Jeff Teague: Has Hawks’ Point Guard Reached His Ceiling?
Jeff Teague had his best campaign yet during the 2014-2015 season, finally showing the Atlanta Hawks and the NBA his capability to be one of the top point guards in the league.
In the free-flowing, pass heavy Hawks’ offense, Jeff Teague was the catalyst for offensive success. Last season, the Atlanta Hawks’ offense ranked in the top 10 in points per game, and were 2nd in the league with 25.7 assists per game, thanks in no small part to Jeff Teague’s contributions and ability to create offense.
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Last season, Jeff Teague made his first All-Star Game appearance: becoming one of four Atlanta Hawks players to be honored in February along with Al Horford, Paul Millsap and Kyle Korver. Teague was also a finalist in the Skills Challenge during All-Star Weekend, showcasing his ability to pass and move the ball.
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Though Teague had a breakout year, averaging 15.9 PPG and 7 assists per game, while shooting 46 percent from the floor, the question going into the 2015-2016 season is whether or not Jeff Teague has already plateaued and reached his ceiling, with no further room for development? Given how well he performed last season, and how Jeff Teague is still only 27-years-old, I believe Teague is still developing, and will continue to grow under Head Coach Mike Budenholzer in the coming season.
A big part of Jeff Teague’s ascendance into the upper-echelon of NBA Point Guards has been accomplished because of the influence of Mike Budenholzer. Coming from the San Antonio Spurs, Budenholzer saw inherent similarities between Teague and Tony Parker, and sought to help Teague realize his potential. With Al Horford in the front-court, Teague and Horford have developed a chemistry in the pick and roll similar to what Parker and Tim Duncan possess, leading to remarkably statistical similarities.
Only Chris Paul, Stephen Curry, Kyrie Irving and Aaron Brooks were better than Teague in pick and roll plays last season.
When comparing both Jeff Teague and Tony Parker last season in the pick and roll, Teague placed fifth in the league in points per possession with 0.90, while Parker finished 6th with 0.89. Teague scored 436 points last season when utilizing the pick and roll (10th in the league), while Parker scored 439 points (9th in the NBA). Jeff Teague’s effective field goal percentage off the pick and roll was 48.6 percent (6th), while Parker’s was an even 50 percent (4th).
Having Al Horford in the front-court allows Teague to space the floor, either dumping the ball to Horford in the paint or penetrating to the basket. Though early in his career Jeff Teague had a penchant for being a score-first guard, he has developed into an effective passer to create opportunities for his teammates. By no means does this mean his scoring ability has diminished; but rather, his offensive game has been refined and the Hawks have the personnel in place to create a lineup advantageous to Teague’s skill-set.
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Jeff Teague has also developed a nice three-point shot, shooting over 34 percent from long-range last season. His ability to shoot from beyond the arc gives Mike Budenholzer another shooting option; though Teague’s skills are best utilized when he distributing the ball to the other shooters on the floor.
To further drive home the point of how effective Jeff Teague has been in pick and roll plays, Shane Young of BBall Breakdown astutely makes the observation that only Chris Paul, Stephen Curry, Kyrie Irving, and Aaron Brooks were better last season. That is exclusive company for Jeff Teague, and displays not only his growth last season, but the potential he still possesses to become an elite NBA Point Guard.
With the Atlanta Hawks getting swept by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals, it is clear that they and Jeff Teague still have room for growth. In the coming season, with Jeff Teague entering his prime and high expectations stemming from last year’s success, the Hawks’ point guard will continue to develop into top-tier player in the league.
Next: Paul Millsap: Re-Signing Him Best Offseason Move for Hawks
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