Jamal Crawford: Point guard? (1 Viewer)

[Natebishop3]

After watching the game tonight, I believe Crawford should be our backup point guard. Nothing against Nolan Smith, but he's a rookie and I would rather see those minutes go to Elliot Williams.

The backcourt of Williams and Crawford looked very sharp tonight. I would rather see Williams playing, with Smith coming in at times when the situation calls for it. Crawford came into the league as a point guard. He's more than capable of running the point. I like his veteran leadership on the second unit.

 

[ABM]

7 dimes makes a believer out of me.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I guess I can see it. Defensively there are going to be times when they won't want him out there, but at times I think he can facilitate enough offense to compensate for his shortcomings on D.

 

[HailBlazers]

7 dimes makes a believer out of me.

Word, shined tonight. Was like the anti-roy. All the moves, but always dishing

“We’re going to take advantage of him wherever we can,” McMillan said. “He’s shown that he can score, but he’s also shown that he can play the point. You take advantage of him and make your adjustments during the game.”

 

[Nikolokolus]

Word, shined tonight. Was like the anti-roy. All the moves, but always dishing

The "anti-Roy?" Nice piece of revisionist history there.

 

[illmatic99]

He looked a lot like Brandon to me, actually.

 

[Natebishop3]

Well, he's going to play regardless, but if we slot him at the point it frees up time for Williams. I'm really liking a second unit of:

Crawford
Williams
Batum
Smith
Thomas

 

[illmatic99]

Switch Smith with Johnson, and I love it.

 

[Natebishop3]

Switch Smith with Johnson, and I love it.

I think it all depends on the team we're playing. At times we will need a bruiser like Smith.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Switch Smith with Johnson, and I love it.

Johnson is looking good and he needs a few minutes. Not sure what to do between Craig Smith and Thomas. We need a wide body out there. To be honest I prefer Smith and Thomas over Camby. We need a banger out there at all times. Someone with some meat their bones.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Johnson is looking good and he needs a few minutes. Not sure what to do between Craig Smith and Thomas. We need a wide body out there. To be honest I prefer Smith and Thomas over Camby. We need a banger out there at all times. Someone with some meat their bones.

It's probably going to be a heavy 3 man rotation of bigs with Thomas, Camby and Johnson all getting a lot of time at center mostly because Camby and Thomas are so old and they are going to need to be on a minutes watch as the games start to pile up in a hurry -- none of these guys is going to average more than 25 minutes a night (aside from injury)

 

[Natebishop3]

I like that Thomas can run the pick and roll. He has a nice mid-range jumper, which Camby is lacking.

 

[Sinobas]

Crawford probably will win the backup PG job, but I thought Smith looked pretty good too. But if Crawford plays point, Elliot Williams will probably get SG minutes over Smith.

 

[Natebishop3]

Crawford probably will win the backup PG job, but I thought Smith looked pretty good too. But if Crawford plays point, Elliot Williams will probably get SG minutes over Smith.

And that's the key. Smith looks good, and I think he is definitely a promising guy for the future, but right now I like Crawford at the point because he brings experience and it opens up minutes for Williams. EW looked REALLY good tonight. That might change, and maybe he was just ON, but a Crawford/Williams backcourt looks pretty dynamic right now.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

I'm looking forward to seeing Crawford, Williams and Batum playing together.

 

[Mediocre Man]

I didn't like Crawford's game. No idea why?

 

[BlazerCaravan]

I didn't like Crawford's game. No idea why?

He's a bit of a chucker. Takes a few low-percentage shots. I feel like he'll rarely find a better option than himself if he runs the point too much. I know the stats don't reflect this; it's just my paranoia.

For my part, he'll be fine off the bench, but I'm glad he's not starting.

 

[Mediocre Man]

He's a bit of a chucker. Takes a few low-percentage shots. I feel like he'll rarely find a better option than himself if he runs the point too much. I know the stats don't reflect this; it's just my paranoia.

For my part, he'll be fine off the bench, but I'm glad he's not starting.

Looks like we saw the same thing

 

[Nikolokolus]

Yeah Crawford definitely called his own number at points where I would have preferred him to set up a higher percentage shot, but for a reserve I thought he did OK.

The good thing is that Felton looks like a good enough point guard that there's a clear line of division between the starting spot and the guys backing him up, so Nate should have no reservations about putting Crawford down or moving him back to the 2 if the flow of the game turns against him while he's running the point.

 

[BrianFromWA]

With JCrossover you're always going to be straddling the line b/w confident playmaker and "WTF are you doing?!?" What won't happen, imo, is a streak of 8 possessions in a row where we don't get a shot off (other than a flaming bag shot). He may go 0-5 in that stretch, but the offense isn't going to stagnate.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I didn't like Crawford's game. No idea why?

Probably because he has not played much PG for a while. He can do it in a pinch, but is this his best position? If he embraces it then great, but I am not convinced he will. His stats will go down, and he is expecting a bigger contract next year.

 

[BrianFromWA]

Maybe, but don't you think he's more valuable to someone if he can demonstrate he can play a passable 6'5" PG? Rather than a 6th-man gunner who can only be an off guard?

Then again, Ben Gordon did get paid....

 

[illmatic99]

Hope Nate convinces him that stats don't mean nearly as much for a future contract as impact & winning do. Look at Chandler. HE got a ring while being a key cog for DAL while averaging only 10p/9reb/1blk.

And the guy gor 4yrs/58mil at age 29.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Maybe, but don't you think he's more valuable to someone if he can demonstrate he can play a passable 6'5" PG? Rather than a 6th-man gunner who can only be an off guard?

Then again, Ben Gordon did get paid....

Yes I would think so. But does he think so? Playing the PG spot will take more out of him and his 3 pt shooting percentage may take a hit because of it. Regardless he will need some time to adjust to this roll. (Unless he played it more in Atlanta then I noticed) I do agree it is best for the team if he succeeds at the point.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Atlanta ran a ton of isolation sets for Crawford. He was the first guy off the bench and was given a pretty free hand to create offense for their second unit. He's played this hybrid role most of his career.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Atlanta ran a ton of isolation sets for Crawford. He was the first guy off the bench and was given a pretty free hand to create offense for their second unit. He's played this hybrid role most of his career.

Did he play that hybrid role with another PG on the floor? Or without one?

 

[Nikolokolus]

Mike Bibby ... the spot up king.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Mike Bibby ... the spot up king.

So he did not have to do all the PG duties. Maybe try him with EWill and then Nolan and see which one compliments him best. Nate will probably give both a chance and then decide after a month which is better.

 

[gatorpops]

Mike Bibby ... the spot up king.

Crawford should enable Nic and Williams game then if he is the creator of the offense on the second team. Maybe why Ewill was open last nigh and such a good game.

 

[Natebishop3]

He doesn't have to be perfect. We aren't expecting Chris Paul. I just want a guy who can create his own shot ala Brandon Roy, but also drive and dish or playmake. I don't want to discount Nolan yet though, because it's only been one game, but EWill sure looked good last night. The thing is, Crawford's scoring numbers might take a dip running the point, but his assists should go up, which I think would make him more attractive to another team looking to drop a big payday on someone. The guy isn't young. Realistically he won't be getting a huge contract. People don't drop huge quan on a 31 or 32 year old guard that's never been an All-Star.