Ex-Rainier Beach stars upbeat on Knicks
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Last updated 12:02 a.m. PT

By GARY WASHBURN
P-I REPORTER

Former Rainier Beach standouts Nate Robinson and Jamal Crawford, now teammates with the New York Knicks, say they are eager to resurrect the storied franchise, and their careers, under new coach Mike D'Antoni.

The two up-tempo guards, who played in the Rip The Cut Tournament at Cleveland High over the weekend, should flourish under D'Antoni's fast-breaking style. Both are excited about the possibilities of playing in an offensive-minded system and moving on from a chaotic season in New York.

Crawford was very close to former coach Isiah Thomas and tried patterning his game after the Hall of Fame guard. But he acknowledged that Thomas was exhausted after the just-concluded tumultuous season and welcomed the change.

"I was really close to Isiah personally, but it was tough on him, the way he was treated by the fans and everything, and I think it was tough on his part," Crawford said. "So it may be best what's going on. I think he's relieved now. I think (team president) Mr. (Donnie) Walsh will do a good job as well as Coach D'Antoni."

Crawford said he has talked with D'Antoni and is recharged after being partially blamed for the Knicks' struggles in 2007-08. Crawford had a career statistical season -- 20.6 points, five assists, 36 percent 3-point shooting -- but the team was porous and besieged with chemistry issues.

D'Antoni jumped at the opportunity to inherit what is considered a talented roster, and Crawford could fit perfectly into his offensive philosophy. When hot, Crawford is a brilliant scorer and is more suited for a fast-paced style.

"I'm very excited about Coach D'Antoni," he said. "I got the opportunity to speak with him, and the way he wants to play fits my style to a T. The good thing about Coach D'Antoni is I think he can adjust his style to whomever he is coaching. And I think that's a sign of a great coach."

A few days from his 24th birthday, Robinson has had his share of highs and lows during his three seasons in New York. He averaged a career-high 12.7 points and 26.1 minutes last season, but he does not have a true position. Robinson is a prolific scorer in a point guard's frame, and the change to D'Antoni's system should exhibit Robinson's strengths.

He could play a Leandro Barbosa-type role for the Knicks. The Brazilian is a productive scorer off the bench who relies on his speed and outside shooting.

"I'm excited. I can't even lie to you, man. I had a long talk with him and he's ready to win," Robinson said this past weekend. "And that's what I'm ready to do, I'm ready to win and change the whole team around. I'm trying to change the whole game and I'm trying to turn the league around by showing them that I can play."

Robinson is a freakish athlete at 5 feet 9, but has been accused of putting too much emphasis on scoring and not enough on distributing the ball. The former Washington standout said he is committed to improving his game and sacrificing for the team.

Thomas had major issues with Stephon Marbury, Zach Randolph and Eddy Curry at different times during the season. Crawford and Robinson both said chemistry was a major problem during New York's 23-win season, and said it must improve.

"Last year was tough. For all the talent and everything coming into the season, I thought we'd at least be a playoff team, and for us not to reach that, it was probably the most disappointing season (of my career)," Crawford said. "I think with any team it doesn't matter how much talent you have -- if you don't play together, it doesn't really mean anything.

"I think it's a combination of everything -- hanging out more, giving yourself up for the team. If your role on the team is to score you have to come and do that every night. If your role is to set picks and get rebounds you have to do that every night."

Robinson said the key is to establish closeness and eliminate selfishness. Many players complained about playing time and how they were used, and it reflected in their effort.

"Whatever it is, if we need to go to the movies with each other, on the road, team dinners, team functions, guys supporting guys, barbeques, every little thing," Robinson said. "Whenever somebody has something, everyone on the team should show up, that shows the love and bond as teammates. Guys just have to do it for each other and we'll be all right."

As each player wowed the crowd during Rip The Cut -- Crawford with a 3-point barrage and Robinson with dunks off the vertical jump -- they appeared rejuvenated about their situation in New York.

"I am going to get in tip-top shape because I know how Coach D'Antoni likes to play," Crawford said. "And just work on my weaknesses like defense and better shot selection and watch a lot of tapes. I wasn't necessarily shocked (about Thomas' firing), but a little disappointed because I liked my relationship with Coach Thomas. But I was not disappointed at all when I heard about Coach D'Antoni, I was ecstatic."

Said Robinson: "It's going to be fun because he likes to win and he likes to have fun. And he is preaching having fun and sharing the ball and playing as a team, teamwork. And that's what we need. And for our team if each guy individually buys into what he's selling, the sky's the limit for our team."

they're both a bunch of d'alshbags...

Nate will excel because he can actually hit a jump shot and likes to take the ball to the rim.

Crawful? Again... to succeed in DAntoni's system - or ANYONES system for that matter - YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO SHOOT THE FREAKIN BASKETALL! And share, and play SOME defense, and drive to the hole to get to the line for free throws, and NOT stagnate the offense with a bunch of and-1 trickery and then brick 18 footers then watch your man get a layup on the other end.

Seriously...Crawful? He's always been in good shape, he's always been a good kid, but dammit LEARN SOME FUNDAMENTALS.

Everyone thinks he's going to excel just because he jacks up a bunch of shots and he's lean in stature so he can probably run. You have to MAKE the damn shots with some regularity ya know......

If he'd stop the goddamn AND1 BS and even just 3.. JUST THREE TIMES a game instead of doing the twelve-crossover-18-foot-fadeaway-brick move and opted driving the lane those three extra times???

I bet he shoots 43% for the season which would finally be ACCEPTABLE for a SHOOTING guard who takes THE MOST SHOTS on the team.

But noooooOOOOOOOOOOooooooooo..... godforbid...... he plays BASKETball and not STWEETBAWL.


Yet who am I to say it'd be a good idea for the guy taking the most shots on the team to be able to shoot a higher percentage... it's all about the crossovers!

Posted by islesfan:

Blah blah blah

It's always the same meaningless blather coming out of these guys mouths. Crawford is really going to work on defense and shot selection in the offseason? Really? And Nate just wants to have fun, as would any clown.

These 2 losers have to be part of the purge.

How do you "work on" shot selection?
I'm thinkin we rig him up to some electrodes and just zap him when he takes an off balance shot.
We can install buttons on the arms of the seats in the arena.
Now THAT's entertainment.

Ticket to a Knicks game: $50
Hot dog & soda: $45
Seeing Crawful writhe on the Garden floor after being Tazr-ed: Priceless!

I understand Craw nor Nate are perfect players, but they were the least of our problems. Problems in order were:

1) a coach who lost his team and thus, a team that had no structure, discipline
2) a PG who essentially quit
3) a C who was less enthusastic than ever to rebound or play D, and more confused than ever about how to contribute on O
4) the most selfish player I've ever seen at PF
5) no NBA caliber SF on the roster until Chandler got PT in the last 20 games

Posted by purple012870:

I understand Craw nor Nate are perfect players, but they were the least of our problems. Problems in order were:

1) a coach who lost his team and thus, a team that had no structure, discipline
2) a PG who essentially quit
3) a C who was less enthusastic than ever to rebound or play D, and more confused than ever about how to contribute on O
4) the most selfish player I've ever seen at PF
5) no NBA caliber SF on the roster until Chandler got PT in the last 20 games

I disagree on some things. Crawful took the most shots of anyone on the team and shot nearly the worst percentage of anyone on the team. He also controlled the ball on offense more than anyone else and is a very low IQ decision maker with the ball. Those are huge problems! Yet, Jamal is a coachable type so this is the COACHES fault NEARLY across the board (no reason Jamal cant tell himself to take a better shot here and there....)




1) However, the coach did not lose the team, the coach lost himself after he was embarrassed in court for being the idiot that he is. He then went on the take it personal with Marbury because of the way Marbury crapped all over the trial when on the stand. He then sat there like a zombie for several months before resorting to blaming the disaster on the fans (and whatever else he came up with). Zeke quit on the team first - then they followed.

2) It's not really the PG's fault that he was brought here to be THE MAN then tossed aside and told to be Eric Snow or to hit the showers while the team handed the ball to a much worse player in Crawful. You'd lose interest also. It doesn't excuse his subsequent behavior but there is a reason why it went this way and this was terrible decision making by Larry and Isiah - and then Isiah. Lenny & Marbury were successful. Not excellent, but, successful. Crawful+Larry and Crawful+Isiah has been a disaster. Gotta face facts we were much better when Marbury WAS the lead player gunning away at nearly 47% from the field with 8+ assists.....and everyone else was a supporting player.

3) The Center wouldn't be so disinterested if the stupid GM didn't go from featuring him to telling him to be Stephen Hunter or hit the showers while handing the ball to a much less efficient player in Randolph. Although the Center had a non-offseason. Got robbed then never worked out - he ditched his usual summer workout regiment.

4) Yes, Agreed, Zach is pure trash outside of a printed box score.

5) Yeah, in fact the last time we had a decent SF was KVH of all people...and then Spree (forced out of position) before him. Is this our curse? To never have a viable SF candidate? Oh and who knows if Chandler is an option........when the team is absolutely terrible sometimes a mediocre player LOOKS real good - until you get a good team again then suddenly he turns into the weak spot. We'll see....

This is why I keep saying that before we talk about verticals & wingspans & outside jumpers, we need to select players & coaches that give a sh!t. Guys that are tough & don't quit when challenged. Guys who are team 1st.

Posted by purple012870:

I understand Craw nor Nate are perfect players, but they were the least of our problems. Problems in order were:

1) a coach who lost his team and thus, a team that had no structure, discipline
2) a PG who essentially quit
3) a C who was less enthusastic than ever to rebound or play D, and more confused than ever about how to contribute on O
4) the most selfish player I've ever seen at PF
5) no NBA caliber SF on the roster until Chandler got PT in the last 20 games

actaully I think the #1 thing that killed us last year was shooting. Thats why we were out of so many games by so much so early. Yes, the terrible defense didnt help, but look at our shooting %s player by player. They are utterly putrid. Our offense was anyone within 18 feet of the basket had freedom to hurl the ball in that direction shoot. You cant win like that.. cant even compete

a complete lack of interior defense was our biggest weakness last year

This is like comparing the ugliness of Rosanne Barr & Rosie O'Donnell?

Defense, offense & everything in between sucked.

Interior D'.
No shotblocking
Poor field goal percentage
Poor turnover rate
poor passing
low iq players
lack of hustle players
Important pieces coming in out of shape
Poor attitudes
No perimeter defense
poor coaching

To me, all of these things are all equal and all need to be addressed during the rebuilding process. Not one thing is more important than the other. Everything needs to change, equally.