Atlanta Hawks: Jamal Crawford’s ‘instant offense’ on slow drip
Jamal is finding it tougher to attack this season. (AP Photo)
First, Jamal wanted me to pass along a message to my blog people: He reads all of your comments and he still loves you all. Killin’ em with kindness, I guess.
With that out of the way, it’s been clear that the instant offensive jolt Jamal regularly provided under Woody has gone missing at times as L.D. moves to a more structured approach. Jamal is an instinctive scorer, adept at having the ball in his hands and attacking off the dribble, and now he’s being asked to play off the ball and set the table more often.
The Hawks have found more offensive balance than they’ve had in the past with L.D.’s approach. But for Jamal it’s meant a move away from the comfort zone he enjoyed last season.
“I think it’s some adjusting for him,” L.D. said. “Because he is such a good one-on-one players, I am trying to put him in more situations where he is running a lot more pick-and-rolls. I sat him down and told him he is playing very unselfishly, and he is making plays and getting the ball to his teammates. And he is showing to be a willing passer.
“When he and Joe play like that, I think that makes us a better ball club. Now teams can’t key in on individual guys to play one-on-one and they’ve got their defense set.”
After a spike in Jamal’s shooting percentage last season, it’s slipped back down to his career mark (though he was quick to note that with such a small sample size, a few good shooting games would pull it back up). His true shooting percentage hasn’t dipped as much because he’s taking and making more free throws. Jamal is taking about four less shots per game so far (though his attempts per minutes played are actually up from 2.2 to 2.9), his assist percentage is up slightly and his turnovers rate is up significantly.
I’d argue that, based on observation, Jamal also has shown more willingness to defend; he said L.D. told him the same thing. It’s not reflected by the on-court/off-court numbers (or by his lackluster effort against Dallas Saturday, though he was hardly alone among the guards) and I’m not saying he’s suddenly locking anyone down. But I’ve seen him more often aggressively fight through screens, keep his energy up throughout possessions and make up ground to challenge shooters.
What I haven’t seen much is the 2009-10, instant offense version of Jamal, and that’s something the Hawks could use as their bench continues to sag against better competition.
“I have got to put him in more opportunities where he gets more shots because he is a shotmaker,” L.D. said. “I’ve already sat him down and told him that. But he’s adjusting well. As I told him, he’s a guy coming off the bench that I need the instant offense, but I also need good decision-making. He has shown that he is committed to that.”
MC
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376 comments Add your comment
bigdave
November 22nd, 2010
7:35 pm
40-12. wow
terrell
November 22nd, 2010
7:36 pm
We need a “new voice” my a.. We need some new players.
cp
November 22nd, 2010
7:36 pm
absolutely disgusting the dam pg gets his own rebound while our bigs stand there looking smdh
Najeh Davenpoop
November 22nd, 2010
7:37 pm
“Shaq on choosing #Celtics over #Hawks: “These guys are one step away. But I love this town. I’ve had home in Buckhead for 15 yrs” 19 minutes ago via TweetDeck ”
For those of you who still think players don’t want to play in this city, it ain’t ever been about the city or the fans. It’s always been about the organization. The Braves are a well-run organization, and players want to play here. The Falcons have become a well-run organization, and players want to play here. The Hawks and Thrashers are a joke, thanks to the DASG. It’s that simple.
Sautee
November 22nd, 2010
7:37 pm
Let’s see, at this rate the final score will be 156-52.
Not too bad, eh?
Melvin
November 22nd, 2010
7:38 pm
Forget being a Hawks fans, that 1st qtr was an embarrassment to any fan of basketball…
bigdave
November 22nd, 2010
7:38 pm
“For those of you who still think players don’t want to play in this city, it ain’t ever been about the city or the fans. It’s always been about the organization.”
preach.
cp
November 22nd, 2010
7:39 pm
if this doesn’t get Sund of his azz then i don’t know what will. i blamed Woodrow for a lot of things but i always maintained he wasn’t the only problem and that we needed more talent but ol Sund thinks we are a top 4 team smdh
Wabe
November 22nd, 2010
7:39 pm
Stop going to damn games then…
Seriously, who the hell keeps paying to watch these games?
On top of that, they label these games vs. Boston/Miami/Lakers “premium games”…
It’s only premium if there are two good teams going at it. Not going to pay the extra bucks to go watch the Hawks get trashed by the Celtics.
How do you think those fans that payed to go watch tonights game feel?
Premium money for a very “premium-less” performance from the Hawks.
Pathetic.
jean
November 22nd, 2010
7:39 pm
this coach should die he took away what hawks do best go one on one. Joe johnson just f’d this team with his contract stuck on 2nd round and out for next 4 or 5 years and maybe this year a first round losss with this joke of coach
Samuel
November 22nd, 2010
7:39 pm
I like that new “motion offense” and that great “no switching” and accountability on defense. Wonder what kind of “slick talk” will LD come up with to fool you Woody Haters now.
You guys deserve this.
bigdave
November 22nd, 2010
7:40 pm
Josh… lets go.. i know you care.
Rev in Tampa
November 22nd, 2010
7:40 pm
Does the NBA have a mercy rule?
bigdave
November 22nd, 2010
7:40 pm
put some elbows in chest..
exactly.
Sautee
November 22nd, 2010
7:40 pm
So far, this year, it seems to be the Lowlight Factory.
lukas
November 22nd, 2010
7:41 pm
Let’s see the Crawfords show
bigdave
November 22nd, 2010
7:41 pm
threw the elbow..
Rev in Tampa
November 22nd, 2010
7:42 pm
Jordan Crawford is a microwave oven!
Sautee
November 22nd, 2010
7:43 pm
Wordpress is driving me crazy. It says I’ve already posted my last post when it doesn’t appear on the blog.
What I said was that this year we should call it the Lowlight Factory.
jean
November 22nd, 2010
7:43 pm
damn i miss woody i hate seeing teague every game
Najeh Davenpoop
November 22nd, 2010
7:43 pm
“if this doesn’t get Sund of his azz then i don’t know what will. i blamed Woodrow for a lot of things but i always maintained he wasn’t the only problem and that we needed more talent but ol Sund thinks we are a top 4 team smdh”
Co-sign
bigdave
November 22nd, 2010
7:44 pm
this aint coaching people.. this is plain effort and passion out of players..
Woodson wasnt the answer @ head coach, that was clear..
cp
November 22nd, 2010
7:44 pm
damn Samuel he is not here anymore. You act worse than a scorned lover over Woodson . we get it you love him damn
lukas
November 22nd, 2010
7:45 pm
Samuel,
Even that he is not here anymore, Woody is a HUGE reason of why this team is so flaw. He needed to go.
Najeh Davenpoop
November 22nd, 2010
7:45 pm
Jamal and Marvin for Prince, Ben Wallace, and Chris Wilcox. I’m going to keep posting this until it happens.
bigdave
November 22nd, 2010
7:45 pm
just looking like the wrong combination of talent and mentality.
Najeh Davenpoop
November 22nd, 2010
7:46 pm
“I like that new “motion offense” and that great “no switching” and accountability on defense. Wonder what kind of “slick talk” will LD come up with to fool you Woody Haters now.
You guys deserve this.”
LMAO. Going from bad to worse doesn’t mean they should have stuck with bad. It means they should have become good.
bigdave
November 22nd, 2010
7:48 pm
lol @ Jeff to Al
(jumping up and down) “shoot n.. ga shoot”!
Najeh Davenpoop
November 22nd, 2010
7:48 pm
I was actually going to go to this game, but I couldn’t find enough friends who got off work in time to make it to a 7 PM game.
Thank God.
Wabe
November 22nd, 2010
7:48 pm
lmao @ Samuel.
Dude, get over it. You’re beloved Woodrow is gone.
Sautee
November 22nd, 2010
7:48 pm
Samuel,
You said this: “I like that new “motion offense” and that great “no switching” and accountability on defense. Wonder what kind of “slick talk” will LD come up with to fool you Woody Haters now.”
“You guys deserve this.”
LOL Sam, you sound exactly like a jilted lover. Did losing Woody really hurt THAT bad?
Samuel
November 22nd, 2010
7:48 pm
I said all along that Woody had these guys overachieving. Now they are just back down to their real selves and you see what kind of talent we really have.
Samuel
November 22nd, 2010
7:49 pm
Imagine if Boston had their best player. LOL!!
Samuel
November 22nd, 2010
7:50 pm
JJ looks like he just got out of bed. LOL!!
Melvin
November 22nd, 2010
7:50 pm
I like the way Teague play this half…
bigdave
November 22nd, 2010
7:50 pm
Joe.. can you act like you care out there please.. ‘preciate it..
~~MAC-ToWN~~ (Area Code 478 Westside Macon)
November 22nd, 2010
7:51 pm
Pierce ABUSED Joe Johnson
bigdave
November 22nd, 2010
7:51 pm
Josh slowing losing interest in he game.. from lack of touches..
Samuel
November 22nd, 2010
7:52 pm
Does LD have anything other than Black or Grey suits? Dude, you can stop shopping at the thrift store now.
Melvin
November 22nd, 2010
7:52 pm
WTF was that Josh???????
doc
November 22nd, 2010
7:52 pm
rev do you see what well coached teams with depth look like? i dont think the celts have one throw away player. for example, shaq wouldnt have been nirvana but he would be better than all of our bigs except josh and al. also if he was on our bench he wouldnt be on theirs. seven bounds already.
marquis daniels off the bench, going with west, got nate, big baby, j o’neal. the list goes on doesnt it?
~~MAC-ToWN~~ (Area Code 478 Westside Macon)
November 22nd, 2010
7:52 pm
lmao
Najeh Davenpoop
November 22nd, 2010
7:53 pm
“Does LD have anything other than Black or Grey suits? Dude, you can stop shopping at the thrift store now.”
He’s the lowest paid coach in the league, what do you expect?
~~MAC-ToWN~~ (Area Code 478 Westside Macon)
November 22nd, 2010
7:53 pm
man tryin to say Drew look like he works at a funeral home
cp
November 22nd, 2010
7:54 pm
getting absolutely killed on the glass smh
~~MAC-ToWN~~ (Area Code 478 Westside Macon)
November 22nd, 2010
7:54 pm
The Problem = Joe Johnson…..I dont know why he’s strugglin
bigdave
November 22nd, 2010
7:55 pm
rather than then one of those Steve Harvey K&G digs..
Sautee
November 22nd, 2010
7:55 pm
Poor Samuel just cannot get over Woody. Dude, LD didn’t fire him.
Outrebounded by 3 to 1. No wonder we are down 20.
lukas
November 22nd, 2010
7:55 pm
If LD does sit JJ, Bibby, Marvin, and Al for the reminder of the game, it would be an interesting situation: accountability. Sit the weak-minded, play the ones who really want to play (JT0, JC1 & 2, Twin).
Melvin
November 22nd, 2010
7:55 pm
Shaq has Al hearing footsteps….