Atlanta Hawks 108, New Orleans Hornets 102 or "the Jeff Teague show" dress rehearsal

by hawksdawgs on Oct 8, 2009 7:09 AM EDT

While I pretend to know enough about basketball to recap games I watch, it is tough to pretend such a thing off a box score, some quotes, and a quarter's worth of Steve Holman. So a quick meandering of thoughts, points, quotes, and hearsay all in that beautiful bullet form.

Jeff Teague managed to make Mike Woodson smile. I have seen a non-sarcastic smile from Woody twice in my entire life. Either Teague did some great things or Woodson finally realized these games don't count.
Continuing on the Teague train, from what my friend at the game said and Wake Forest after Wake Forest fan has told me, he goes from incredible to really bad about as fast any player you can imagine. I expect that to only be exasperated by his rookie status.
Also, 8 free throw attempts for Jeff? I know he can hit the three, but we might want to put the kibosh on that until someone stops him from driving the ball.
All I want from Teague is his confidence in tact by the time he has some handle of the offense and NBA game. After one preseason outing, good to go.
A Joe Johnson that does not over push is a beautiful thing even in box score form. 7-10, 4 assists, 0 TOs.

Lets get as many Jamal Crawford 0-fers out of the way as possible. One down on 0-4 shooting and no free throw attempts.

When did Zaza Pachulia become a scoring center?

Don't ever say Sekou Smith doesn't bring you the details. "Rookie center Garret Siler must have forgotten his warmup pants were snap offs. Because when Woodson ordered him into the game late in the fourth quarter, the 7-footer yanked his pants down all the way over his shoes."

In the first quarter, Mario West had a basket interference and a put back slam at the buzzer. Sounds about right.

Courtney Sims DNP does not bode well for him staying in an Atlanta Hawks uniform.

Best stat in a meaningless game? Seven rebounds and two blocks in 21 minutes for Josh Smith.

Someone tell me it is ok to read a lot into Othello Hunter's 22 minutes last night.

But seriously can Othello and Randolph Morris trade contracts? Randolph only played two minutes....two points, zero smiles (I assume).

40 FTs for the Hawks to 36 for the Hornets? Chris Paul with 11 attempts in 21 minutes? Lets hope that was just a really physical game and not some indictment on the replacement refs.

""That really helped right there, that helped me a lot," said Teague, who was 6-for-12 from the floor and 7-for-8 from the free throw line. "[Mike] Bibby, Josh [Smith] and Marvin [Williams] were all telling me the same thing. They were like, ‘Just play your game and attack. You're faster than anybody they got out there so just go the hole and play your game.' So that's what I tried to do" A lightening fast guard is going to take some getting used to.

And for those people who say Johnson is no leader, at one point in the game, Johnson expertly uncoached our coach, "I knew Woody had said something to him," Johnson said. "I just told him that he has to play through the mistakes and not to let [Woodson] take your aggressiveness away. When you're a young player in this league your aggressiveness is what gets you through sometimes."

More bullet points you say? Head over to Hoopinion.

No one injured. Win. Teague feeling confident. Starters under 25 minutes. Good work Woody.

Tough to complain or get overly excited about a meaningless game, but I will take some Jeff Teague style hope any day of the week. First hand accounts, thoughts on my thoughts, thoughts on Steve Holman, crushes on Jeff Teague, all welcome in the comments. Go Hawks!

Tweet Comment 23 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

w/r/t Courtney Sims' DNP

OR, that could simply mean he becomes the the token DNP mark on just about every boxscore this year.

Like you, I don’t want to read too much into anything because it’s a preseason game, but if Teague continues to get consistent minutes, the Hawks just might have a little wrinkle in their offense for once. That’s a positive.

"This is America, if we can’t self-righteously look down on others and blame them for our faults, the commies win."-----Cormican on Bleeding Green Nation w/r/t fans overreacting to the Eagles signing of Michael Vick

by Jesse28 on Oct 8, 2009 7:32 AM EDT reply actions

Couldn't see the game live...

But this has me pretty excited about Teague. I don’t always buy into the fan perspective of “really good then really bad” because if you can play, you’re good. Everyone has an off night. Sounds like Sund might have pulled a nice pick…now we need to get JC rolling.

by Duff_Man on Oct 8, 2009 7:37 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

maybe put better

makes really good decisions and then really bad ones or tries and then does not (wake forest knock).

i agree skill does not normally fluctuate….unless you have the uncanny ability to go from normal to “hot.” i miss you already flip murray!

by hawksdawgs on Oct 8, 2009 7:46 AM EDT up reply actions

The upside to that

Is that decision making gets better over time. It can be taught.

Sigh…I miss Flip, too.

by Duff_Man on Oct 8, 2009 7:52 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Looking at the box score...

What really jumps out to me is the fact that the Hornets have a guy named Bobby Brown on their team. That is already setting the comedy bar high for this season.

/Ain’t nobody humpin’ around.

by Duff_Man on Oct 8, 2009 7:43 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

we need a George Michael on our team.

by hawksdawgs on Oct 8, 2009 7:50 AM EDT up reply actions

Zaza beard = George Michael?

by Duff_Man on Oct 8, 2009 7:53 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

almost posted a side by side pic comparison yesterday

no joke.

by hawksdawgs on Oct 8, 2009 7:54 AM EDT up reply actions

Be afraid.

The fact that we’re on the same wavelength means you may suffer from a mental illness. Please consult your doctor or bartender immediately.

by Duff_Man on Oct 8, 2009 7:58 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I think we all might have it...

God help us.

"Hey Fat Kid...the monster is right behind you! RUNNNN!!" -The Host

by bwellnjonesco on Oct 8, 2009 11:12 AM EDT up reply actions

I kind of feel bad for Chris Paul...

and can’t wait to see him somewhere other than the Hornets so he can have some actual teammates. Or maybe he’ll just become the basketball Barry Sanders.

by Mr. Sanchez on Oct 8, 2009 8:39 AM EDT reply actions

I don't feel bad for him

After everyone wanted to anoint him the next Jesus Shuttlesworth, I hope he never does anything significant. Especially after the way the Hawks got blasted for drafting Marvin.

I hope he’s the next Karl Malone.

by Duff_Man on Oct 8, 2009 9:35 AM EDT up reply actions

Duff_Man I totally agree. I don’t feel sorry for him either because everybody still have not gotten over the draft thing and this goes to show that a team needs more than one good player to win. As a side note: I had a dream Joe went to New Orleans. Yikes!

by dstdeelite on Oct 8, 2009 10:41 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

on really dark days

when i feel like escaping reality completely, i think about how new orleans management is going to be forced to trade cp3 for finances and he is going to come to the hawks.

i do that or imagine where i am going to spend my lottery winnings.

but NOLA is not that bad. they have some players right. West was an all-star two years ago. i also dont feel bad for cp3. i make a rule not to feel bad for people who punch dudes in the jimmy.

by hawksdawgs on Oct 8, 2009 11:17 AM EDT up reply actions

West is an All Star thanks to his teammate...

and lack thereof. Paul sets him up well, and there’s no one else to take a shot.

New Orleans probably does a sign and trade, but iyam he’s signing elsewhere as soon as possible. Why would you stay for that notoriously crap ownership, with no chance of ever making it far in the playoffs.

by Mr. Sanchez on Oct 8, 2009 11:27 AM EDT up reply actions

getting real excited for the jamal crawford era

hey guys, after a couple years of reading this blog more than anything else on the ol’ “interweb” i decided to sign up. i don’t think i could possibly be more excited about the upcoming hawks season.

i’m guessing they’ve all been posted at some point, but youtubing “jamal crawford shake bake” renders some of the greatest stuff out there.

i will miss flip (heck i probably watched 89 of the 93 games last year), but i gotta believe this is an upgrade at that key second “score when the play breaks down and there’s 3 seconds on the shot clock” position.

by hawksgate on Oct 8, 2009 11:24 AM EDT reply actions

hawksgate welcome!

or welcome to having a screen name at least. looking forward to your posts.

and yes, we like jamal crawford too. http://www.peachtreehoops.com/2009/9/15/1031923/72-reasons-to-be-excited-about-the

by hawksdawgs on Oct 8, 2009 11:31 AM EDT up reply actions

like i haven’t read that. when i first moved to the a in 2004, philipswas pretty pathetic, but its been awesome to see things grow. i like your profile pic, but didn’t you consider the shot with zaza going head-to-head with kg?

by hawksgate on Oct 8, 2009 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions

hawks at edgewood?

does anybody know if the hawks are having a meet/greet again this year. last season’s event was pretty cool.

by hawksgate on Oct 8, 2009 12:00 PM EDT reply actions

oct. 25th at Atlantic station.

by hawksdawgs on Oct 8, 2009 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions

oct 25

what time?

Atlanta will win a championship....someday

by maxxj3 on Oct 8, 2009 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Feel Sorry for CP3

Gosh, NO is going nowhere. They have 2 cap killers Peja and Posey. Looks like CP3 is going to be the best player on a team going nowhere for sometime.

by dkrib on Oct 9, 2009 9:41 AM EDT reply actions

Hawks will win 55 games!!!

With the usual 5-10 games that Marvin and Al (will) miss this season, due to minor nagging injuries, it seems the hawks have picked up more than adequate replacements. Za Za and Joe Smith will fill in perfectly for them. *Now, that ZaZa who has been shown the financial appreciation that he wanted and deserved, look out! Lastly, we appear to have a legit backup point guard that can penetrate and has fast, fresh legs! Add a good veteran backup for JJ, (Mr. Crawford) and one more year of (game) maturity for Josh, M.West and Marvin this should offer tremendous promise. (and at least 8 more wins!!!)

by D.Staden on Oct 10, 2009 9:16 AM EDT reply actions