Atlanta Hawks: How Important is Jeff Teague to ATL?
By Pete Schauer
The Atlanta Hawks made the right move by bringing back point guard Jeff Teague. (Photo Credit: Mark Runyan, Basketball Schedule)
As the starting point guard for the Atlanta Hawks, Jeff Teague plays an important role, but just how important is the 25-year-old PG to the Hawks?
Well, apparently he’s important enough for Atlanta to match the Milwaukee Bucks’ four-year, $32 million offer sheet that Teague signed earlier in the week, leaving teammate Al Horford pretty excited.
Yes!!!!!!! @Teague0. time to work! RT @ajchawks: Hawks will match the offer sheet to Jeff Teague. Back in Atlanta. #ATLHawks
— Al Horford (@Al_Horford) July 13, 2013
According to Kelly Dwyer of Yahoo! Sports, Teague didn’t want the Hawks to match the Bucks’ offer, but clearly Atlanta thinks highly enough of the improved point guard to bring him back for his fifth season in Atlanta. Teague averaged a career-high 14.6 points per game this past season to go with 7.2 assists per game, also a career high.
With Louis Williams returning from injury this season, bringing back Teague was an important move for the Hawks. Teague and Williams will join two-time All-Star Al Horford in the starting lineup alongside power forward Paul Millsap and sharpshooter Kyle Korver.
Now that he’s back, what does Teague bring to the Hawks?
For one, he brings exceptional athleticism to the point guard position. Although he’s known more as a scoring guard due to his leaping abilities and solid floater in the lane, Teague has really improved his passing. He averaged 7.2 assists per game in 2012-13 while keeping his turnover count to less than three per game.
With powerful big men in Horford and Millsap, Atlanta will likely base its offense around the post game, especially since Teague isn’t known for his outside shooting, but the Hawks still need an athletic point guard who can find the open man and make plays around the rim when necessary, and that’s exactly what Teague brings to the table.
According to ESPN, Teague is one of only 10 players to increase his scoring average each of the past three seasons, which further proves his worth to a potential playoff team like the Hawks.
By bringing Teague back, the Hawks assured themselves of boasting the best available talent at the 1 spot.