Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here… highlighting the big storyline. Because there’s nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.
Stevens called Jordan Crawford a “calming presence” during the fourth quarter of Wednesday’s win over the Utah Jazz. On Friday, Crawford’s late-game actions left Stevens suggesting he was “the most excited I’ve been since I moved to Boston.” The play that fired him up? A timeout. With the Celtics up 5 with 4 minutes to play, Jameer Nelson missed a 3-pointer and Avery Bradley stripped rookie Victor Oladipo soon after he hauled in the offensive rebound. The ball trickled loose in front of the Boston bench and Crawford crashed to the floor to corral it — with both he and Stevens adamantly calling timeout the moment he gained possession. Boston ultimately squandered the offensive possession coming out of the stoppage, but it was a heads-up play to simply ensure the Celtics kept the ball at a crucial juncture.
Analysis: The Celtics are 2-0 since Crawford entered the starting backcourt. Boston’s offense gets a jolt with him on the floor, but most importantly, the turnover percentage has plummeted (a mere 12.2 percent when he’s on the floor the past two games). In fact, plays like this show that Crawford is saving possessions instead of giving them away.
What in the name of Jungle Jim Loscutuff is going on around here? The Celtics are winning games and it’s because of the heady and steady play of Jordan Crawford.
If Danny Ainge asked me to map out a tanking plan for the start of the season I would have nominated “Crawford at point guard” as option 1.
Just look at his career. He’s always been a shoot first player who makes questionable awful decisions. He’s the poster boy for anti-point guards.
I might be able to handle J-Craw playing smart basketball, but if Courtney Lee starts contributing my head will most certainly explode.
He did what?
The rest of the links:
CSNNE – C’s might be learning to win | Sullinger: Gameplan was to keep Vucevic out of paint | Lee’s play a boost off bench | Green goes to rim in 4th to boost Cs | ESPN Boston – Scrappy streakers | Boston Herald – Guarded optimism for Cs | Davis looks back on days gone by | Globe – Olynyk earning education | Lineup changes benefit Bradley
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