Milwaukee Bucks Chasing Jeff Teague Again?
By Adam McGee
Would He Fit As A Buck?
It doesn’t feel like an understatement to say that Teague could help the Bucks to transform their offense in a hurry. Milwaukee is always looking for ways to stretch out their offense to create better spacing and more importantly to create greater opportunities for everybody on the floor.
First of all, Teague’s ability to knock down the long ball, as well as regularly making mid-range twos would help to open up the court for the Bucks in some very obvious ways.
His speed could also stretch opponents out if the Bucks were to push the pace in transition though. Many have called for the Bucks to play at a higher pace, as when they play faster in short bursts it’s very difficult to stop them. Teague would be the ideal point guard if the Bucks decided to move in that direction.
Whether taking the ball to the rim himself, dropping off to runners like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jabari Parker, or kicking out to Khris Middleton in the corner, there are a variety of ways in which Teague could boost Milwaukee in that department.
Teague is also accustomed to playing with one of the league’s best passing big men in the form of Al Horford, and that could allow him to bring some new offensive wrinkles out in Greg Monroe‘s game.
The Hawks do a great job of disguising cuts out of pick-and-rolls, and dating back to Josh Smith‘s days as a Hawk or more recently with Paul Millsap, Atlanta has loved to go to Al Horford via high post passes, only to have Teague cut back door providing an easy dime for his center.
That sort of action would certainly not be beyond a combination of Monroe, Parker and Antetokounmpo, and as deadly as it could be with Teague, it’s something they should be looking to run more of with Michael Carter-Williams regardless.
On the defensive end, Teague isn’t exactly known as one of the league’s best defenders, but he’s certainly serviceable. He’s become attentive on-ball and is one of the NBA’s better pick-pockets. There aren’t many better ways to energize a building than a Teague transition dunk started off by a sneaky steal.
That’s not to mention that although he’s slight in stature, Teague has exceptional timing. This pays dividends when it comes to defense as the Hawks guard is one of the best chasedown block specialists in the league. That might be hard to believe, but take a look for yourself.
Teague is not a lockdown defender liable to bring back the Bucks defense of last year by any means, but he’s so accustomed to constant off-the-ball movement on offense that if Milwaukee was ever to really focus in on a heavy switching defense again, he wouldn’t be fazed.
Next: How The Bucks Can Get Him?