Hoops Habit
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Five Reasons The Atlanta Hawks Shouldn’t Lose Hope

By Ti Windisch

May 20, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward DeMarre Carroll (5) reacts after a basket against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the second quarter of game one of the Eastern Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
May 20, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward DeMarre Carroll (5) reacts after a basket against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the second quarter of game one of the Eastern Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 20, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Jeff Teague (0) controls the ball against Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) during the first quarter of game one of the Eastern Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
May 20, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Jeff Teague (0) controls the ball against Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) during the first quarter of game one of the Eastern Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Jeff Teague is Somehow Both Great and Underrated

Every time I watch Jeff Teague play basketball, I remember back to when the Milwaukee Bucks were so very close to stealing him away from Atlanta, and then I feel sad. But then I cheer up because I get to watch Teague ball out, and that’s a really fun thing to do.

I really mean it when I say Teague is great, and he proved me right with a great performance in Game 1. Teague dumped 27 points, four assists, three rebounds and two steals on the Cavaliers in a showcase of just how well he can score points on the somewhat defensively-impaired Kyrie Irving.

Don’t expect Teague to go after Irving any less going forward; he seemed to be able to score at will at some points on Wednesday night.

Only two players in Game 1 outscored Jeff Teague. One is the best player in the NBA, LeBron James. The other is J.R. Smith. Smith also has the dubious honor of being the fifth and final reason Atlanta should remain optimistic about their first Eastern Conference Finals trip.

Next: J.R. Smith? Seriously?

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