Jamal Crawford is on course to finally break his ignominious streak of playing more NBA games without ever making the playoffs (604).
Crawford's Hawks, which won 47 games last season, are 6-2 after last night's 114-101 win over the Knicks at the Garden. But Crawford believes that steak would have ended for him last season if Knicks team president Donnie Walsh didn't trade him and Zach Randolph last Nov. 21 in the name of 2010 cap room. The Knicks were 6-5 when the deals were made. They went on to finish 32-50 season. The Knicks still haven't recovered, talent-wise and are still without a go-to guy who wants to take the big shot -- Crawford's staple.
"Yes, we would've made the playoffs last year," Crawford said. "I think [39] wins was the playoffs. We would've gotten in."
Crawford admits to being disappointed at the trade because the Knicks were finally winning. He wound up in a horrible situation and warred with Warriors coach Don Nelson.
"Last year was the best start in the last 10 years," said Crawford, who spent four-plus seasons in New York. "My only regret was that I was here through the roughest times, I wanted to be here for the good times. That's what bothers me the most."
Crawford said he is friends with LeBron James, whom he has known since James was in high school and Crawford was a Bull. James would come from Akron, Ohio, to Chicago to work out at a prestigious gym frequented by NBA players.
If the Knicks get James, it would be partly because Crawford's pact was off the Knicks' books. But he's not sure either James or Dwyane Wade would consider coming to a loser. The Knicks were in danger last night of tying their worst start in history.
"Honestly, I wouldn't say they have to make the playoffs," Crawford said. "They just have to compete. Both those guys are on really good teams right now. It would be tough for them to leave that."
Crawford also doesn't think Joe Johnson, the Knicks' fallback choice, is coming.
"He's staying with us," Crawford said with a smile.
Crawford does acknowledge a 25-win season will turn off free agents.
"I don't think it helps them at all," Crawford said.
Crawford said he spoke to James after his visit to New York last Friday.
"I'll keep that conversation private," Crawford said.
Now that he is out of Golden State, Crawford is ecstatic, even as a sixth man.
"This is the most excited I've been since high school when I won a championship," Crawford said. "This is a ball. Everybody's close to everybody. Everybody knows their roles."
That can't be said about the Knicks, who made another lineup change -- their fourth in nine games. Rookie Toney Douglas, off his spectacular 21-point showing vs. Utah, started at shooting guard, playing alongside Chris Duhon. Larry Hughes was benched.
Crawford admitted the current cast is talent-thin. Nate Robinson, Crawford's high school teammate in Seattle, sat out again with a sprained ankle, missing his sixth straight game. Crawford's buddy, Eddy Curry, practiced Wednesday for the first time since Day 1 of training camp.
"I know [coach Mike] D'Antoni will have them competing, they'll always play hard," Crawford said. "But until guys like Nate and Eddy get back together, it's going to be pretty tough. They're 1-7 but they're competing every night."
Crawford can't wait until late April.
"I've always said the thing that bothers me most about that streak is I never actually played in the playoffs," Crawford said. "It's not the streak. It's that I haven't participated. God willing, everybody stays healthy, I'll have the chance this year."
Alan Hahn:
Nate Robinson has been on a ridonkulous scoring tear lately (remember when he couldn't hit Jerome James with a Big Mac in early January?)
11/12/2009 6:34 PM