Atlanta Hawks: Rookie Jordan Crawford can score but . . .
JC2 scored at Xavier and he's scoring in the NBA presason. (John Biever/SI)
The preseason has shown that Hawks rookie Jordan Crawford is, as advertised, a scorer.
After three games, he’s fourth in the league with 21 points per game and the leading scorer among rookies. Yeah, he’s playing crazy minutes–break it down per 48 minutes and he drops down to 64th in preseason scoring– but he’s shooting 48 percent.
That’s nothing but good news for the Hawks, who need to develop young players for a time when their “core” philosophy runs its course. But it’s not so valuable now because of the way Atlanta’s roster is built. As it stands, Crawford actually would be more valuable to the Hawks if he were a stopper rather than a scorer (and better still if he were three inches taller and played small forward).
The Hawks don’t lack for guards who can score. J.J. is an All-Star scorer. Jamal is a Sixth Man Award scorer. Bibby isn’t a dynamic scorer but spot him up at the 3-point line and he will score.
The way Crawford could differentiate himself from those players is to become an effective defender. Then he would have a specific role off the bench this season with the Hawks not losing anything offensively and maybe even realizing a net gain.
That’s going to take some time.
“My challenge with him is defensively,” L.D. said. “He needs to take more of a challenge. Every rookie that comes in the league, that is where they have to establish themselves first so they can send out the message that they are not going to be a liability on the defensive end. He can score the ball. We all know we can do that.”
JC2 already has gotten a taste of what it’s like to defend the perimeter in the NBA. He’s banged against hard screens set by big men while chasing the likes of O.J. Mayo, Rip Hamilton, Ben Gordon, Nick Young, and Kirk Hinrich.
The constant motion and contact is a physical challenge.
“More importantly, good defensive players anticipate the action before it happens,” L.D. said. “His tendency if he is away from the ball is to relax. He has to get better at being ready to defend. If I am watching our last two games, if I’m the opponent, that would be a glaring thing I would see right off the bat. His tendency on the weak side is to relax, therefore he becomes an easy target to screen.
“What I am trying to work with him on is, first of all, the mindset. You can’t relax on defense. Your mindset has to be to defend for 18, 19, 20 seconds. The minute you relax, you get popped with a screen and now the separation takes place and now you are scrambling.”
L.D. showed JC2 clips of times that’s happened to him in the preseason and he said the rookie was receptive. For Crawford to get better on defense, L.D. said “the instincts have to kick in and the basketball savvy has to kick in” but he also has to see situations more often so he can anticipate them.
As an example, L.D. said a point guard should know that when his man dribbles to the wing, there’s a high probability the play is a pick-and-roll. The defender should be prepared to execute his defensive coverage before the play happens but (understandably) JC2 isn’t to that point yet.
“I kid around with him and tell him at Xavier they just wanted him to score and defense became secondary,” L.D. said. “Whereas here it’s got to be the flip side. He has got to be thinking defense. I know he can score. He’s got to get better defensively.”
Injury report
Bibby (back) didn’t practice today and is questionable to play tomorrow vs. the Hornets. Teague is out. Jamal, Twin, Mo and Marvin all practiced and are expected to play. Al said his ankle is getting stronger and he plans to play more minutes . . .
Word is the return of more regulars has meant spirited practices the last two days. The second team won today’s scrimmage 18-6 with Jamal leading the way.
“Intense,” Al said. “The two best practices this year, really. Guys are really getting after it. It’s been getting heated out there but that’s what it’s all about. That is showing signs of us getting better and caring, and that’s encouraging to me.” . . .
No news on extension negotiations between Al’s reps and the Hawks.
“We are still talking to the team,” he said. “I just hope it gets done.”
They’ve got until Nov. 1.
MC
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187 comments Add your comment
MsDee
October 16th, 2010
8:11 pm
Do anybody know if the Hawks will be online?
jason
October 16th, 2010
8:16 pm
i tried but it siad the video wasnt up
MsDee
October 16th, 2010
8:17 pm
Yeah, I noticed that too
drmaryb (*_*)
October 16th, 2010
8:26 pm
LOL!
Ms. Dee,
Game Time is 830 PM. It’s not time yet?
Down Girl … LOL!
Hopefully it will come up at Game Time.
Too Funny …. Hawks Fans are a rabid bunch …
westga
October 16th, 2010
8:26 pm
on the box score they have J Crawford and J Crawford. that is going to be confusing!
westga
October 16th, 2010
8:28 pm
game is on right now drmaryb. listen on audio feed from NO.
Rev in Tampa
October 16th, 2010
8:30 pm
westga, no worries. You can tell who Jordan is by who scores the most points!
westga
October 16th, 2010
8:30 pm
9-4 Atl run!
westga
October 16th, 2010
8:32 pm
oh oh. 5-0 NO run.
drmaryb (*_*)
October 16th, 2010
8:33 pm
LOL! Dwight got a technical for complaining after 3rd Foul called blocking
Noah on the base-line in beginning 3rd Qrtr.
Magic is Killing the Bulls!
23 – 51 half time score.
25 – 55 now. 30 pt lead
Where is Ken S. He called the Bulls out! Not better than Hawks!
cp
October 16th, 2010
8:33 pm
smh well it looks like atdhe removed the game.
jerrywest
October 16th, 2010
8:35 pm
radio link?
westga
October 16th, 2010
8:37 pm
nba audio leage pass.
it listed the NO Ind game from yesterday so I clicked on NO and 10 min later the hawks game came on.
Rev in Tampa
October 16th, 2010
8:40 pm
Now that the game has started, can anybody tell me where to find it televised online?
westga
October 16th, 2010
8:40 pm
audio league pass is free unlike video league pass. just have to sign up if not already.
westga
October 16th, 2010
8:41 pm
game is almost at half time rev.
drmaryb (*_*)
October 16th, 2010
8:42 pm
Respect The Game – Technicals!
That’s what the commentators are calling the Dwight
Technical called against Noah.
These refs ain’t playin’.
westga
October 16th, 2010
8:43 pm
Marvin with 3 at buzzer to half time!
westga
October 16th, 2010
8:47 pm
13-0 run by Hawks to end 1st half. 43-37 hawks lead
The Truth
October 16th, 2010
8:48 pm
We may have to call Marvin the difference this year. He is showing the Hawks how much they missed him. 10 pts 4 rebs 2 ast in 16:31 min. JJ leads all scores with 12 pts
The Truth
October 16th, 2010
8:50 pm
Hawks are playing much better defense tonight (at least for now: @ half)
westga
October 16th, 2010
8:51 pm
Marvin 5 for 5 from the line too.
truly1
October 16th, 2010
8:53 pm
whats up with bibby he is not puttin any numbers up
The Truth
October 16th, 2010
8:54 pm
Defense picked-up with the starters in the game late in the 2nd. TO’s even @ 10 (still too many though)
westga
October 16th, 2010
8:57 pm
Bib mus be saving himself for the playoffs.
Big Ray
October 16th, 2010
8:59 pm
Wish I could see this game.
Glad to hear practices have gone better.
LD is being realistic in the case of Jordan Crawford. The kid is a more natural 2 than he is a 1, and that’s all the man is saying.
In the meantime, I’m curious as to whether or not an extension gets done with Horford, how Jamal looks when he gets back on the court, etc…
Rev in Tampa
October 16th, 2010
9:00 pm
81-43 at the end of 3 quarters in Orlando. Chicago is looking disoriented.
northcyde
October 16th, 2010
9:13 pm
3 turnovers each by JJ and Jamal. JJ has become a preseason turnover machine all of a sudden. I guess he’s forcing too many passes.
I’ll assume that Jamal is playing the point for the 2nd unit, and is simply trying to do too much, as the cause for his turnovers.
drmaryb (*_*)
October 16th, 2010
9:14 pm
Rev in Tampa
I know, I am watching that game too.
Bulls aren’t impressive at all, like KenS said, no way they
are a better team than Hawks! Not since MJ left really.
But, as usual, the pundits have them ahead of us in the
Power Rankings? Go Figure!
My only concern are the Magic, Heat and Boston now.
We still should do no worse than 3 Seed!
westga
October 16th, 2010
9:14 pm
Jamal ran some with 1st team too. in place of Bibby.
i_am_soulstar
October 16th, 2010
9:17 pm
Man I hope Marvy Marv’s getting it in like this during the regular season.
MsDee
October 16th, 2010
9:18 pm
I think the reason JJ is making so many TO’s is because he just found out that he IS NOT the baby’s father!
i_am_soulstar
October 16th, 2010
9:21 pm
Lol @ MsDee,
That ain’t right
westga
October 16th, 2010
9:22 pm
Smoove just got tech for yakkin at ref. capt can’t do that!
Najeh Davenpoop
October 16th, 2010
9:27 pm
Chicago is missing Boozer. The Hawks are missing Teague. New Orleans is missing West. The results of these games mean nothing. The only thing that matters is how well the players are picking up and buying into Larry Drew’s schemes on offense and defense, and unfortunately there’s no way to know that for sure without actually being able to watch the games.
Big Ray
October 16th, 2010
9:28 pm
Out comes Jamal, back in the pocket goes Jordan. The good news: Jamal is playing like he started to when he first came here – passing the ball instead of taking all the shots.
Maybe Drew won’t do like Woody did, and tell him to quit passing it and start scoring. Well, that’s how I saw it, anyway.
drmaryb (*_*)
October 16th, 2010
9:29 pm
Captain Krunch!
Captain Krunch will learn, this new rule is called:
“Respect the Game!”
Dwight just got one too earlier for the same thing.
I like this rule though, it will make Josh a much better player
and it will force him to get back on defense.
His wife will get tired of him paying them 1K fines real quick!
Najeh Davenpoop
October 16th, 2010
9:29 pm
And I’m happy to see Marvin being productive, but not if it is at the expense of Al Horford getting touches. 12 shot attempts for Marvin and 5 for Horford isn’t the ideal way to distribute shot attempts for this team.
westga
October 16th, 2010
9:31 pm
every game is different. you gotta go to the open man. Marv must be it tonite.
Big Ray
October 16th, 2010
9:31 pm
Bibby doesn’t act like a man who wants to remain a starter.
Judging by the boxscore, Marvin is still looking quite good (and comfortable) on the floor. But as others say, this has to translate to the regular season or it’s same ol’, same ol’.
westga
October 16th, 2010
9:34 pm
cp3 is not putting up any nimbers tonite either.
Big Ray
October 16th, 2010
9:36 pm
Northcyde ,
My guess is a combination of forced passes and guys not quite getting to the spot that the pass is supposed to be going. Joe is not historically a turnover machine. At the same time, we have to remember that he was getting his assists from being THE main ball handler every game, and from isolation sets. He’s been away from the type of offense that requires passing the ball from totally different sets, for years.
Najeh ,
Last I heard MC say, Horford is still not 100%, which may be limiting his mobility. That might explain the lack of touches, as they have to work him back in slowly. I know I don’t want him starting the season any less than 100%. And if this serves to help get Mavin back in a groove as well, then it doesn’t bother me too much. Otherwise, I’d be barking about it, too. Said another way, I don’t want to see Marvin’s production increase at Horford’s expense unless dude is getting us a steady 18 ppg… in the regular season, that is . Even then, I also want at least 6 rpg and some steady defense. Otherwise, keep feeding the all-star pivot man.
Big Ray
October 16th, 2010
9:37 pm
I’m beginning to think that Josh Powell is the newer, shorter version of Lorenzen Wright.
He seems to get as many fouls as he does rebounds.
drmaryb (*_*)
October 16th, 2010
9:38 pm
Marvin has to string together 15 games before I drink his
Hunch-Punch.
I am very proud of his first two games played though.
I hope seeing his name on the trading block has lit a fire and
Maybe the whole team was just ready for a new voice too.
Seems that way, seems they tuned Mr. Woodson out last
season. I sure hope they run through a brick wall for Coach
Drew this season. I don’t Joe getting less touches, he isn’t
paid per basket.
I like the balanced scoring of Boston, where the Big Three
averaged like 15 pts per game. That’s ball sharing to me and
moves us closer to The Championship Ring.
westga
October 16th, 2010
9:38 pm
Smoove is missing a lot of shots. the hand must be bothering him. he’s a trooper.
Big Ray
October 16th, 2010
9:40 pm
CP3 is probably still on the mend. Bibby is on the decline.
Here is what I don’t like about this game, more than anything else: Hornets don’t have much of a front line. Yet, they are holding a decent advantage on us in rebounds.
Big Ray
October 16th, 2010
9:41 pm
Drmaryb ,
Well said, Sista…well said.
Big Ray
October 16th, 2010
9:42 pm
Heh. If I was CP3, I’d be depressed just by looking at who I have to play with. LOL…sorry, but it’s the truth…
Big Ray
October 16th, 2010
9:44 pm
Both teams shooting like crap, but Joe Johnson is a bright spot for us. I’ll take the 3 turnovers, even in a tight game, with shooting like that. Of course, as long as the turnovers aren’t “end of a tight game” type, that is.
drmaryb (*_*)
October 16th, 2010
9:44 pm
* I don’t mind Joe getting less touches …