Crawford never met a shot that he didn’t like

Reserve guard has come to the Clippers’ rescue in the last two games with his ‘crazy style’ of play.

In the land of the Clippers, there are no restrictions on Jamal Crawford’s shot selection.

The last two games, both Clippers victories, Crawford reminded everyone why that’s a good rule.

“I think one of the best decisions I’ve made when I took this job is to decide to never tell Jamal ‘bad shot.’ Ever,” Clippers Coach Doc Rivers said. “Because a guy like that, you got to let him do what he does. So, there’s nights when it doesn’t go in and you’re thinking, ‘Wow.’ But you don’t even say it then because he may make them.”

The Clippers had been in a bad way after the All-Star break, losing four out of five games. They were floundering against Chicago on Saturday night, until Crawford began to make shots from all over the court.

The Clippers were down 13 points to Boston on Monday night, until Crawford began to be that shot-maker from all angles.

In those games, he made 16 of 30 shots from the field, six of 10 from three-point range and scored 44 points off the bench.

“I think I’m at my best whenever I’m just not thinking,” Crawford said. “I’m just relaxed, playing, just hooping. It’s just basketball and I’ve been playing it my whole life. I’ve always said when you’re at your best in the NBA, it feels like you’re in high school, because you’re not thinking. Your true game kind of comes out. And that’s how I’ve been feeling and I’m just going to try and stay in that mindset.”

When Crawford gets hot, teammate Blake Griffin said “you just kind of get out of the way and let him do his thing.”

“But honestly, he can miss five shots in a row, he can miss 10 shots straight, and I’ve seen him make the next 20 — in pickup, in practice, wherever it is,” Griffin said. “So there’s not really a time where you’re just like you don’t think the next shot is going in, you just kind of wait for it.”

The clock was winding down in the third quarter against the Celtics when the Clippers had a twofor-one shot opportunity.

Aware of this, Crawford shot a 29-foot running, pull-up jumper that settled into the net for three points.

Then in the fourth, Crawford made a play that has become his art form.

He made a three-pointer while being fouled. When he made the free throw, it was his 50th fourpoint play, the most in NBA history.

“Like Blake said, I play a crazy style game. It’s not good for analytics or anything,” Crawford said, smiling. “So for me, I think I shoot it when the defense isn’t really expecting it. Like, ‘There’s no way he’s shooting it.’ By that time they react, I’m already in the shooting motion. That’s where the contact comes in.”