Crawford finds happiness with Clippers

[mkwest]

“When I came here, I don’t know if I should say this or not, but they told me I was their first option at lunch,” Crawford said. “And I told them at the same lunch that they were my first option. My agent didn’t want me to say that but I was just being honest and we made it happen.”

“I’m just comfortable,” Crawford said. “I’ve never felt this comfortable. Knowing I worked at my game and knowing my teammates and coaches have confidence in me, we feel like we can do anything, honestly. I feel like out there, there’s nothing that can’t be done when you have that confidence from your teammates and your coaching staff. It makes you go enjoy it and that’s what I’m trying to do.”

Many thought the Clippers would go after Ray Allen in the offseason (and they did, fairly aggressively recruiting him over the phone) but they switched gears after they met with Crawford. In fact, the day before Allen was scheduled to arrive in Los Angeles to meet with Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro and vice president of basketball operations Gary Sacks, the Clippers canceled the visit. They had already found their guy.

“We talked to Ray. I played with Ray and know Ray well,” Del Negro said. “He’s a great player and a first-ballot Hall of Fame guy but we love having Jamal. We’re happy he’s with us.”

Looking at the players on the court after practice Tuesday, Crawford smiles when he is asked why he has been so successful this season.

"Now you can't just key in on me," Crawford said. "You have the best point guard in the world right there and another superstar in Blake, DeAndre, who hopefully gets Most Improved [Player of the Year award]. I can go down the list of our team. I usually see a lot of double teams or traps, or whatever but they can't do that because there are other guys to worry about. I'm the fifth, sixth option. Whatever, I don't care. I just go out there and have fun."

Arash Markazi, ESPN Los Angeles

[mj_shoefanatic]

I'm so happy we got @JCrossover over Allen and DJ should get that MIP barring injury.

[madmaxmedia]

...they told me I was their first option at lunch. And I told them at the same lunch that they were my first option. My agent didn’t want me to say that but I was just being honest and we made it happen.

Whatever, I don't care. I just go out there and have fun.

Word.

[TheNewEra]

He has been a beast for us and any time he has an off game the starters will pick it up

[mike3]

Great that hes genuinely enjoying being with us.

[Quake Griffin]

feels really awesome to have guys who buy in and want to be here.

those are the only 2 things i ever genuinely ask for when i pray to God about my sports teams.
we have guys who buy in....guys who like each other...guys who play for each other...it's made this team so enjoyable to watch.

hope it turns into a ring.
but before that comes....i want the perception of my team to be family...clan...if u want a piece of any of the 12 u gotta go through the other 11.

[RiversideClips]

Crawford has always ran from L.A.; he left high school here & moved w/ his Uncle in The PacWest. I just don't know how long he "Will Love L.A.?"

[mttwlsn16]

Um. High school for him finished up like 15 yes ago, but cool story

[Quake Griffin]

Crawford has always ran from L.A.; he left high school here & moved w/ his Uncle in The PacWest. I just don't know how long he "Will Love L.A.?"

i heard he went to Dorsey for his first year.

any truth to this?

[mj_shoefanatic]

yeah my homeboy went to HS with him at Dorsey.

small world

[Hawaii]

I'm loving Crawford with you guys...def a good pickup, I've wanted him in DC just about his whole career. But the moves and shots he's making this year are ridiculous. His handles have really been impressing me, not just cause they've been breaking dudes up, but I like the look of them. I think he's naturally a spot up shooter, and when he pulls off these moves that he's added to his repertoire, they come off very unpredictable, which throws off the defender, leaving him open with shots and good passes. He's straight up shining with you guys.

Has he had a 50-point game yet?

[og15]

The Clippers in his current role is the kind of team he needs to be on. Jamal in Washington wouldn't be as pleasant to watch as he would be the teams main guy, and that isn't his talent.