Rowan Kavner
LOS ANGELES– An ice pack on both of his knees, his feet in a bucket of ice, Jamal Crawford could be found postgame Saturday afternoon sitting in front of his locker the way he normally would.
At 35 years old, he knows he needs to take care of his body, even if he feels he can play all day. That’s exactly what he had to do against the Pistons, and in those 41 minutes of action, he demonstrated he’s still capable of doing it.
Crawford stepping into the starting lineup with the Clippers’ normal backcourt out with injuries, scoring 37 points and adding eight assists and six rebounds, all of which marked season highs for the veteran.
The points were his most in a regular season game since January 2014; the assists were his most since November 2014; the rebounds were his most since December 2014 and the minutes were his most since April 2014.
DeAndre Jordan only has one theory.
“He’s Benjamin Button,” said Jordan, who called himself a ‘fan’ of Crawford and commended Crawford’s ability to do whatever’s asked of him, be it starting or coming off the bench.
Typically, Crawford’s needed for scoring in either role. On this day, with Chris Paul and J.J. Redick both out, it required at least a few notches more than that.
“Being ready to play at all times, he gives guys fits,” Jordan said.
Every time the Pistons started to pull away, Crawford made sure the Clippers were at least within striking distance, whether by distributing or scoring. When Detroit led, 26-17, in the first quarter, Crawford lobbed up a Jordan alley-oop and then scored the Clippers’ final six points of the quarter.
“He just was Jamal,” said head coach Doc Rivers. “You knew it was in him. It’s not like he forgot how to play. We drew up the first play of the game for him, got him a good look. I just thought we got him aggressive early. I thought that was important.”
At two different points in the second quarter, Crawford prohibited the Pistons’ lead from getting past 15 points by coming up with buckets on the other end. When Detroit got the lead back up to 14, Crawford answered with a 3-pointer and free throws.
By the end of the half, the Clippers still had a chance. And that was just the beginning.
Crawford scored 20 of his points in the second half, combining with Blake Griffin to outscore the Pistons after halftime by themselves, 43-36. Griffin called Crawford “phenomenal,” and not just because of his scoring.
Griffin praised Crawford’s ability to make the right plays and decisions and to also devote himself defensively. The scoring, that never surprises Crawford’s teammates.
“Not at all,” Griffin said. “It’s still impressive, but not surprised. We see it every day in practice and we’ve seen it every day the past four years or so. At any moment, he can just catch a spark and go. He hits impossible shots.”
The Pistons still led by double digits in the third quarter when Crawford knocked down two straight 3-pointers, pulling the Clippers to within six points and getting them close enough to feel the momentum turn for good.
“Once you’re in a dogfight, every possession means more,” Crawford said. “You’re not as comfortable. We just wanted to try to get them to that point and see what happens from there.”
After Crawford free throws and another Crawford bucket to end the third quarter, the Clippers led for the first time. There was only one occasion all day where the veteran guard looked his age, as a jumper in the lane tailed off and fell considerably short.
Crawford, who hadn’t played more than 29 minutes in a game all season, was understandably winded by the start of the fourth.
“It’s hard taking yourself out the game, but once I missed that little runner – it was five feet and I was two feet short – I was like, ‘OK, it was time,’” Crawford joked. “From there, me and Doc were on the same page.”
By the 8:25 mark in the fourth quarter, Crawford was back in the game doing what he’d done all day. It was 82-81 when Crawford found Griffin for two straight jump shots, the latter giving the Clippers a three-point lead. The Griffin-Crawford combo gave the Pistons fits all day.
“I always thought I can do more than just score or be sixth man – I just play my role,” Crawford said. “Whatever’s asked, I really just want to win. If you have that kind of stat line and lose, it really doesn’t matter, you don’t enjoy the rest of your day.”
The Clippers were able to enjoy their day.
Down the stretch, when the Clippers needed to seal the deal, it was the veteran guard who still had enough legs after more than 40 minutes of action to knock down four straight free throws and put the Pistons away.
Maybe he is Benjamin Button, after all.
“I just feel like I’m better, because now I’m wiser,” Crawford said. “I know when to do it and when not to. Before, you’re young and you’re reckless. I still feel like I can get anywhere on the court. That’s not to be cocky, like, I am not trying to be cocky, I just watch enough tape and watch enough film and study my opponents and I feel like I can still do anything.”