CRAWFORD SHOOTS DOWN 'O' WORRIES
By BART HUBBUCH

October 30, 2007 -- Jamal Crawford has been around long enough that it takes a lot worse than shooting a dreadful 28 percent in the preseason to concern the eighth-year guard or the Knicks.

"I'm not worried about it because I shot a lot better in practice than I did in those [preseason] games," Crawford said yesterday as the Knicks prepared for their season opener Friday at Cleveland.

Crawford's miserable shooting in the seven-game exhibition schedule would be reason to fret for many players. He started slow and finished even slower, combining to shoot 5-for-29 (17 percent) in the final three games.

But Crawford is a career 40 percent shooter, with 32 games of 30 or more points (including two 50-point eruptions), which is why Knick coach Isiah Thomas didn't break a sweat when his shooting guard's October slump was mentioned.

"The last thing I'm worried about is [Crawford] being able to score," Thomas said.

Crawford and the Knicks attribute his errant marksmanship more to a revamped offense than declining skills. The Knicks have become a low-post team after adding power forward Zach Randolph this summer to a front court headlined by center Eddy Curry.

That transition was difficult shooting-wise for all the team's starting guards in the preseason, as witnessed by the struggles of Stephon Marbury (36 percent) and swingman Quentin Richardson (31 percent).

Crawford stuck out simply because his marksmanship was so uncharacteristically awful. He was 0-for-8 in the blowout loss at Boston and 1-for-10 at home against the Celtics the following week.

"We have a new player [Randolph] who is a key to our team, and we have to go inside a lot," he said. "That's not an excuse. I had wide-open shots from the corner a couple of times but saw somebody underneath and passed it. Normally, I would have shot it. I just need to start playing off instinct."

If anything, Thomas wished Crawford would have shot it more often in the preseason to get into regular-season shape.

"He only shot it [nine or 10] times a game," Thomas said.

Nor is Crawford's health a concern. He was enjoying one of his best years as a pro last season, averaging 18 points a game, until a stress fracture in his right ankle ended Crawford's season after just 59 games.

Crawford insists his ankle is fully healed, and points to his solid ball-handling and defensive performance in the preseason as signs that any worries about his shooting are overblown.

"I'm a scorer," he said. "I can always turn on the scoring. That comes naturally for me."

*

Forward Renaldo Balkman, out all preseason with an injured ankle, is expected to play against Cleveland, Thomas said. Richardson, held out the final two exhibition games with a sore ankle, also is expected to play in the opener.

*

Demetris Nichols wasn't out of work long. Released by the Knicks last week, the rookie forward was picked up by the Cavs yesterday.

Posted by MS:

He will have a nice impact in cleveland; we should have released Jamal Crawford then I wouldn't be worried about the offense.

I hate Jefferies but he was looking a lot better and if we are going to let a big operate and a guard attack guys like him are essential to building a winner.

Nate Collins
Q Marbury
Balkman Jefferies
Lee Lee
Zach Curry

Those are the type of lineups we need to see to be successful.

"We have a new player [Randolph] who is a key to our team, and we have to go inside a lot," he said. "That's not an excuse. I had wide-open shots from the corner a couple of times but saw somebody underneath and passed it. Normally, I would have shot it. I just need to start playing off instinct."

Posted by BasketballJones:

"I'm not worried about it because I shot a lot better in practice than I did in those [preseason] games," Crawford said yesterday as the Knicks prepared for their season opener Friday at Cleveland.

I agree. I mean, who cares how he shoots in actual games? Just so long as he's shooting well in practice.