Crawford 'rusty' but back in Clippers lineup after five-week absence

Published Apr. 8, 2015 2:30 a.m. ET

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Jamal Crawford returned after a 17-game absence on Tuesday, making the Clippers whole again four games before the playoffs begin. 

Crawford was out with a deep right calf contusion, an injury that had Doc Rivers "skeptical" he might return in time for the postseason or perhaps not at all.  

The Clippers need the NBA's reigning sixth man of the year in the playoffs, and his get his presence was just what the doctor ordered.

"I was OK. I was rusty," Crawford said. "I played 19 minutes, but it felt like it was 35 minutes. That's to be expected. That was the first time I played 5-on-5 since I got hurt. I just started running this past week. But I think that's what these games are for. I'm a big-picture guy.

"I don't get too high or too low. If I would've had 25, I wouldn't have been too excited. I know it's a process."

And for Crawford and the Clippers, that big picture is the postseason and pursuit of the organization's first NBA championship. 

Crawford made 2 of 7 shots and scored 4 points in 19 minutes. It wasn't about the number of minutes or shots, but the fact Crawford was back with his teammates on the bench and not in street clothes.

"It was great to have him back. he puts pressure, even if he's not taking that many shots, he puts pressure on a team," Blake Griffin said. "Just to have him back is great. You could tell he's a little slower. He probably didn't feel at his best. He was good for us.

"That's going to come back so quickly, especially for a guy like him. He never forgets how to play. We just want to keep him coming along and not push him too, too much because we need him for the playoffs more than anything."

After the March 2 injury in Minnesota, Crawford was being driven around Staples Center in a golf cart and walking with a considerable limp. 

Even two weeks ago, Rivers was worried about Crawford. 

"Two weeks ago, Woody (assistant coach Mike Woodson) and I were sitting on our balcony at our facility and we watched him walk in and he could barely get out of his car," Rivers said. "When we saw that we looked at each other and said, 'that's not a good sign.' and now, I don't know what happened (to become healthy so fast)."

Crawford was out five weeks as was Griffin before him. Griffin had surgery on his elbow from a staph infection.

Griffin has fresh legs going into the postseason. The Clippers are 53-26 and are tied with Houston for second-most wins in the Western Conference. 

The Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies are both 10 1/2 games behind Golden State in first, and the teams meet Saturday at Staples Center in a game that will be impactful in the final standings. 

And Crawford's return will be impactful as well. 

The fatigue factor was evident and Crawford said: "Sometimes it felt like I was carrying one of my teammates."

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Hopefully not Glen "Big Baby" Davis, who weighs about 300 pounds. 

Asked if the injury was a blessing in disguise because he'll have fresh legs, Crawford said not really since he likes to keep a rhythm and plays basketball year-round.

He's not sure how long it will take to regain the form that he had going into March 2, when he was averaging 16 points per game off the bench.

"I think for me, that's why I play so much (to keep my rhythm)," Crawford said. "Even on the All-Star break, I like to stay in rhythm. It's hard. If you take four or five days off for the All-Star break and then come back to practice, you come back a little rusty and sloppy. I had five weeks. I'm trying to catch up really fast, but I have no doubt that I will be fine by the time the playoffs start."

Said Chris Paul: "It was great to have him back. Me and 'Mal have been talking for a while. You know when you've been out that long everybody wants you to come back and be the same guy right away. It's going to take some time. He's going to work his way through it."

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