Two weeks ago, Hawks guard Jeff Teague was more or less a bench ornament. On Thursday night, Teague will lead the Hawks' effort to keep their season alive with nary an eyebrow raised.
Regardless of what happens when the Hawks attempt to stave off elimination in Game 6 of their Eastern Conference semifinal with Chicago, the second-year guard's transformation from backing up Kirk Hinrich to dueling league MVP Derrick Rose will be the story of the series. A Hawks victory at Philips Arena, which would tie the series at 3-3 and put them within one win of their first Eastern finals appearance, would merely enhance the makeover.
"I ask him to step in and take the bull by the horns, and he did it," said coach Larry Drew, apparently not intending the pun. "He did it like I hadn't seen that done under those circumstances. But he's done a phenomenal job."
A slew of variables will go into the pot on Thursday night at Philips Arena. After faltering in the fourth quarter on Tuesday night, can the Hawks sustain a 48-minute effort? Can they match the Bulls' intensity, which has provided Chicago a rebounding edge in the past four games? Will Joe Johnson and Jamal Crawford snap back after shooting a combined 7-for-24 in Game 5?
How Teague will play in the elimination game doesn't seem to be a question, though he conceded, "I've never been in one."
Teague seems increasingly comfortable in the driver's seat. After the team's Wednesday practice, he spoke with assurance about the Hawks' chances.
"I think if we get this one [Thursday], I think there's a good chance we can get Game 7 done," he said.
Teague has been the Hawks' most consistent and often most dangerous player through the first five games. In the Hawks' Game 5 loss in Chicago, he played 41 minutes, scored a team-high 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting and gave out seven assists with no turnovers. In the series, Teague is averaging 17 points on 55.7-percent shooting and 4.4 assists, and has turned the ball over five times. He has played Rose, a summer basketball opponent since they were eighth-graders, nose to nose.
"He's playing against the MVP, so he has his hands full, but he's holding his own," Johnson said.
He has attacked the basket with ferocity, vexing the Bulls with his quickness and his teardrop shot. Drew praised Teague for effectively adjusting his speed. In the regular season, Teague was constantly full speed, which led to turnovers.
"Jeff has taken a big step," Drew said.
In the regular season, Teague sat behind Mike Bibby and then Hinrich, whose right hamstring strain at the end of the first-round series against Orlando provided opportunity for Teague. Drew often kept a tight leash on Teague, who averaged 5.2 points on 13.8 minutes per game. In 12 games, Drew never let him off the bench.
Drew was disappointed in Teague when he didn't challenge Bibby for the starting job and show game-to-game consistency, though Drew didn't make it easy by varying his minutes. In the series against Orlando, Teague appeared in two of the six games.
"I just hope that now he's put this string together that he will look at it and he won't look back," Drew said.
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