Are Hawks Better with Dennis at PG?

[Jamaaliver]

My preference is to keep Dennis, he is still only 22 years old and his defense is miles better than Jeff. His defense was always better than Teague's and Dennis is always into the game regardless of how poorly he may play (like the article states above with Teague checking out of games).

100% agree. And it's difficult to argue otherwise. His defense is undeniably superior, and his playmaking is there as well. In January, he's AVG 6+ apg in 21 minutes per game. His per 36 minute averages are right around 20 ppg and 10 assist per game for January thus far...

And he is only 22. He's going to keep improving as he approaches his prime.

At this point, Teague is still the starter based on reputation and past play. But the gap between the two players isn't closing...it's completely shut.


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[ATL Boy]

We need to shop Teague at this year's deadline. Now is the time to get some value for him, especially since that value will diminish if we wait till summer.

[Jamaaliver]

We need to shop Teague at this year's deadline. Now is the time to get some value for him, especially since that value will diminish if we wait till summer.

Any preference what direction to go in regarding a Teague trade?

I would prefer a young forward that can grow into stardom with Dennis. Dario Saric from Philly could be a good fit moving forward. Maybe Gordon Hayward from Utah. Justise Winslow from MIA. Mirotic of Chicago.


Ideally, someone with a solid jumper, above average athleticism and who doesn't need the ball in their hands to be a threat.

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[ATL Boy]

We need to shop Teague at this year's deadline. Now is the time to get some value for him, especially since that value will diminish if we wait till summer.

Any preference what direction to go in regarding a Teague trade?

I would prefer a young forward that can grow into stardom with Dennis. Dario Saric from Philly could be a good fit moving forward. Maybe Gordon Hayward from Utah. Justise Winslow from MIA. Mirotic of Chicago.


Ideally, someone with a solid jumper, above average athleticism and who doesn't need the ball in their hands to be a threat.

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My first call would be to Milwaukee asking for Middleton. If we can't get him, then I'd look to add some youth. Someone that would be able to grow with Dennis, Hardaway, Edy: our players of the future. We need to bolster our pipeline of young players.

[Jamaaliver]

...I'd look to add some youth. Someone that would be able to grow with Dennis, Hardaway, Edy: our players of the future. We need to bolster our pipeline of young players.

Replenish the farm system ATL Braves style? Makes sense....

WAIT!!!!

Did you just call THJ one of our players for the future?!?

Oh my!!!



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[ATL Boy]

Replenish the farm system ATL Braves style? Makes sense....

WAIT!!!!

Did you just call THJ one of our players for the future?!?

Oh my!!!



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Absolutely. Even though he was buried in the D-League this year, we still invested a first round pick in him. Budenholzer won't give up on him after just half a season (he's also been working his way into the NBA rotation lately).

[Jamaaliver]

WAIT!!!!

Did you just call THJ one of our players for the future?!?

Absolutely. Budenholzer won't give up on him after just half a season .

I hope you're right. Cause Bud gave up on Adreian and Bebe a full 19 minutes into their careers.

I do like THJ.

I just think trading a top 20 pick for an injured player coming off a down year was short-sighted.

For the month of January...THJ has the highest net Rating on the team. So at least he's playing better.

[ATL Boy]

Dennis was not good last night, missing his first five three pointers and even prompting Steve Holman to say "for the love of God!" on his fifth miss airball. Just flat out not a good game in any aspect, yet he still played the entire fourth quarter over Teague. What does that mean? Could Coach Bud have found a suitor for Teague? Is he close to trading him? Is Jeff just in the doghouse?

[jayu70]

Dennis was not good last night, missing his first five three pointers and even prompting Steve Holman to say "for the love of God!" on his fifth miss airball. Just flat out not a good game in any aspect, yet he still played the entire fourth quarter over Teague. What does that mean? Could Coach Bud have found a suitor for Teague? Is he close to trading him? Is Jeff just in the doghouse?

That Steve Holman call was funny - I felt his pain. That was exactly what I was thinking. Dennis was just knuckle heading it up in the 3rd. His 4th was a little better.
He played over Teague because he gave a damn on defense, plain and simple.

[Jamaaliver]

Dennis was not good last night, missing his first five three pointers and even prompting Steve Holman to say "for the love of God!" on his fifth miss airball. Just flat out not a good game in any aspect, yet he still played the entire fourth quarter over Teague. What does that mean? Could Coach Bud have found a suitor for Teague? Is he close to trading him? Is Jeff just in the doghouse?

Indeed. DS is so inconsistent. And when he plays like he did last night, it's difficult to even watch without having fits of Josh Smith-rage from a few years back.

The fact that he still played over Teague makes me think Jeff's ankles are really bad right now.

But this also underscores the futility of having three PGs so young. I'd love to be able to turn to a ten year vet like Jameer or Devin Harris when our younger PGs are playing terribly.

A steady, veteran hand right now would be a huge boon to this team. Instead we have Shelvin Mack...who just doesn't give you anything off the bench.

If we're gonna move Teague and turn the team over to Dennis...we HAVE to get a true vet (over 30, ten+ years of experience) as a mentor/platoon mate with Dennis.

[Rip2137]

What you saw was the gap between Schroder and Teague.

Teague, at worse will be a non factor. Dennis at worse will literally lose you games. At their best, both can win you games.

Until Dennis isn't a "he lost you the game" guy, then I don't want him as the starter.

As for Dennis's defense, I hate that people are getting so caught up on the token defense he plays. He and Teague have been bad defensively. Dennis is HORRIBLE off the ball. He is overly aggressive on the man and gets smoked constantly. Teague is, again, a non factor defensively. He falls asleep on plays but not as often as dennis, but what he doesn't do is pressure the ball full court like Dennis does. People see that and say "Wow, Dennis is a good defender". But he really isn't.

This is where you get in trouble trying to look at some advanced stats when guys play on the same team. If you don't think Dennis playing more minutes with Thabo (our best wing defender) and Splitter(clearly getting underrated as a defender around these parts) against 2nd teamers doesn't do something for his defensive +/-....I don't know what to tell you.

All that said, Teague hasn't been good at all. And there in lies the problem. THe point is, Dennis didn't get better, Teague got worse. Dennis is no more ready to be the starting point guard for this team than he was last year. Teague just hasn't played well.

[Jamaaliver]

What you saw was the gap between Schroder and Teague.

...THe point is, Dennis didn't get better, Teague got worse. Dennis is no more ready to be the starting point guard for this team than he was last year. Teague just hasn't played well.

While I don't 100% agree, all of this is reasonable based on what we've seen overall this season

[jayu70]

The difference is I think Dennis can get better, Teague I'm just not sure what his deal is. He is in the prime of his career where he should be on the rise. He's not even as good as last season which I could at least tolerate.

[jayu70]

His ankle may or may not be as issue, but it's his body language and just overall demeanor on the court and on the bench. It appears that he is not even making an effort. Even if he can't do certain things the same way, do other things to impact the game.

[Jamaaliver]

His ankle may or may not be as issue, but it's his body language and just overall demeanor on the court and on the bench. It appears that he is not even making an effort. Even if he can't do certain things the same way, do other things to impact the game.

Looks like it is a health issue related to those ankles:

I’m dealing with an ankle injury. That’s OK. I’ll be back.

Here

He acknowledges the issue, but doesn't attempt to make excuses for it. Well done, Jeffrey.

[Carter99]

Dennis is the future. Hawks should trade Teague while he has value.

Teague has pretty much reached his potential.

[Geaux_Hawks]

I think we are better with Dennis, but a guy like Deron Williams would be nice to have as a starter over Teague just for the sake of having a true veteran presence running the point, and giving Dennis someone to learn from.

Josh was the same way. He had no veteran leadership to really learn from, nor coach to really teach him either. Now we do have Budz, but Dennis still needs that veteran knowledge to absorb from someone who is out there actually playing, and showing him the ropes.

[Jamaaliver]

I think we are better with Dennis, but a guy like Deron Williams would be nice to have as a starter over Teague just for the sake of having a true veteran presence running the point, and giving Dennis someone to learn from.

Josh was the same way. He had no veteran leadership to really learn from, nor coach to really teach him either. Now we do have Budz, but Dennis still needs that veteran knowledge to absorb from someone who is out there actually playing, and showing him the ropes.

Here's hoping Kirk can possibly be that veteran presence Dennis needs moving forward.

Word is Bud was ready to hand the keys to Dennis at the trade deadline.

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[jayu70]

I think we are better with Dennis, but a guy like Deron Williams would be nice to have as a starter over Teague just for the sake of having a true veteran presence running the point, and giving Dennis someone to learn from.

Josh was the same way. He had no veteran leadership to really learn from, nor coach to really teach him either. Now we do have Budz, but Dennis still needs that veteran knowledge to absorb from someone who is out there actually playing, and showing him the ropes.

Here's hoping Kirk can possibly be that veteran presence Dennis needs moving forward.

Word is Bud was ready to hand the keys to Dennis at the trade deadline.
[tweet]https://twitter.com/Chris_Broussard/status/700485441435398144[/tweet]

I think if Bud had gotten the SF he needed in the trade Teague he would be gone. The Kirk trade would still likely occur to have Kirk back-up Dennis.

[ATLHawksfan21]

I bet multiple sauces gave ole Broussard the scoop on this one. Teague wouldn't be here if they were ready for Dennis to start. Or we will see Dennis start post all-star break.