The Hawks have been getting quite a bit of excellent point guard play lately.
Since Jan. 1, the duo of Jeff Teague and Dennis Schröder has combined to average 26.3 points, 11.7 assists, and 2.3 steals per game. They are also shooting a combined 43.4% from the field, 37.1% from three and 87.9% from the free throw line.
The two young ballhandlers are dominating the league with their drive-and-kick games.
Among players who have played 40 or more games this season, the pair ranks 1st and 4th in points per 48 minutes on drives to the rim. (Some dudes named Russell Westbrook, James Harden and LeBron James rank 2nd, 3rd and 5th, respectively.)
I asked Teague this week if the and Schröder share strategies during games.
"They play us differently," Teague said, before noting the tactics of the big men who cover them in pick-and-roll defenses.
"When he's in the game, a lot of the time he's in there with backup guys who play a little more aggressively. They hedge and stuff. A lot of times when I'm in the game, it's more (often) bigger guys who fall back. So they play us differently."
"When he sees something open or anything, he tells me. He'll be like, 'You know you can drive it', or 'Shoot the pull-up', and I tell him the same things. We try to help each other on the floor. Last game (against the Rockets), we were in together. That was pretty fun."
Whether it happens in tandem or one at a time, watching these two do their work has been fun for Hawks fans all season long.
MINI-POWER RANKINGS FOR THE UPCOMING WEEK
In the past week, the Hawks topped the Rockets and Cavaliers, then lost to the 76ers. Go figure.
In any case, the week saw them pad their lead in the East to 10.5 games, while building the Southeast Division lead to a stout 14.5 games. Atlanta also became the first team this season to lock up a playoff bert.
The Hawks have games this week against:
Sacramento (Monday | 7:30 PM | Sleep Train Arena | SportSouth, 92.9 The Game | Get Tickets)
Denver (Wednesday | 9:00 PM | Pepsi Center | SportSouth, 92.9 The Game)
Phoenix (Friday | 10:00 PM | U.S. Airways Arena | SportSouth, 92.9 The Game)
Los Angeles (Sunday | 9:30 PM | Staples Center | SportSouth, 92.9 The Game)
1. Atlanta: The loss to the 76ers may have cost the Hawks a chance at leaping back to the top of most power rankings this week, but it earned valuable rest for DeMarre Carroll, Paul Millsap, and Kyle Korver.
2. Phoenix: Twin brothers Markieff and Marcus Morris look a lot alike so get prepped now: Markieff wears jersey #11, while Marcus sports the #15 jersey. Phoenix has a new look after trading away point guards Goran Dragic and Isaiah Thomas and bringing in Brandon Knight from the Bucks.
3. Denver: Less than a week after being installed as interim head coach, Melvin Hunt has the Nuggets playing even faster than they did before -- and it has translated to improved play.
4. Sacramento: The Kings are still a work in progress. Since hiring George Karl as head coach in mid February, Sacramento has allowed a league-worst 107.2 points per 100 possessions.
5. Los Angeles: For Sunday's game against the Mavericks, the Lakers started a lineup of Jordan Clarkson, Wayne Ellington, Wesley Johnson, Tarik Black and Jordan Hill. 30 years ago, the Lakers started Magic Johnson, Byron Scott, James Worthy, Kurt Rambis and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Advantage: 30 years ago.
MATCHUP TO WATCH
Al Horford vs. DeMarcus Cousins. A complete contrast in styles: Horford, the cool, precise veteran tactician against Cousins, an exciting, excitable dynamo. If the Hawks rebound well and push the pace Monday, it may help get Cousins out of his comfort zone.
SOMETHING SEEN...
The two players who were tasked with guarding LeBron James Friday also managed to hook up on the game's sauciest offensive play. Here, DeMarre Carroll tosses a long lob to Kent Bazemore, who catches, adjusts on the fly, and flips in a soft reverse layup.
...AND SOMETHING HEARD
"We'll shower up, put on our nice clothes, and hopefully look presentable. It's a great day for Dominique. I'm excited for him." -- A smiling Mike Budenholzer, on quickly exiting the Philips Arena practice court to get upstairs for the ceremony at which Dominique Wilkins' statue was unveiled. When Wilkins returned from a season in Greece to join the 1996-97 San Antonio Spurs, Budenholzer was there too as a first-year assistant coach.
INJURY REPORT
Thabo Sefolosha is out with a right calf strain. He is five weeks into an absence that was estimated to last 6 to 8 weeks. He is listed as out for Monday vs. Sacramento.
Pero Antic sprained an ankle in the Cavaliers game and sat out the 76ers game. He is listed as probable for the game against the Kings.
ABSURD STAT
With a 20-9 road record, the Hawks are the only team in the NBA that hasn't incurred double-digit losses yet.
Story by KL ChouinardTwitter: @AnaheimAmigos