In the final minute of the Knicks’ razor-tight victory in Charlotte on Saturday, Herb Williams used an offense-defense rotation with Jamal Crawford and Jermaine Jackson. Suffice to say, Crawford wasn’t on the court when the Bobcats had the ball and the Knicks needed a stop.
The message that Williams trusts a CBA player who has been in the Knick system for just five weeks more than Crawford is humbling. And if the Knicks are going to get better next season, Crawford will have to make defense a larger priority.
Yesterday before the Knicks faced Atlanta, Williams said Crawford had “improved defensively” across the season but acknowledged he lacked some basic fundamentals in defending – stuff the Knicks coach had to teach him this season.
Asked if he was surprised a player in his fifth season was still learning fundamentals, Williams said: “Not at all. A lot of players in the league that things you may take for granted that they’ve never been taught. When I was going out, everything was fundamentals. Now it’s kind of gotten away from that.”
Crawford, with as much raw talent as any guard not named LeBron James in the league, is starting to get it.
“I’m definitely still learning,” Crawford said. “For a while, no matter what I do defensively, I’ll always be known as an offensive player, until I consistently show I can play good defense. They said Jordan was a bad defender early too.”
Because the Knicks don’t have a shot-blocker, it was imperative the Knick backcourt kept their defenders from getting into the paint. Neither Crawford nor Stephon Marbury distinguished themselves. But the skinny Crawford was also hurt inside when bigger shooting guard posted him up.
“Honestly I think on the perimeter I was OK,” said Crawford. “It was the post I had more problems than anything.”
Crawford vows to get stronger across the summer but admits that doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll be heavier.
“I just got to get stronger no matter where I play,” Crawford said. “I want to be a stronger all-around player not just in the weight room but on the court and be a better all-around basketball player.”
Counting on Allan Houston to make a Grant Hill-like comeback is absurd, which is why Crawford’s development is perhaps the biggest issue in the Knicks’ future. Isiah Thomas still thinks he’s got an All-Star guard on his roster for a mid-range salary. (He made $5.8 million this season).
The fans have been good to him, they like his streetball game, the Earl Monroe jukes. The periodic negative reviews in the media hasn’t spoiled his first year here. “I love playing in New York,” Crawford said. “I wouldn’t trade it. It’s been an easy transition. I love the difference. The fans are more into tit here than any other place. I love playing in front of them. I love seeing them in the streets and they’re always showing me support. I’m happy for that. They really understand basketball.”
But he knows this season was “a failure.” He averaged 17.4 points on 39.3 percent shooting. “If I have age 25 points or 10 points, it wouldn’t matter if we weren’t winning,” Crawford said. “You’re based on wins and losses. The more you win, everybody looks good.”
Crawford did not think his chemistry with Marbury was bad, though they are both scoring point guards. Crawford believes, though, it can improve. “Everybody will get more familiar with each other with another full training camp,” Crawford said.