at Toronto, either, and Woody said J.J.’s status is up in the air for Friday’s game against Charlotte at Philips Arena.

The Hawks say J.J. has a strained Achilles’ tendon.

“He’s day-to-day,” Woody said.

Bibby’s back is better and he will start tonight. In a surprise move, Woody plans to go with My Blog People MVP Jeff Teague at point guard and Bibby at shooting guard instead of using Mo Evans to replace Johnson.

It’s Teague’s first start.

“We’ll give it a shot,” Woody said, adding with a smile: “I can always sub early.”

“(Teague) has played with different combinations,” Woody said. “This is no different. He will do what he does best: push the ball, defend, get people involved.”

Teague, low-key as always, said he’s ready.

“I’ve been playing basketball my whole life, and I’ve usually started,” he said. “It will be the same as coming off the bench.”

Woody said he made the move because he wants Teague’s quickness against Nets guard Devin Harris. Harris might miss the game due to illness but presumably Woody would stick with Teague either way.

“He’s quick, so you have to try to keep him out of the lane,” Teague said of Harris. “He can score; we all know that. I’m not going to say I’m going to lock him down or anything like that. I just want to try and contain him.”

http://blogs.ajc.com/hawks/2010/03/16/atlanta-hawks-at-nets-the-rook-jeff-teague-gets-his-shot/?cxntfid=blogs_hawks

Uhmm Woody, why didn't he start or play much against the other fast guys lol???

[APE]

Over or under 20 minutes for Jeff?

[exodus]

Over or under 20 minutes for Jeff?

Knowing Woody I'll take the under.

Edited March 17, 2010 by exodus

[coachx]

Over or under 20 minutes for Jeff?

I'm going over but that is up to Teague...........not just Woodson.

Glad to hear that he getting the start.

[hawkman]

Over or under 20 minutes for Jeff?

OVER.It seems like Woody has been giving Teague more minutes lately

[TheNorthCydeRises]

Teague will play 18 minutes tonight . . . so under.

LOL @ Woody throwing everyone a curve, and going with the Bibby - Teague combo. The "I can always sub early" line was claSsic. That's exactly what he'll do, if we struggle early.

I say Teague goes 2 - 6 FG . . . 2 - 2 FT . . . 6 pts - 3 asst - 2 rebs - 1 stl - 1 to . . . in 18 min

[TheTruth]

This is great news. I wonder why he hasn't done it more (not starting him, but playing him more) against lightning quick PGs. I hope Teague shines in his first start. And if he is playing well, I hope Woodson keeps him in there instead of taking him out...

As I said in another post, Teague avaeraged 20 MPG in the two games we have played against the Nets so far. Whether he gets more or less is largely dependent on Woodson and how Teague plays.

[capstone21]

I don't like the idea of starting them together. Lee will be posting Bibby up tonight

[lethalweapon3]

A historical note from almost exactly one decade ago, when the Hawks decided in March 2000 to start a 'JT' rookie at point guard for the first time.

That team was 22-33 and reeling from the Isaiah Rider saga and a three-game losing streak. With the chance at another annual trip to the playoffs slipping away, Lenny Wilkens elected to unseat the venerable Bimbo Coles, handing the point guard keys over to Jason Terry.

Jet responded with 17 points and 5 assists as the Hawks beat the Knicks. Despite falling out of the playoff picture, Terry would remain the Hawks' starting PG for the rest of the season.

~lw3

[MaceCase]

I don't like the idea of starting them together. Lee will be posting Bibby up tonight

He would be doing so regardless, Joe would have been guarding Harris.

[uga2006]

Knowing Woody I'll take the under.

My exact thoughts. He might see 15 minutes with Bibby seeing 30+.

[DJlaysitup]

"J.J. has a strained Achilles' tendon".

That sucks...that's the kind of injury that can take awhile...good for Woody resting him.

GO TEAGUE!!!!!!!!!!!!

P.S. JJ out...Craw 15 for 40.

Edited March 16, 2010 by DJlaysitup

[Diesel]

Tonight Teague will shine.

12 points, 9 assist, 3 rebs shooting 4 of 6 from the floor, 0-1 from 3, and 4-4 from the line in 32 minutes.

[MVP23]

Teague is going to drop 15/10 tonight. Watch and see.

[DJlaysitup]

Tonight Teague will shine.

12 points, 9 assist, 3 rebs shooting 4 of 6 from the floor, 0-1 from 3, and 4-4 from the line in 32 minutes.

Not to be a negative Nellie....but I seriously doubt Teague gets 32 minutes. Hope so....not likely.

[HawkWeisErrr]

That's just crazy. Teague looks like he doesn't belong in the NBA and Crawford looks like an All-Star.

Unbelievable.

[TheTruth]

I was hoping to better evaluate Teague as a PG, but two things:

1. Instead of bringin the ball up the court and playing a traditional PG role, Teague was instead playing off the ball.

2. JJ is out, so even if Teague had played the traditional PG role instead of Bibby, the main converter of assists is out.

Doesn't help he grabbed two early fouls.

Teague does have active hands, but he does still seem a little lost sometimes. I hope Woodson doesnt plant him to the bench for the rest of the game though.

[exodus]

That's just crazy. Teague looks like he doesn't belong in the NBA and Crawford looks like an All-Star.

Unbelievable.

How in Hades does Crawford look like an All-Star? He is 1-6 from the field.

:beat:

[exodus]

We should probably reset the over/under to 15 minutes.

[TheTruth]

15 minutes sounds about right. More like 12-15...*Sigh*