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
Big Ump
November 22nd, 2010
8:29 pm
I think Samuel have a good point. I know it’s killing some of you all. You dished it out , and now you on the receiving in and it hurt. Like I said Woody gone and LD may be catching up with him soon. There no excuse for the Hawks lack of play. I remember last year mostly everyone said it was the HC fault. Now the same thing happened, so who fault it is now. I would love too see how some of you all will spin this. I was a Woody fan and I’m also LD and a Hawk fan.
Samuel
November 22nd, 2010
8:29 pm
CP,
Cause Woody worked with “D-League talent” for 3 years and when they finally got him some real players, he turned a pathetic franchise around and took them as far as they had the talent to go. They then fired him and brought in a “slick talking” backstabber and the results are what they are.
Najeh Davenpoop
November 22nd, 2010
8:31 pm
“Translation = Atlanta fans are absolutely horrible. smh.”
If refusing to fork over your hard earned money to a billion dollar corporation unless they provide a quality product is being “horrible”, then yes, Atlanta fans are horrible.
doc
November 22nd, 2010
8:31 pm
samuel, blame it on the culture of the askg not ld. that is the point i am making. yes i agree we dont go out and get guys to be competitive so you better get the best coach. it is a league of spenders go to the top usually and non spenders pick up the spoils.
now where is ken s when the reality so many of us expected came down?
Wabe
November 22nd, 2010
8:32 pm
Co-sign Najeh 8:28.
MARIO
November 22nd, 2010
8:33 pm
CMON MARVIN, PLEASE MAN, IM STARTING TO LOSE FAITH
Clyde
November 22nd, 2010
8:34 pm
Everyone is complaining about Jamal but Marvin is flat out sorry. All this dude does is run up and down the court. Its pathetic. He has had enough time to develop and now its time to cut our losses with him.
cp
November 22nd, 2010
8:34 pm
Lmao so now LD is a backstabber because the front office gave him a chance? Dude the more you post the more pathetic it sounds. With you it has always been when they win its because of Woodson but when the lose its because of the players. You would never put the blame on Woodson for anything. Sounds like you would be fine with just making it to the second round and showing no heart or effort as long as Woodson was here smdh
doc
November 22nd, 2010
8:36 pm
count me in najeh unfortunately i only downgraded to one seat this year instead of two while sitting out the playoffs last year. dont spend then neither do i. up it by 10 mil with chills and shaq then i am down there with two seats and screaming. instead i sit at home while old man shaq who some bloggers thought to be over the hill has a double double against the home team. also he is a frigging pro not seeing any of those in white tonight.
Samuel
November 22nd, 2010
8:36 pm
Sautee,
That’s really funny. Teague’s stats don’t qualify for sh_t. Kwame Brown is shooting 66% from the field WTF!!
Najeh Davenpoop
November 22nd, 2010
8:37 pm
Fans in Boston and New York and Philly continue to show up to games when their teams suck, only to boo them at every turn. Fans in Atlanta simply don’t show up when their teams suck. I don’t really see what the big distinction is — if anything, showing up when your team sucks provides less incentive for the ownership to improve.
Clyde
November 22nd, 2010
8:37 pm
Marvin Williams may go down as the worst draft pick in Atlanta Hawks history. And to make things worst the foolish Spirit Group gave the man a new contract last year. SHAKING MY GOT DAM HEAD
Rev in Tampa
November 22nd, 2010
8:37 pm
Jordan must really stink it up on defense for him not to get more playing time.
Najeh Davenpoop
November 22nd, 2010
8:39 pm
Broncos-Chargers is about to start. Huge fantasy football implications for me >>>>> Hawks getting blown out.
cp
November 22nd, 2010
8:39 pm
I’m pretty sure we will hear the same tired azz excuses tonight… “We didn’t come out with energy”…..”We are still learning to trust each other”….. “We didn’t rebound or play defense”…”We will get it together”…..
bigdave
November 22nd, 2010
8:39 pm
thats the element of Jordans game i can appreciate.. can score the ball, but a willing passer..
Clyde
November 22nd, 2010
8:39 pm
The only reason I would hit the Hawks games right now is to see all the groupies.
Najeh Davenpoop
November 22nd, 2010
8:42 pm
“The only reason I would hit the Hawks games right now is to see all the groupies.”
The recession hitting your T-shirt business too?
Rev in Tampa
November 22nd, 2010
8:42 pm
Watching the rest of the game <<<<< playing sudoku on my computer
Samuel
November 22nd, 2010
8:42 pm
Doc,
You know i’m with “My Boy” Shaq til he calls it quits. All this summer, I said Shaq could help this bunch. Most of these same “clowns” said he wasn’t worth it. He’s taking Horford’s lunch money tonight and will til he’s 50.
cp
November 22nd, 2010
8:42 pm
Its looking like a playoff game against the Magic last season smdh
Its time to cut ties with Marvn aka the invisible man.. No more excuses for this dude.. This is his 6th year and i cant honestly say that he is any better than he was his rookie year. He makes absolutely no impact on the court. I don’t know who would take him but its time for him to go. New offense new coach same invisible player
Melvin
November 22nd, 2010
8:43 pm
What did Teague do to get the quick hook?
Wabe
November 22nd, 2010
8:44 pm
You know what…
Argue about what you wish. We all waste our time yappin about the Hawks (who aren’t going anywhere).
F the Hawks till we see some drive in them. Seriously, nothing about their approach/attitude/energy makes me believe they want to win everytime they step out on the court.
It starts from the top, and truthfully, until that gets fixed, it stays at the top.
Atlanta Spirit must go.
The Hawks aren’t going anywhere with that bunch there.
Samuel
November 22nd, 2010
8:44 pm
Shaq: “Where the party at?”. LOL!!!
Wabe
November 22nd, 2010
8:45 pm
Falcons = 8-2 and have a real chance at doing something special this season
Hawks = same ish, different day
Melvin
November 22nd, 2010
8:46 pm
How can anybody complain about the Hawks fans when they are losing by 30pts dang near since the 1st qtr…
doc
November 22nd, 2010
8:47 pm
well for so long i admired the intelligence of LD, however:
“They have a blend of veteran players with the core of their team, and it’s a lot easier to fit in a vet like Shaq,” Hawks coach Larry Drew said. “If we brought him in here, it would be a little tougher. I don’t think his personality would have fit with our guys. It makes more sense to have veteran guys around him.”
is just plain stupid.
rivers:
Celtics coach Doc Rivers said there have been no issues with O’Neal accepting his role on a team with established players and strong personalities.
“We have good veterans,” he said. “We are going to do it our way, nobody else’s way, no matter who comes in the locker room. None of that individual stuff will be tolerated.”
guess we got bad vets.
Najeh Davenpoop
November 22nd, 2010
8:47 pm
Knowshon Moreno is finally healthy and looking pretty good.
~~MAC-ToWN~~ (Area Code 478 Westside Macon)
November 22nd, 2010
8:48 pm
lol Zaza
MARIO
November 22nd, 2010
8:48 pm
SORRY MARVIN WILL NOT BE THE HAWKS WORST DRAFT PICK THEY’VE HAD WORST PICKS BELIEVE IT OR NOT
MARIO
November 22nd, 2010
8:48 pm
BRING BACK ED GRAY AND PRIEST LAUDERDALE
Melvin
November 22nd, 2010
8:48 pm
ZaZa and Mavin need to be traded out ATL ASAP….
Clyde
November 22nd, 2010
8:48 pm
The Spirit Group didn’t want to sign Shaq because the didn’t want to move Horford to power forward. Instead they signed Etan Thomas and Josh Powell.
Ditch The Spirit
Najeh Davenpoop
November 22nd, 2010
8:50 pm
“SORRY MARVIN WILL NOT BE THE HAWKS WORST DRAFT PICK THEY’VE HAD WORST PICKS BELIEVE IT OR NOT”
Considering how high Marvin was drafted and who the Hawks passed up to get him, he is at best the 2nd worst draft pick in Hawks history. Shelden might be worse.
bigdave
November 22nd, 2010
8:50 pm
didnt even care enough to make a run and get it respectable..
Woddy
November 22nd, 2010
8:50 pm
In regards to the Woodson vs. L.D. debate, both coaches have flaws. A lot of people were in favor of firing Woodson, while I was somewhat indifferent to the idea, since the possible advantages and disadvantages were about even in my opinion. At any rate, L.D. definitely speaks better than Woodson and seems to have a full plan in mind, but based upon what both men have done on the court, it’s tough to say that L.D. is really an upgrade. So far, the team was superior under Woodson. Only time will tell whether L.D. can turn it around, but so far he’s made some critical flaws in his coaching decisions. I just hope things start to look up because tonight’s game is really unacceptable in terms of what the Hawks are capable of.
Sautee
November 22nd, 2010
8:51 pm
OK, Samuel, let’s take his career stats.
Still 2.5:1 and that’s in 84 games. Big enough sample size for you?
bigdave
November 22nd, 2010
8:51 pm
garbage.
Drew
November 22nd, 2010
8:52 pm
We are once again getting “historically” blown out. These kind of games really make the true fans sick.
Najeh Davenpoop
November 22nd, 2010
8:52 pm
MC, does Michael Gearon have an email address?
doc
November 22nd, 2010
8:55 pm
samuel you know where i stand with shaq. he might have caused a few to cry like KG did on big baby and grow them up. really surprised at LD commeny because that is not what he was saying at the time shaq was available.
“my boy rick” of yours has sucked samuel. i wont let you live that one down either.
if he had added shaq, chills and a back up legit point like nate, then i would sfu about the ASKG. they just keep making us look smarter and smarter.
next up the coach we left standing at the alter because he wanted a few more benjamins and control. you cant blame him for it after watching this.
Bailey
November 22nd, 2010
8:57 pm
Jordan Crawford already looks better than Jamal this year. If they played equal minutes, Jordan would probably have better stats, and although he’s a rookie, he gives a pretty good effort on defense and doesn’t whine when he doesn’t get the ball on offense.
Sautee
November 22nd, 2010
8:57 pm
Hey Samuel,
Would you say that your boy Shaq is “turnover prone”?
lewis
November 22nd, 2010
8:59 pm
jordan crawford has been the only decent thing about this team the past few games
move jordan to starting point
terrell
November 22nd, 2010
9:00 pm
What in the heck has happened to the highlight factory? Starting to see why LD was an assistant for so long. Sorry Ken Strickland, had to say that. But these guys arent even competing. At some point, you have to start blaming the players, but if it were Woody I’d be killin him. Gotta do the same to Drew. This team needs a Coach who’s been there. A LEADER. Someone they respect and look up too. (Doc Rivers). Looks like their tuning LD out already. This is pathetic. And Ken, the Celtics dont look to old and slow tonight. lol! They’ve either gotten a lot better, or we’ve gotten a lot worse. Dont know what’s going on with this team, but somethings up. No leadership for one thing. Jamal tearing up the lockeroom perhaps? I’m bewildered.
Bailey
November 22nd, 2010
9:02 pm
Can we get rid of Zaza, already? He’s probably the most overpaid backup center in the league. He definitely doesn’t deserve what he is being paid. Even Erden looks better than him out there. You guys used to make fun of Marvin for getting his shot blocked by point guards, but I think it’s more embarrassing when a center gets his shot blocked by perimeter players. I’m pretty sure we could find a backup center for the minimum salary that could easily give us what he gives us.
Melvin
November 22nd, 2010
9:02 pm
Najeh,
The sad thing about revisting the Marvin and Shelden drafting disater is that I still prefer BK over Sund right now b/c I think BK would have traded some of these untouchable core players.
MARIO
November 22nd, 2010
9:08 pm
DEMARR JOHNSON DRAFTED 6TH, ROSHOWN MCLEOD SUCKED, ADAM KEEFE, BUT OF COURSE JON KONCAK IS WORST DRAFT PICK OF THEM ALL, SO MY LIST IS KONCAK, SHELDON, PRIEST, THEN MARVIN…
lewis
November 22nd, 2010
9:09 pm
joe’s gotten paid about 3 and a half million through 14 games to do nothing so far
terrell
November 22nd, 2010
9:09 pm
And just think, Joe’s going out for the BEST steak in town tonight after the game. lol!