Jordan Crawford, The Unapologetic Scorer

As the 2017-18 NBA season rapidly approaches, we look ahead at the New Orleans Pelicans roster. In this extension of our Player Breakdown series, we take a look at Pelicans scoring machine Jordan Crawford.

Depending on how long you’ve been a New Orleans Pelicans fan you’ve seen Jordan Crawford before. He’s what J.R Smith later became, and what Marcus Thornton and Jannero Pargo already were. A microwave of sorts. A player that can score in bunches, and in a variety of ways.

Perception

There are many sides to a Jordan Crawford type player. Players like Crawford can bring teams back into games and sometimes put them away by themselves. But with the good, comes the bad for these players can force shots, and hurt their team, with play that can come off as selfish. History tells us the perception of Crawford falls in line with those examples.

An inconsistent player that needs the ball to be at his best.

A type of player best served on a losing team that doesn’t have many other talents that can produce around him. Last season, three years away from the NBA, Crawford signed a 10 day contract for the Pels. To their credit, the team just needed a guard who could walk and chew gum at the same time. They were also desperate for any guard who could make an open jumper.

Not to mention in the slightest manner, take some of the scoring load off of Anthony Davis, DeMarcus Cousins, and Jrue Holiday.

Jordan Crawford wasted zero time, doing just that in HIS FIRST GAME.

The man scored 19 points off of 53 percent shooting in only 20 minutes.

The reputation that comes with a volume scorer, is normally a low shooting percentage, questionable shots, and an above average turnover rate from head scratching decisions. In 19 games for Crawford however, those characteristics didn’t follow him last season.

Nicknamed “instant grits”, Crawford surprisingly averaged 14 points a game on 48 % shooting and 38 percent from beyond the three point arc, both career highs. It is to be determined if this was a player who went overseas and improved his game, or was just on fire for a long stretch.

So what are we looking at in Jordan Crawford?

Strengths

At best you’re getting a Jamal Crawford type player; someone who’s confidence is encouraged. Every time he steps on the floor he’s secure because he knows his team doesn’t want him to do anything more than what he’s blessed with. That God given talent is the ability to score, in almost any manner one can ask.

Though Crawford for most of his career has been known as a ball dominant guard, last year he showed other abilities. Catching and shooting had notoriously been a struggle for him throughout his career. Last season, in catch and shoot situations he shot 42% overall from the field and from deep. In comparison, Pelicans star Jrue Holiday shot 32 and 30 % respectively in those same categories.

Granted, it’s been well documented Jrue had a rough shooting season.  He also easily played more games, but even for a month, Crawford’s production was impressive. Crawford’s ability to produce off the dribble is still top notch. So is his ability to finish in traffic or with tight defense around him. Crawford for example finished 55 percent of his shots with a defender within 2-4 feet.

On a team that didn’t have another player outside of their big three who could create their own shot, his gifts were greatly appreciated. Crawford slashes to the rim at will, and whether he’s pulling up for a floater or a mid-range jumper he’s extremely confident in his approach. The biggest difference in his game last season when slashing, was his patience in the pick & roll.

He no longer rushed his attempts or decisions. He also slowed down off of screens to make life easier for himself, and giving his screener the chance to be involved in the play.

In the video above from Crawford’s early days you can see him fly off of a screen to the basket. He ended up scoring, but it did zero for his screener. There was no threat of a three point shot, or any activity at all after the pick for the big man.

The second video you see what a majority of Grits’ pick and rolls looked like in NOLA. At the top of the key, giving himself more room in a Chris Paul style of bouncing and feeling his opponent behind him before making a decision. That patience loomed large overtime as it made him a more deadly scorer. The thought of a possible pass stayed in play.

At best, Crawford is in transition where he can pull-up either from three (95 of his 218 shot attempts were 3’s) or from midrange where his highest percentage of unassisted shots came from. Crawford displays a killer first step, a fearlessness in the paint when finishing, and the utmost confidence shooting from anywhere on the floor.

That in total, brought the best version of Jordan Crawford the NBA had ever seen. Scoring in double figures in all but two of the games he played in.

No matter the circumstances, that can’t be ignored.

Weaknesses

Being a 6’4 shooting guard in today’s NBA is hard in itself. However, coupled with being a player who relies on his scoring ability every night is a whole different monster. While Crawford’s scoring was greatly appreciated last year, it was out of necessity. Once Boogie arrived, Jrue Holiday seemed unsure of how to fit, and his game showed it in a disappointing fashion.

It’s rare a 10 day contract player is ever given the liberties that Crawford was given last season. He averaged 11 shots per game in 23 minutes. Danilo Gallinari averaged 11 in 32 minutes, Jamal Crawford (the twin we haven’t proven) averaged 10 on 26 minutes. It’s not clear on a team with guards all similar in height and some projected to play more, how that will work in Crawford’s favor this year.

Granted, Crawford played often with Boogie and AD, but he was mainly on the floor to keep the team afloat until one of them got back in. It’s expected that either Rajon Rondo, or Jrue Holiday will always be on the floor. When they are, it’s not clear if that will affect Jordan Crawford in a positive or negative manner.

For a majority of his career he’s played on bad teams that needed his services. Will the Pelicans need them with a healthy roster? There’s many questions about his ability to play team basketball, and though he played well off the ball last year, he will have numerous disciplined players as competition. His talent is needed, no mistake, but it may only be in spurts.

Possibly, when the team is down 15 and zero offensive rhythm has been established. Grits has the tool to create his own rhythm, but this team has more talent, ball handlers, and is expected to have the chance to win every night. That creates an issue for a poor defender, and a guy who offensively has only shown the ability to “get his”

Those type of shots will not fall at a consistent rate.

On a team hoping to be healthy and playoff bound, it puts Crawford in a tough spot.

The franchise will need flexibility, and it’s unknown if Crawford is still one dimensional.

Outlook

Crawford’s confidence and sometimes arrogance was needed last season. Players like Rondo and Boogie, will respect a guy who is willing to take chances and be aggressive. However, in a season where so much needs to go right, there aren’t many risks that can be taken.

The eye test will make you believe that Crawford’s improvements as a shooter and a decision maker are here to stay. If so, that could loom large for a team that will still need offense this season. If the team falls behind in games, it’s unlikely both Tony Allen and Rondo will remain heavy minute loggers.

That still doesn’t unfortunately guarantee Crawford consistent minutes with Ian Clark and Etwuan Moore on the roster. Many loved the show Instant Grits put on last season, in a perfect world it will continue. Maybe with the small forward position being a question, Crawford finds a way into the rotation as an important piece.

He’s worked hard on certain aspects of his game in the past and has matured. There’s hope he’ll continue to do so, in what hopes to be a fun season. Either way things go, training camp will show ideas and what coach Alvin Gentry thinks. Hopefully that bodes well for Crawford.

In the end, Bill Russell said it best, “this game is about buckets”.

Next: Cheick Diallo, The Project

Will we see regression from Crawfords stellar Pelicans stint a year ago, or will he continue to flourish in his new home at the Smoothie King Center? The answers will all start to unfold October 18th.

Stay tuned!