Pelicans: Jordan Crawford Has Been Better Than Expected

Jordan “Instant Grits” Crawford has exceeded expectations since joining the New Orleans Pelicans. In the short time he’s been with the team, the Pelicans saw enough to reward him with a two-year contract.

In light of Jordan Crawford nailing a clutch, trash-talking, deep corner shot with 46 seconds on the clock to extend the lead 121-116 in the New Orleans Pelicans‘ win against the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night, I figured now would be a good time to talk about how’s he’s exceeded expectations and earned himself a two-year contract.

After just four games, the Pelicans saw enough of Crawford to reward him with a two-year contract on March 16 rather than sign him to a second 10-day deal.

Not only has Crawford provided a spark but he’s been an integral part of the New Orleans Pelicans success as of late and a big part of why they’re still barely alive in their pursuit for a ticket to this years playoff.

After two years out the NBA, Crawford has become one of the leaders of the second unit. He’s provided much needed energy to the bench and the team since the moment he signed.

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Earlier I wrote about why I believed Jordan “Instant Grits” Crawford would provide a spark to the then-undermanned New Orleans Pelicans, but he’s been more than that. He’s been a guy head coach Alvin Gentry has been able to rely on since jump.

Crawford has been on the floor for a majority of crunch time minutes. Has continuously hit clutch shots; including buzzer beaters. He’s even been the guy designated to take technical free-throws.

We all knew he could score the basketball at a high rate, but what’s been unexpected is his ability and more importantly willingness to play-make for his teammates.

Of course, no one’s going to mistake him for Chris Paul or Ricky Rubio anytime soon, as we all know Crawford makes his money getting buckets. But Crawford has done a good job reading the defense and taking advantage of double teams by setting up other guys.

He has helped the Pelicans keep the ball moving on offense but definitely still gets his when the opportunity is there.

Since joining the Pelicans, Jordan Crawford has scored in double digits in 11 of the 12 games he’s played in so far. In his 12 games with New Orleans, he’s averaging 13.7 points per game, while shooting 48.8 percent from the field and 46.8 from three.

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He’s scored 164 points in 273 minutes; making 63 of his 129 total shot attempts and, more impressively, has made 29 of his 62 three-point attempts.

Prior to joining the New Orleans Pelicans, the former Xavier product bounced back in forth between playing in China and the NBA’s D-League. In his first stint in China, Crawford appeared in five games with the Xinjiang Flying Tigers in late 2014 and averaged 29.4 points a game.

In his second go-around in the Chinese Basketball Association, he joined the Tianjin Ronggang during the 2015-16 season and averaged 43.1 points per game in 26 games played.

Jordan Crawford’s remarkable journey back to the NBA was capped off in his 19-point debut on March 6  against the Utah Jazz.

Per Jim Eichenhofer of the NBA.com, Jordan Crawford’s 19 points against the Jazz were the first time since 2006 that a player scored more than 19 in a game with a gap of more than 1,000 days between NBA games.

Check out some of his highlights; including his 19-point debut against the Utah Jazz.

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As the man in China, Crawford seemed to have regained his confidence and has since carried that over to his New Orleans, where he has more than lived up to his nickname “Instant Grits,” earning him a two-year contract and a great opportunity to be a part of what should be an improved team next year.