As the third point guard in a rotation featuring a former MVP and a seasoned NBA veteran, Marquis Teague has been somewhat of a forgotten man this preseason. After a promising showing in Las Vegas during the NBA Summer League, Teague appeared to show vast improvements in terms of being able to run an offense and was expected to have a somewhat increased role going into his second campaign with the Bulls.
“I’m confident in my ability,” Teague said during the team’s media day. “I’m always going to have my confidence, no matter if I’m playing a lot or not playing at all. You’ve got to keep your confidence. If you’re scared out there, you’re not going to be successful at all. If you’re not confident in yourself, how is your coach going to be confident in you?”
Well, if the first two preseason games have been any indication, it doesn’t seem like Tom Thibodeau has much confidence in his young, still developing point guard.
The bulk of the backup minutes at the point have gone to Kirk Hinrich in Chicago's two preseason outings against the Indiana Pacers and Memphis Grizzlies. Even more surprising is Teague has seen far less court time than rookies Tony Snell and Erik Murphy thus far.
Teague is averaging nearly seven minutes, compared to 20 minutes for both Snell and Murphy.
Usually coaches use exhibition contests to assess players and give extended minutes to guys who normally wouldn’t see the same kind of action during the regular season. But that hasn't been the case with Teague.
Maybe with Derrick Rose coming back and Hinrich being a veteran, it’s nothing more than an odd man out situation. Or perhaps it's the fact the young point guard still doesn't have a jumpshot that is either reliable or one he has confidence in. But whatever the case, the lack of minutes he's seen the first two preseason games says a lot.
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So even though he spent all summer in Chicago working out and working on his game at the Berto Center, it appears that Marquis Teague still has a long way to go in earning the trust of his coach.
