Posted by NYK3:

From Yahoo.com
AP - Dec 19, 6:43 pm EST

Crawford had been beating himself up over his shot selection toward the end of New York's one-point loss to Detroit four nights earlier when he dribbled 20 seconds off the shot clock late in the fourth quarter before launching an off-balance 17-footer that missed. The Pistons grabbed the long rebound and scored, putting the only blemish on the Knicks' record over the past five games.

Marbury telephoned Crawford later that night.

``I told him it was spilled milk and that there was nothing he could do about it now. He felt like he let the whole city down. That's how much he loves New York,'' Marbury said.

It was the memory of that jump shot that convinced Crawford to take the ball to the basket.


He had made a 3-pointer for a 79-79 tie with 4:36 left, then gave the Knicks an 83-81 lead on a four-point play with 3:50 left.

Bell's 3-pointer made it 88-86 before Crawford found himself isolated against him on the perimeter. Switching the ball on the dribble from one side to the other, Crawford got Bell to commit one way and quickly darted the other for a running 12-footer that restored a four-point lead.

``The Detroit situation played in my head. I knew I wasn't going to shoot a jumper. I was going to the hole,'' Crawford said. ``I'm glad I learned that in game 20 or 21 instead of the playoffs.''

THATS GREAT

thats real growth