Advertisement

Clippers’ J.J. Redick, Jamal Crawford play with different styles

Clippers shooting guards J.J. Redick, left, and Jamal Crawford may have contrasting styles of play, but they offer a strong combination for the team's offensive needs.
(Frank Franklin II; Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)
Share

MILWAUKEE — They are as different as night and day in their styles of play, but J.J. Redick and Jamal Crawford are effective as the shooting guards for the Clippers.

Redick is in constant motion, running all over the court, coming off screens on the baseline, from the top, the side, up the middle. And he never stops moving.

Crawford uses his dribble more, crossing over opponents with his ballhandling skills, using the entire court to get free. But he’s also good at coming off screens and he’s a willing passer.

“I think we’re one of the best two-guard tandems in the league, if not the best,” Crawford said. “And we’re so opposite. We’re so different. We give you two totally different looks.”

Advertisement

Redick is the starter, averaging 29 minutes per game. Crawford is the reserve, averaging 30.3 minutes. At times, they play together in the backcourt.

“It’s a nice combination to have on one team,” Redick said. “Generally speaking, if you have a guy like Jamal, a team may start a defender-type guy. … But to have two guys that can score the basketball is nice for us.”

Redick is averaging 16.4 points per game, fourth-best on the team. He’s making 46.4% of his field goals, 37.4% of his three-pointers.

Crawford is averaging 17.9 points. He’s making 41.3% of his shots, 36.4% of his three-pointers.

“Jamal, he can get the ball anywhere,” Blake Griffin said. “He can mix it up. He can get to the hole. J.J. is coming off screens constantly. It’s two different animals, but the same result.”

Dealing with injuries

Advertisement

Redick takes care of his body, doing all the extra work so he can be ready. But now he’s frustrated because his body is betraying him just so

He had to deal with back spasms Saturday against Toronto. He has a bruised left knee and a sore right shoulder.

But Redick said he planned on playing Monday night against the Milwaukee Bucks. The Clippers didn’t practice Sunday, giving him more time to rest.

“I do activation stuff before shoot-around, after shoot-around, before the game twice,” Redick said. “I take care of myself. So, I don’t know if something happened with a little compensation with this bruised knee that transferred over here [back] against Charlotte. The shoulder thing happened [Friday in Chicago].

“It’s a combination of things. We’ve got a good staff, so I’ll get through it.”

Etc.

The Clippers didn’t sign point guard Darius Morris for the rest of the season after the second of his 10-day contracts expired. That leaves the Clippers with a 14-man roster, clearing room for them to sign another player if they want.

Advertisement

broderick.turner@latimes.com

Twitter:@BA_Turner

Advertisement