How ‘selfless’ DNA has helped revive Jackies’ season

Star Jackies import Jordon Crawford hasn’t whinged once since dropping back to the bench. It’s a move which sums up the team first ethos which has been the backbone of their season revival.

Jordon Crawford of the JackJumpers celebrates Monday’s win in Melbourne with teammates. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images) *** BESTPIX ***

When Jordon Crawford’s teammates enveloped him during a post-match interview after Monday’s win over Melbourne United, it encapsulated their DNA which has turned their season around.

After scoring just 60 points in a timid road loss to Sydney, the NBL’s defending champs were 3-8 and seemingly going nowhere.

But they haven’t lost since. Monday’s 97-91 road win over Melbourne United was their sixth straight, and moved them to fourth on the ladder before they host New Zealand on Christmas Day.

After Sean Macdonald’s return from injury, Crawford has dropped back to the bench but had a major impact, including 16 points against United.

Many star imports would find it tough to accept such a call, let alone embrace and flourish in it like the diminutive point guard.

But it’s that team ethos already admired from afar which has helped the Jackies climb out of their early season hole.

“It just shows the selflessness of Jordon,” Jackies assistant coach Mark Radford said on Tuesday.

“He’s a veteran player and to be able to do that and accept it, then excel at it, it tells a little bit about our group right now.

Ian Hummer made his JackJumpers debut against Melbourne. (Photo by Josh Chadwick/Getty Images)

“Jordon gives us that firepower off the bench. It brings a different dynamic and he had a new hairdo yesterday, so he was really happy with that.

“He ends up playing the same amount of minutes and plays the back end of games when it’s there to be won. Really it just benefits the team, and that’s what we’re about.”

Fellow import Milton Doyle has formed a potent starting back court with Macdonald since his return, and Crawford’s shift has allowed them to maintain shooting firepower across 40 minutes.

“It’s something new for his career,” Doyle said.

“No one really likes coming off the bench, he’s a star player and a starter for sure. But he’s taken on that role well and hasn’t complained about it, and has come in every day and done the job.”

The offensive dymanic has certainly changed since Macdonald’s return. In their six game win streak they’ve averaged 92 points per game, after they were dead last in the league with 77 beforehand.

Head coach Scott Roth has routinely deflected praise of his coaching ability, preferring to view himself as a man manager.

It’s a strength which Radford says has been critical to avoiding panic after another slow start to the season.

“The greatest strength of Scott Roth as a head coach is to continually provide a consistent daily environment,” Radford said.

“He doesn’t change too much day to day, there’s no highs or lows. You’re never as good or never as bad (as everyone says) - that allows the players to come in and continually do the work and work things out as we go.

“Obviously we’d prefer to start better, we don’t want to make this an annual thing, but our daily training environment is very stable.

“Our players are very consistent with their behaviour, it just gives us a chance to grow as we’re trying to find each other out.”

Radford said approaching life without star Jack McVeigh after his departure to Houston Rockets was always going to take time.

“It’s been documented a thousand times, but losing Jack McVeigh and being able to navigate that space is really difficult in a pro league,” he said.

“You can’t replace him, the guy just went to the NBA. That took some time and with Ian (Hummer, new recruit who debuted against Melbourne) coming in, it’s still figuring out how everyone works together and the roles they can play for our team to be successful.

“Just a stable environment daily, and Scott leading that, is our greatest strength.”

After every early loss players were asked how they were going to turn it around. Each time the answer was “we’ll just keep working hard”.

That culture is the backbone of why the franchise has enjoyed immediate success thus far in its short history.

Crawford’s role off the bench has been vital, but Majok Deng has also been a standout.

The versatile forward has added punch off the bench and will take on a bigger role with star centre Will Magnay out injured for several weeks.

He racked up 11 points (4-7 FG), seven rebounds and a steal against Melbourne.

“He’s a difficult match up. He can play the four and the five and play different roles depending on who we play,” Radford said.

“He can shoot the ball but can also go off the dribble, he’s a problem. We love him when he’s aggressive, and he was aggressive last night.

“He causes problems with mismatches and can go into the post. He makes our offense well rounded when he’s at his best.”

Doyle said they always had belief things would start to click.

“It’s about knowing the game of basketball and there’s ups and downs,” he said.

“It’s a process, at the beginning of the year you’re working out your own team and everyone else. You’re practising every day and trying to get better.”