Jamal Crawford: B-
What is there to say about Jamal Crawford? He’s pretty much the same player he’s always been for the LA Clippers, providing sparks of offensive creation off the bench as their record-breaking three-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year. That’s what he does, and he does little else.
Defense is the weakness along with wise shot selection, as there’s one thing on Crawford’s mind when he enters the game: unless someone is open and the ball is really moving fluidly, go get buckets.
He still does that well. There are few players with better handles than Crawford, and the skill he has as a gunner can’t be understated. There’s value in having someone who can create a bucket off the dribble when the team can’t get anything going and you need to put some points on the boards. Crawford still does that awfully well at times, and there’s no doubt he’s one of the league’s best terrible shot makers. The Clippers appreciate that.
As always, efficiency is the issue. When those terrible shots aren’t falling, he can hurt the offense and can easily be a culprit of the Clippers’ bench not moving the ball enough, thus leading to too many isolation plays at times. He’s shooting one percent higher than last year overall at 41.8 for the season and 33.6 percent from three, with the second lowest PER he’s ever had (partly due to a slightly decreased role).
There are big games and there are clutch shots that scream the value of Crawford’s seemingly never ageing shot making. Then, there are defensive lapses and ugly clangers that hurt. For the good and the bad that comes with Crawford, and how he can bail the team out at times, B- seems fair. Especially as he’s likely set for some bigger performances again in the absence of Griffin.
Now, onto the stellar starters.