Clippers’ Jamal Crawford struggles with shooting after injury
SACRAMENTO — After missing two games with a sore left ankle, Jamal Crawford returned to play for the Clippers, but his shooting has been a little off.
Before the Clippers played the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night, Crawford was six for 25 from the field, including two for 13 from three-point range.
“No, I don’t have my rhythm back just yet,” Crawford said. “But I know it’s going to come. The more shots I shoot and miss, the closer I am to getting back on track.”
Crawford said part of his problem is that his ankle is not 100% healthy.
Crawford is not able to push off on his ankle the way he wants to and that has caused him to not be on balance as much when he shoots the basketball.
“It’s two things I’m dealing with,” Crawford said. “I need to get my health better, and I’m doing that by getting treatment on my ankle. The next thing is I need to get my rhythm back.”
The Clippers still want Crawford to be aggressive.
He’s second on the team in scoring, averaging 16.8 points per game. So the Clippers need Crawford’s offense.
“He’s had good looks and they are shots he makes,” Clippers Coach Vinny Del Negro said. “He can score in bunches. He’s a scorer and a shooter. He’ll find ways to get them up. He’s had a great year for us.”
Bledsoe still injured
Eric Bledsoe missed his fourth straight game with what the Clippers have called a “sore left calf.”
The problem is Bledsoe can’t even practice because his calf is in so much pain.
Neither Bledsoe nor the Clippers have given a timetable for the backup point guard’s return.
“No, I’m not surprised at all that it’s taking this long,” Bledsoe said. “It’s the kind of injury I couldn’t let linger on, so at some point I had to rest before it got even worse. I can’t really bend it right now. I’m trying to work on controlling the swelling.”
Bledsoe said he is making progress and hopes to practice soon.
“I’m getting there,” Bledsoe said. “Who knows? We’re going to see how it feels. Tomorrow I will come in and get some work in.”
Etc.
Ronny Turiaf missed his second straight game with a sore left knee. Del Negro said Turiaf’s knee is “a little bit better.”
The Clippers signed guard Maalik Wayns to a second 10-day contract Tuesday.
Twitter: @BA_Turner
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