Jeff Teague: Is he playing through pain?

Jeff Teague hasn’t been playing like an All-Star in 2015-16 for the Atlanta Hawks. Is he dealing with a nagging injury that has hindered his play this year?

In a short interview with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Chris Vivlamore, Atlanta Hawks point guard Jeff Teague told Vivlamore, “I’m dealing with an ankle injury. That’s OK. I’ll be back.”

While there was some speculation below the surface that Teague’s diminished play in 2015-16 might have had something to do with an injury, Teague removed all doubt with his comment to the AJC.

Some regression was largely expected for the 2015-16 Atlanta Hawks after their 60-win campaign the year before. Where it has been the most obvious is in the Atlanta starting backcourt. Teague and shooting guard Kyle Korver both made their first and only All-Star appearances to date last season, joining the dynamic frontcourt duo of power forward Paul Millsap and center Al Horford.

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Millsap is essentially a lock to make it to his third straight All-Star Game and Horford has a favorable chance to join Millsap in Toronto for the glorified exhibition on Valentine’s Day, Sunday, February 14th.

Korver has struggled this season after undergoing two major offseason surgeries, one to remove loose bodies from his shooting elbow, the other to repair a broken ankle suffered during his collision with Cleveland Cavaliers point guar Matthew Dellavedova in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Korver’s three-point shot isn’t as lethal in 2015-16 and his two surgeries are probably responsible for his down season.

Teague’s cause for his regression isn’t as obvious as Korver’s. If it is his ankle that is bothering Jeff Teague so much, it’s almost hard to fathom as Teague tends to roll his ankle every so often, only to bounce back as if nothing happened to his leg in those games. He’s done it so much in his career with the Atlanta Hawks that loyal fans tend to think very little of when Jeff Teague does twist his ankle on a play in the paint, the place where it usually does happen.

What has pushed Teague’s health into question in recent days is that he has not played in the closing minutes of close games at point guard, sitting on the Atlanta bench in favor of backup point guard Dennis Schroder. Atlanta has lost its last two game to the Sacramento Kings and the Phoenix Suns by a combined six points on the road.

In essence, it has been Jeff Teague’s ankle that has robbed the Atlanta faithful of the aptly named Teague Time that grew accustomed to seeing last season. Teague Time was all about Jeff Teague taking over a game inside of the final six minutes in a tight basketball game, assuming the role of the team’s go-to scorer and facilitator, causing opponents disarray defensively in the paint trying to stop him with the basketball in his hands.

Atlanta in recent games has elevated its intensity defensively, sitting sixth in team defensive rating through 45 games. However, it has been the offense that has held the Hawks back in their quest to emerge as the Cleveland Cavaliers’ top challenger in the Eastern Conference this season. Atlanta sits outside of the top 10 of offensive team rating through their first 45 games.

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In time Jeff Teague’s ankle will heal, as will Kyle Korver’s ankle and elbow. When that day arrives and the team suffers no other significant injuries to further set them back, then can the Atlanta Hawks soar towards the top of the Eastern Conference Standings, taking away the No. 2 from either the Toronto Raptors or the Chicago Bulls. Until then, Atlanta will have to continue to play great defense while their starting backcourt gets healthy enough to hopefully ignite the potent offense of the Hawks.

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