Playoffs Finally Will Become Reality for Crawford in Atlanta

Even an embarrassing, 32-point loss -- in a game for the Southeast Division lead last week -- could not dampen the enthusiasm of Jamal Crawford.

Atlanta isn't just a new home for Crawford this season. It feels like heaven.

"This is the most talented team I've ever been on. And this is the most fun I've ever had in this league,'' Crawford told FanHouse. "I've been on the other side. And it's a lot better being in a situation like this.''

Crawford, now in his 10th NBA season, is thrilled to be playing for the Hawks, embracing his new sixth man role and providing the perfect fit for a team now challenging the top dogs in the Eastern Conference. This three-team race of Cleveland, Boston and Orlando, now has added a fourth entry. He is a big reason for that.

The Hawks open a five-game homestand Wednesday against Washington, expecting to take that division lead before they leave home again. Although they lost badly in Orlando Saturday, that blip was sandwiched between two big victories over the Boston Celtics.

Crawford was key in both of them.

"We're still a little under the radar right now, but on any night, we're as good as any team out there,'' he said. "There's no reason why it can't be us (coming out of the East). We're right there.''

Crawford, 29, is having a ball. He is averaging 16.9 points, tops in the league among players who have not started a game this season. After starting every game he played the previous two seasons in New York and Golden State, Crawford attacked his new role with gusto.

His enthusiasm stems from the carrot he already sees at the end of the regular season -- the playoffs and a chance to win big. In his first nine seasons, he never reached the postseason. He played 597 games, and the only playoff game he ever saw was on television.

The NBA's longest active streak without a playoff appearance -- his -- is going to end. He never has played on a team that won more than 33 games in a season.
"Every game means something. I can't wait to get into a playoff atmosphere. I've waited for this."
-- Jamal Crawford
"I certainly don't take this for granted, and you can feel now that every game matters. Every game means something,'' he said. "I can't wait to get into a playoff atmosphere. I've waited for this.''

Crawford spent his first four seasons in Chicago, in the midst of the Bulls' painful rebuilding project. They won 15 and 21 games. They made the playoffs the season after he was traded to the New York Knicks. Twice they won a whopping 33 games, but also lost 49. He averaged a career-high 20.6 points during the 2007-08 season, but the Knicks finished 23-59.

"Losing really wears on you,'' he said. "It's not something you want to do. But I didn't complain. I just played as well as I could, and hoped that things would get better.''

He was traded the Golden State early last season for Al Harrington, but the Warriors also were plummeting to their worst season in years. Thankfully, they sent him to Atlanta this summer.

Unlike the Knicks and the Warriors, the Hawks had a big plan for Crawford, needing a third guard to play behind veteran starters Joe Johnson and Mike Bibby. They also had plans to win.

"Getting Jamal was huge for us,'' said Hawks coach Mike Woodson. "I knew he could score, but I didn't know how he'd fit until we started playing. He was walking a little on egg shells, but I talked to him, told him to stay aggressive, and lead the league in scoring off the bench.''

It's exactly what Crawford has done, turning the Hawks from a distant fourth in the East into a contender as a high-scoring options in reserve, and has become the early leader for the NBA's Sixth Man Award.
Before he arrived in Atlanta, he started about 75 percent of the games he played in the NBA, and scoring never has been a problem. He is one of seven active NBA players to have scored at least 50 points in a game three times. The others are Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Allen Iverson, Tracy McGrady, Gilbert Arenas and Shaquille O'Neal – an All-Star cast. He has scored 30 or more 40 times in his career.

"I'm not looking for any individual honors. I just want to be on a winning team,'' he said. "I'll do whatever they need to help us be better. If I would win it – Sixth Man Award – that would be great, but that's not my focus. The playoffs are.''

Crawford is the only new key addition to the team that the Hawks have been molding slowly the last few seasons. They have increased their victory total in each of the last four years, going from 13 wins to 26, 30, 37 and 47, respectively. They have every reason to think they will reach 50 and beyond for the first time since 1998.

"I've come into a great situation here,'' Crawford said. "And like I said, I don't take it for granted. Not from where I've been. I can appreciate what they've done.''