You’re probably already familiar with “Fire and Ice.” Now meet “Instant Grits.”
DeMarcus Cousins is averaging 22.1 points and 13.6 rebounds in seven games with New Orleans, but he’s been just as prolific when it comes to coining nicknames – even if they’ve been unintentional – for his Pelicans teammates. After Wednesday’s game vs. Toronto, Cousins described the impact of 10-day contract signee Jordan Crawford as “instant grits.” Cousins, a Mobile, Ala., native, was comparing Crawford’s quick-strike offensive ability to a meal popular in the South that can be prepared in roughly five minutes.
“One thing I know is he can put the ball in the basket,” Cousins said of the 28-year-old. “He’s coming in and is a spark off the bench for us right now. We love his aggressiveness, his approach to the game. He’s helped so far these past two games.”
Prior to this week, Crawford had not played in a regular season game NBA game since April 16, 2014, but he’s appeared to be making up for lost time in matchups against Utah and Toronto. The 28-year-old is averaging 14.5 points per game in only 23.5 minutes, shooting 52.2 percent from the field and 45.5 percent on three-pointers (5/11). His scoring rate equates to 22.2 points per 36 minutes, which ranks third on the 2016-17 Pelicans, behind only “Ice” (Anthony Davis averages 27.7 points per 36 minutes) and “Fire” (Cousins 23.3).
Just 12 seconds into his Monday debut for New Orleans in Salt Lake City, Crawford fired in a 17-foot jumper the first time he touched the ball. That was a sign of things to come for the Xavier (Ohio) product, who would later rack up 14 points in the fourth quarter alone, en route to a 19-point debut in a tough NBA road venue. On a night when the Pelicans shot a season-low 35.7 percent from the field, their newest player was a rare offensive bright spot. Two days later against the Raptors, he was 4/8 from the field (2/4 on threes) and notched a second straight double-digit scoring performance with 10 points.
“I definitely want to be aggressive, not think too much, and just kind of pick my spots,” Crawford said of his mindset, despite not practicing with the Pelicans until Friday morning. “I’ve been playing basketball a long time. I just try to keep it the same, no matter the stage, or what level we’re playing on. Just make the right play.”
“I think he’s a guy that’s really got a good feel for the game,” Pelicans second-year head coach Alvin Gentry said. “He’s doing a good job, and he hasn’t even been to a practice yet. I think he’s got a good feel for how to get himself open and how to make plays for other people. The two games he’s played, obviously he’s been pretty efficient.”
Told of the “Instant Grits” tag he was given by Cousins moments earlier following Wednesday’s game, the Detroit-born Crawford immediately grinned.
“I’ll take it,” he said, laughing. “I’ll take it.”