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NBA / Jan 20, 2010 / 2:30 pm

The Biggest X-Factor In The Eastern Conference

By Tracy Weissenberg

dimemag.com/…/the-biggest-x-factor-i… 2/14 1/21/2010 The Biggest X-Factor In The Eastern Co…

Jamal Crawford, Dime #31

A few quick things about me. I was born up north, but love the south – especially Atlanta, where I live. I work for NBA TV and take my work home with me every night. There’s nothing like working a 12-hour shift and then coming home to talk about the games on Twitter. I love stats. Until I decided to work for the NBA, I was going to be a fashion designer. I even have a portfolio. I do music on the side, and I work with hip-hop producers but write pop/soul lyrics. I played competitive tennis. And as you will soon see, I love to write.

A few things about working in TV. If you think going to live games is an adrenaline rush, you’ve never seen what goes on during a live show. The most interesting things are always said during production meetings. I am very lucky as a fan to see basketball through the eyes of former players (it really has changed the way I view each game). And production trucks may just be the coldest places on Earth – especially those in Michigan, but that is a story for another day.

I find it frustrating when teams take their talent for granted. Look at the random playing time the Warriors gave Jamal Crawford last year. When Golden State played the Bucks on Jan. 15 this season, they were left with four players on the court at the end of the game. Stephen Curry fouled out but had to remain in due to NBA regulations. To me, this is a microcosm of the Warriors’ philosophy or in other terms: karma.

Needless to say, I was thrilled when Crawford was traded to the Hawks in the offseason. While the media focused on the A.I. bench saga, Crawford seamlessly transitioned from starter to sub , as his role with the team became more defined with every game.

Crawford told me that he was told by the team to “be aggressive and score…make stuff happen on offense.” And so far, he has wasted no time. Armed with the trust of his teammates and vision of the playoffs, Crawford proves he is not only a capable scorer, but a playmaker and difference maker.

This season, Crawford has been fearless when it comes to taking and making big shots . On a hyped home game against the Celtics on Jan. 8, Crawford scored 14 of his team-best 18 points in the fourth quarter. He completed a four-point play that energized the entire arena followed by a three-point dagger later in the quarter to put the game out of reach.

“Jamal Crawford made a couple of crazy shots, but that’s what he does and you kind of expect that,” says Celtics forward Paul Pierce after the game. dimemag.com/…/the-biggest-x-factor-i… 3/14 1/21/2010 The Biggest X-Factor In The Eastern Co… Though what Crawford did against the Celtics looked tame compared to the game-winning three-pointer he knocked down at the buzzer a week later against the Suns.

“I think he’s played a major, major role for our ball club without a doubt,” says coach Mike Woodson . “We haven’t had a guy that can come off our bench like that and be that explosive and go get shots and score the ball pretty much at will…he’s been great for us so far this season.”

His ice water in veins act on the court isn’t the only quality Crawford brought to Atlanta. “He’s a really, really, really good teammate off the court and on the court,” says rookie point guard Jeff Teague, “Off the court, he talks to me about things I can do to get better…he also helps me on the defensive end with the pick and roll situation.”

Crawford’s experience playing in media pervasive cities like Chicago and New York give him distinct composure and maturity that translates to his game. While the spotlight has always been on the large market teams, the media attention hasn’t always been positive. “It was tough because I thought I was giving my all every single night and we kept losing,” says Crawford. “That’s why I don’t take this situation for granted at all. I’m very thankful and very blessed to be here.”

Besides lights out shooting and circus shots , Crawford is one of the nicest players I’ve chatted with. His answers are always sincere and thought out and he never hesitates to give a few minutes of his time – even as media availability is winding down. On or off the court, he’s easy to root for.

Since the Hawks are not the Mets (I should know, I’m from New York), they are on their way to what should be a third consecutive playoff appearance. This time, they may have the X-factor needed to make a legit title push . As Crawford looks to play in his first career postseason and the Hawks aim to redeem a second round sweep, it looks like the foundation of a perfect partnership.

“I think they’ll help me get to the playoffs and hopefully I can help them go further,” says Crawford.

So far, he’s made it look easy.

Follow Tracy on Twitter at @basketballista .

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Tags: Atlanta Hawks , Jamal Crawford

Posted in NBA | ShareThis

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7 Responses to “The Biggest X-Factor In The Eastern Conference”

1. January 20th, 2010 at 3:12 pm

JBaller says:

unreadable article

2. January 20th, 2010 at 3:29 pm

Jake says:

A lot of games, I have noticed, Crawford gets the bulk of his points from getting to the line and shooting a high FT percentage.

3. January 20th, 2010 at 3:41 pm

shiptar says:

about you: is there anything you don’t like doing?

4. January 20th, 2010 at 3:42 pm

Mink says:

He’s been great, but I worry about the lack of ball movement in 4th quarters this season. Quite often we’ve been outscored in the 4th but Craw has done just enough to get us the win, which is great, but every time it’s either Iso Joe or Iso Crawford.. Maybe they’ll get it fixed by season’s end.

5. January 20th, 2010 at 3:53 pm

b says:

i think the trade deadline, rashard lewis, KG’s health, and delonte west are certainly x-factors in the east.

but jamal crawford? An ‘x-factor’ i think would be something more unpredictable than crawford. he’s proven to be an effective scorer, able to play both back court roles, a generally reliable ball handler, and a gambler on d. dimemag.com/…/the-biggest-x-factor-i… 5/14 1/21/2010 The Biggest X-Factor In The Eastern Co… maybe the Hawks are the x-factor in the east but not crawford himself. we know what to expect from him at this point in his career.

6. January 20th, 2010 at 4:38 pm

hahns says:

im a huge crawford fan ever since his time w/ ny. i wish the knicks didnt trade him- but im happy to see that the entire league is starting to appreciate how good this guy is.

7. January 20th, 2010 at 7:43 pm

sh!tfaced says:

Yeah, the trade deadline and KG’s knee are the biggest factors in the East. If Cleveland gets good value back if they trade Ilgauskas… though Crawford is the biggest wild card in the league right now.