In regard to the team’s early season turnouts, the Boston Celtics’ scoring production off the bench has been a bit lacking. Could Jamal Crawford help boost the team’s second unit in this category?
Danny Ainge is known for shaking things up and taking risks, so why not sign a soon-to-be 40-year-old shooting guard in hopes of rejuvenating a Boston Celtics second unit that has been struggling to start the season?
While it sounds like a potential long shot, Jamal Crawford very well could be exactly what Boston needs.
Let’s first start with the Celtics’ bench that ranks towards the bottom of the league in nearly every statistical category.
Through their first five games, Boston’s second unit ranks dead last in points per game (21.4), field goals made (7.6), 3-pointers (1.4), and 3-point percentage (15.2%). It is also in the bottom five in minutes played (16.2) and rebounds (13.4).
In comparison, Beantown’s starters rank amongst the top of the league in nearly all usage statistics.
With the exception of the reliable play of Marcus Smart, Boston’s bench has been underperforming, to say the least. The return of Enes Kanter will help, whether he ends up starting or not. If he joins the first-five, Daniel Theis would return to the second unit. However, if Brad Stevens keeps Theis in the starting lineup, then Kanter would certainly provide a scoring option off the bench.
Either way, a healthy Kanter will help the bench issues… but he will not solve them.
With that in mind, let’s make the case for signing Jamal Crawford.
Crawford is a three-time Sixth Man of the Year award winner and is one of three players in NBA history to score 10,000 points off the bench. Unlike other players that the Boston Celtics could consider signing, we know that Crawford will have no problem playing a bench role.
While Crawford is up there in age, there should be no doubt that he can still be an effective scorer in the NBA. Last season, as a member of the Phoenix Suns, Crawford averaged 7.9 points and 3.6 assists per game on 40% shooting from the field and 33% from downtown in 19 minutes of action. He also became the oldest player in NBA history to score 50+ points in a single game (51 points in their season finale against the Dallas Mavericks).
Crawford is one of the best bench scorers of all time, which is exactly what the Celtics need in order to relieve some of the responsibility from the starters. In addition, he can also provide mentorship to a second unit that often features two rookies, Carsen Edwards — a scoring guard similar to Crawford — and Grant Williams, as well as Robert Williams III, who is in his second year.
The Boston Celtics are also the least experienced team in the NBA in terms of average seasons of experience.
So, will Jamal Crawford singlehandedly turn Boston’s bench from a league worst to a league best?
In short, Probably not.
But he would certainly help, both in the short term and long term (in regard to mentorship).
Crawford can provide microwave scoring off the pine, which is desperately needed in order to take pressure off of the starters. He can also be a veteran voice in the locker room and help guide this young Celtics squad over the course of a long season.
Crawford wants a chance to contribute for a contender, and Boston needs more contributions from their bench if they want to be seen in that vein.
In conclusion: Danny Ainge, if you’re reading this (which you obviously will be) please take a chance and sign Jamal Crawford. Beantown would welcome a bonanza of flashy handles from one of the game’s finest-aging ballers. Let’s spruce up that bench with a legendary sixth man!