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Teague feeling confident in new role with Nets

Since arriving in Brooklyn, Marquis Teague is seeing a little more game action, but not much. Heading into Thursday's contest, Teague had played six games with his new team for an average of 8.4 minutes.

Before facing his former team, though, Teague talked about feeling supported by Nets coach Jason Kidd.

"When I'm in the game, he's letting me make decisions," Teague said. "He's just letting me play, letting me get freedom. I'm confident.

"That's big, trusting you to go out there and make the right plays and just being confident in you. It makes you even more confident in yourself. You're going to go out there and be more aggressive and not worry about the mistakes as much."

The Bulls traded Teague to Brooklyn on Jan. 21 for power forward Toko Shengelia, who is away from the team due to a death in the family.

Teague had some strong moments last year as a rookie, but coach Tom Thibodeau seemed to get frustrated by the slow development of Teague's play-making abilities.

In his new home, Teague has a couple of strong mentors in Kidd and veteran point guard Deron Williams. No one is sure what position Thibodeau played at Salem State, but there's talk he was a 5-foot-11 power forward.

"The stuff (Kidd) is telling you, you know he's been through it, so you've got to listen to it," Teague said. "He's, if not the best point guard, one of the best point guards to play, so you've got to listen to what he's saying."

Not waiting for Rose:

Coach Tom Thibodeau did his best to pour cold water on Derrick Rose's latest suggestion he could return from knee surgery to play late this season.

"To me, that decision was made when it first happened, and it's the right decision," Thibodeau said at Thursday's shootaround. "That's all I think you can do. You look at what your circumstances are. You gather the information, try to make the best decision possible. And for us right now, that's the best decision. Let him focus on his health.

"I mean, for him, he has to focus on rehab; that's what he has done. He's doing well. He's a long ways away from practice, never mind the game. And you've got to remember this guy has been out a long, long time. He may not even get to the practice part this year."

Teague talks Thibs:

Former Bulls guard Marquis Teague didn't say much when asked to compare the coaching styles of Tom Thibodeau and Jason Kidd, but he did speak highly of the season-and-a-half he spent in Chicago.

"Hard work. That's what Thibs teaches. And the fundamentals on the defensive end, that taught me a lot," Teague said. "He knows the game just as good as any coach coaching. So I learned a lot from him, and I appreciate everything he taught me.

"I loved the city, great fans. I loved playing for the team. It's a great group of guys who helped me grow. I was just thankful to be here."

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