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3 Reasons Jeff Teague should remain the starting point guard (and 2 reasons he shouldn’t)

By Justin Pinotti

Photo by Brock Williams-Smith/NBAE via Getty Images)Getty ID: 876911676
Photo by Brock Williams-Smith/NBAE via Getty Images)Getty ID: 876911676 /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – NOVEMBER 15: Jeff Teague #0 of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on during the game against the San Antonio Spurs on November 15, 2017 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – NOVEMBER 15: Jeff Teague #0 of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on during the game against the San Antonio Spurs on November 15, 2017 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

5 ) Jeff Teague should remain the starting point guard….because he’s been good.

I know the style of basketball Jeff Teague plays can be a lightning rod for criticism from Wolves fans, but it’s hard to argue statically that he’s been bad at basketball for us so far in the 2017-18 season.

He’s putting up very good stats in important point guard categories such as:

Assists: 7.5 per game

3PT%: 40%

3Par: .322 (3 point attempt rate)

STL%: 2.6%

Plus we’ve been overall better with him on the court than without him, shown by his net rating of 2.0.

It’s important to remember that Teague is a new player, to a new system, with new teammates, it’s going to take some time for everything to gel. One big criticism of Teague is that he has a tendency to dribble out the shot clock a bit, and while that does seem to be fair, I don’t know that it’s a serious problem. Teague had a lot of success with those Hawks teams that had such a ball-movement-heavy offense they were known as “Spurs-east”.

Part of that, however, is not relying on Teague to run the offense quite so much. He’s best used as kind of a “undersized 2 Guard who is a better ball handler and passer than most 2 Guards.” I suspect we’re working towards that, as we’ve seen that offensive look come up recently.

Jeff Teague has been a positive contributor to the Wolves, and this is all while having somewhat of a slow start adjusting to his new team as well.

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