NBA Mailbag

NBA Mailbag: Which teams are ready to climb the standings?

20-year NBA veteran Jamal Crawford answers 20+ questions after the In-Season Tournament.

Jamal Crawford, for NBA.com

Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and the Suns look poised to climb the West standings this month.

The NBA Mailbag is here to answer your questions throughout the 2023-24 season! Have a question for Jamal? Submit it at the bottom of this edition of the NBA Mailbag. 

Which teams – 1 in the East and 1 in the West – are best positioned to climb the standings over the next month?

– from Jerome in Charlotte, NC

I think Milwaukee will make a huge jump in the second half of the season. Once everything gets dialed in, they’ll be hard to stop. In the West, Phoenix is set to climb if they can all stay healthy as they incorporate Bradley Beal into the mix.

Do you think LeBron James’ In-Season Tournament win will impact the GOAT debate?

– from Will in Australia

It doesn’t impact the debate for me. But there are some people out there who value everything that happens right this second as the best. So yeah, I can see it impacting the debate for some fans. It definitely adds to Bron’s all-time great resume.

What are your thoughts on the point differential as a tie-breaker for the In-Season Tournament? I thought the tournament as a whole was a success, but that specific rule was controversial.

– from Crews in Alabama

I 1000% agree with you that the tournament was a success. It was far and away better than most could imagine. But I didn’t like the point differential element for tiebreakers. I don’t think teams should chase points when the game is in hand. It’s just a certain respect for the game I think should be had. I’m sure they’ll take a look at alternatives going forward.

Who do you see as the next face of the NBA after LeBron retires?

– from Christopher in Newport, TN

I’m not sure there will be a next face of the NBA. I think it will be a collection of faces that get a chance to grow and lean on each other to help push the game forward. LeBron is a once-in-a-lifetime player. So it will be hard to follow him.

What do you think Luka Doncic needs to improve on to win MVP, to set him apart from other superstars?

– from Romeo in Texas

What has to happen is winning. If Luka is doing the same things he has been doing, and the Mavs are 1 or 2 in the West, then that would greatly improve his MVP chances. His game is already at an MVP level.

Who are the top 3 guards in the East currently? No particular order.

– from Luke in California

Trae Young, Tyrese Haliburton and Damian Lillard.

Do you think Tyrese Haliburton will make All-NBA first or second team this season?

– from Topi in Finland

It will depend on the Pacers’ record, but he could for sure make either team. He has great momentum and it seems everything he’s doing is sustainable.

Who is the most underrated point guard in the NBA this season?

– from Braxton in Boise, ID

Mike Conley. He’s been underrated his whole career. And to be so far into his career and still be this effective is very impressive. Behind the scenes and on the floor, he’s a key reason why the Wolves are first in the West.

As a former member of the Minnesota Timberwolves, what changes have you noticed to their mentality and identity since you left?

– from Jackson in Mound, MN

The identity has become one of a younger spirit. And they’ve had young players before. But you can tell Anthony Edwards has arrived, and his team believes in what he’s selling. That’s the great part. He isn’t selling anything but himself. It’s real, it’s authentic and they’ve taken on that personality as a team. Coach Chris Finch has put them all in a position to be successful within the framework of a true team.

Is Chet and Shai the next KD and Westbrook?

– from Kenneth in Houston

Ooh, that’s tough. Westbrook and KD are all-time greats, so I don’t want to put that pressure on Shai and Chet yet. But they have the potential to absolutely carve out their own niche where soon people are saying, “Could they be the next Shai and Chet?”

How can Jalen Green thrive best in the NBA? In a starter role, or a sixth-man role?

– from T in Pasadena, CA

He’s the greatest as a starter, but it takes time. Guys like Fred VanVleet and coaches like Ime Udoka are holding him accountable and helping his growth. Right now they’re 7th in the West, so they’re right where they need to be.

Are there any active players (other than LeBron James) that you would include in a top 10 all-time list? If not, which players do you think could be on it by the time their career concludes?

– from Seth in Brooklyn, NY

I’d say Steph, KD and Giannis are all in that range. It’s hard to make the call before their careers are over, though. We’ll have to wait and see.

As a relatively new basketball fan, what do you recommend for people like me to look for during games to learn more about the strategy side of the game?

– from Matt in Philadelphia, PA

Most people focus on the highlights. But more people need to see how certain highlights happen. What was the setup, what was the play call, what footwork was used, which angle was used, which misdirection was used, etc. Those things are how you learn more about the actual game and not just get distracted by what looks cool.

When coming up to a player, what is the first thing you’re looking for on your defender to help decide how you’re going to attack?

– from Cheech in Kadina, Australia

For me, I’m never looking at the defender. I’m looking at the help defense behind him because that tells me who’s open, where to go and where to avoid. But when I first started, I looked at how the defender’s feet were positioned. That told me how they were trying to guard me, which allowed me to see the best way to counter their defense.

Out of all your seasons in the NBA, what brand of basketball did you enjoy playing the most? Was it the small-ball lineups or bigger lineups where you relied on post-play?

– from Ricky in Chester, PA

I like having post-play. It brought balance to the game on offense and it allowed you to get more pick-and-roll situations where the big was involved, and then it came down to making reads. Versus when it’s small-ball, you run a pick and roll and they just switch and it turns into ISO ball every single situation.

Why is it so difficult to defend the floater? It seems as if the bigs always move to the shooter too late to alter or block the shot.

– from Steve in Milwaukee

It’s difficult to defend because it creates confusion as most defenders are expecting you to take a 3-pointer or a layup. So that in-between game is what makes special players even more impactful. Especially in the playoffs. It forces the big man to decide what to do since he doesn’t want to leave the rim. If you can master it, the floater is a great weapon to have in your arsenal.

I just tore my ACL and I’m having surgery soon. Can you provide some advice on how to come back from that physically and mentally?

– from Brian in Longmont, CO

I remember when I tore my ACL while playing in the summer. It was my first surgery so I was scared and didn’t know what to expect. Especially in regards to the rehab. But the fear of hurting it again fueled me during my workouts. I had moments where I had tears in my eyes thinking, “Am I going to ever get back to being as quick as I was?” Once I came back from the surgery and rehab, my injured knee was actually stronger than my non-injured knee. Now looking back at all my highlights, you wouldn’t think I tore my ACL, which is cool.

So just continue to work hard and continue to watch a lot of film. You could also do form shooting in a chair, which is how I really learned how to shoot … sit in the chair and hold your follow-through. It helps a lot. Most importantly, make this injury a blessing and not something that’s going to hold you back.

Before entering the league what was the biggest obstacle you had to face?

– from Daniel in San Mateo, CA

The biggest obstacle for me before entering the league was figuring out the NBA game. It was tough to go from playing only two years of high school and a half year of college into the NBA. So learning on the fly was my biggest obstacle. But since I wasn’t technically trained like a lot of other players, that’s a big reason why my game doesn’t look like anybody else’s.

I coach my son’s U12 basketball team. We have good talent but sometimes lack that desperation to go after the ball. Is there a way to coach and improve hustle and fight, or are those innate characteristics that are either there or not?

– from Archie in Toronto, Canada

Both. Those characteristics can be there innately, but if they’re not then it’s up to us as coaches to bring that out of them. Challenge them and hold them accountable. One of the best teachers is playing time. Everybody wants to be out there. So if you hold them accountable to these things, then you’re helping them now and setting them up for success on their basketball journeys. They’ll look back and be thankful for it.

What’s your favorite beverage?

– from Caleb in North Little Rock, AR

Water. If I’m feeling really spicy, I’ll have a lemonade and Sprite mix.

For me as a young player, what are some of the key fundamentals I need to know for finishing at the rim as a smaller guard?

– from Austin in New Zealand

Play off of two feet. It allows you to see everything. When you go off 1 foot and there’s contact at the rim, that’s when you get out of control and off balance. When you play off the two feet, it allows you to see clearly and then use up-fakes or ball-fakes to freeze the defender and get closer to the rim. So plan to go off 2 feet and use the backboard.

I’m playing PG/SG and not getting enough time in matches … like 1-2 minutes. What do I need to do?

– from Demyd in Vienna, Austria

Continue to improve. Be the first at practice and the last to leave. And improve when you’re not at practice. So when you get to practice, a coach can see the difference and you can get his trust.

Have A Question For Jamal? Submit It Below!

Check back on Tuesdays throughout the 2023-24 season for more editions of the NBA Mailbag!

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