Atlanta assistant coach Nick Van Exel is attempting to teach Jeff Teague to play with more edge this season.

"We call it 'the dog' in the NBA," Van Exel said. "We are trying to bring that dog out of him."

Teague was Atlanta's first round pick in 2009.

"He's kind of a quiet kid," Van Exel said. "He likes to joke around and have fun. But there are times when somebody makes him mad, and he is just blowing by guys. And we are like, "Man, you've got to to that all the time."

"He can do it. He has those skills. We are thinking about maybe going up to him and making him mad before every game, making up stuff just to get him going."