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Jamal Crawford

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» Wednesday, January 23 2013

The move has spawned the Twitter handle @JCrossover and a legion of nicknames from his teammates. Chauncey Billups calls Crawford "The Mechanic" because he's always fixing people up with his ability to create space for jumpers or drives toward the basket. Grant Hill dubs his array of moves "The Barbecue Pit" because Crawford is constantly cooking his defender. "To say it's extremely impressive is an understatement," said Hall of Fame point guard Isiah Thomas, one of the inspirations for Crawford's crossover dribble. "You want to find a better word in your vocabulary to express how extraordinary his ballhandling skills are in terms of being able to get anywhere out on the floor that he needs to get to and also to create a shot. His creativity in terms of handling the basketball is off the charts." Los Angeles Times

 

» Monday, January 21 2013

 

» Sunday, January 20 2013

 

» Friday, January 18 2013

Crawford is averaging 16.7 points off the bench and has the third-highest true shooting percentage of his career (54.6 percent). The top teams in the league often flirt with putting three members of their team in the All-Star Game, and the Clippers currently sit a half game behind the Thunder for the best record in basketball. With Paul and Griffin being voted into the All-Star Game, could Crawford find his way onto what should be a loaded Western Conference team? "Absolutely," Griffin declared. "He's got to be the leading scorer off the bench in the NBA. He's been as big a part of this team as anybody. He should be an All-Star." “I absolutely think he's Sixth Man [of the Year], and he should be an All-Star this year," teammate Chauncey Billups said after the game. "I really do. If you look at the role that he's playing on our team and we're one of the best teams in basketball, so it's not like he's just playing well and it doesn't matter. He's making a huge effect on a good team. CBSSports.com

This has been Crawford's role for a few years now. Ever since going from the Golden State Warriors to the Atlanta Hawks in 2009, he has been coming off the bench to light up the scoreboard. After having a successful two-year run with the Hawks in that role, he moved on to the Portland Trail Blazers and had his worst shooting year in eight seasons. So what was the reason for the bad play in Portland? "I just thought it was a bad fit, honestly." Crawford admitted. "I was playing point guard the whole year, but no excuse; I didn't play well -- no excuse whatsoever. But this year, I came in ready and our team was ready to have a good season." CBSSports.com

 

» Monday, January 14 2013

Not only are J.R. Smith and former Knick Jamal Crawford leading candidates for the Sixth Man Award, but they're also being talked about as first-time All-Stars, with voting coming to a close on Monday. While Smith is averaging 17.0 points and 2.9 assists for the 24-13 Knicks, Crawford is at 16.2 points and 2.5 assists for the 28-9 Clippers. Both guards are also good friends, and they occasionally tweet each other. "Jamal and I have a unique relationship," Smith told ESPNNewYork.com recently. "Even when I was in Denver, he was in Atlanta, we used to talk all the time, so it's not so much about Sixth Man. It's just about how our team is doing, how we're helping them out." ESPN.com

 

» Thursday, January 10 2013

You know, I've noticed something strange regarding you this season. I've watched you for a long time and have seen the way you've always played, but for some reason this season... Jamal Crawford: (laughs) I know what you're about to say, but go ahead. GQ: Well, to me it's funny because it seems like now all of a sudden everyone's talking about your ball-handling and your style of play. Jamal Crawford: (laughs) It's like I just started playing this year. You know, I've been doing these things for years, but it really shows you the difference between winning and losing. When you're losing it's like you're not really on the map, and people don't even pay attention to it. But being in L.A. and winning, people really start to take notice. It's weird that it happens like that, because all of a sudden your name becomes larger. You know, I'm in my 13th season. I can't think of anybody whose name has gotten bigger at that point, because by then you're pretty much established. But it's been fun. It's been a wild ride. And I still think the best is yet to come. GQ.com

To me the most amazing stat—and this kind of speaks to what a wild ride it's been for you—is that you've had a different head coach every year of your career. Jamal Crawford: Actually, I've had sixteen head coaches. That's, like, unbelievable, right? GQ: It's incredible. Jamal Crawford: And you've got to figure, every coach has a different way they see you fitting on their team, a different way they want to use you. I'm glad that I'm here with Coach Del Negro, and we'll get him locked up long-term and keep this group together for a while. GQ.com

 

» Tuesday, January 8 2013

 

» Sunday, January 6 2013

As Jamal Crawford lingered in the Clippers' locker room late Friday night, two children darted across the carpet while two others swiveled in oversized chairs in front of Matt Barnes' locker. Crawford sat on a counter contemplating the scene and a season that has seemed like child's play for the veteran shooting guard. "I haven't had this much fun," he said, "since high school." Los Angeles Times

Bryant has endorsed Crawford for sixth man of the year since early November, praise that Crawford said was trumped only by teammates Chris Paul and Blake Griffin lobbying for him to be selected for next month's All-Star Game in Houston. "It's weird to even be coming off the bench and hear All-Star talk," Crawford said. "That's pretty cool." Los Angeles Times

 

» Friday, January 4 2013

Jamal Crawford's play this season has impressed many players around the league. Among them, Kobe Bryant. "He gets my nomination for sixth man of the year," Bryant said of Crawford after Thursday's Lakers practice. It's quite an endorsement, though Crawford's numbers speak pretty well for themselves. Los Angeles Times

 

» Tuesday, January 1 2013

 

» Monday, December 31 2012

Crawford, who has played for 16 coaches in the NBA said Del Negro has navigated some tough waters in dealing with the team's talented, deep roster. "Everybody here has a decent body of work in some way shape or form," Crawford said. "They've proven something somewhere in the NBA. With that is a confidence that a player has, and there are egos involved. "For him to be able to manage that and put people in the right positions and use people to their strengths, he deserves a lot of credit." Orange County Register

 

» Friday, December 28 2012

 

» Wednesday, December 26 2012

 

» Friday, December 14 2012

 

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