Allen Crabbe is just four 3–pointers — or one hot half — away from breaking the Nets’ single-season record.
For much of his first season in Brooklyn, Crabbe’s production hasn’t matched his $19.3 million price tag. But the Nets are hoping his second-half surge will continue next season. Earning the record can only help.
“It’s cool for him, cool for the organization. Breaking a record, internally it’s good, too. Why not? You have goals to do things well,” coach Kenny Atkinson said. “Since he’s taken that green-light message to heart, his big improvement is being more assertive on both ends — hunting shots more, working harder to get his shot, and defensively I’m proud. … That record is a signpost that he’s doing better.
“For sure [it bodes well]. Young players need things like that to boost their confidence. Earlier in the season, Allen, when he missed his shot, he’d be shaking his head or the body language wasn’t great. Having more success is getting him to puff his chest up more — not in an ego [way], he has zero ego — but getting more assertive, more confident. That’s when players really take off.”
That signpost is coming up quickly. Heading into Wednesday’s game against the Hornets at Barclays Center, Crabbe has 166 3-pointers (a career-high). The team record of 169 was set by Deron Williams in 2012-13.
“It’s cool to get that in my first season here, despite the type of year I had. The beginning wasn’t how I expected it to be. But the second half, closer to the All-Star break, that’s when I finally hit my offensive groove. Shots were going in,” said Crabbe, who added he is convinced a strong finish this season will buoy him next season.
“Yeah, definitely. The way I’ve been playing now is how I envisioned it from Day 1,” said Crabbe, who has had to adjust from playing behind Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum in Portland. “Trying to figure out how I could be effective on this team and contribute in a big way, it took me awhile. Once I realized that, I can go into next season with momentum, and knowing which way I need to play for this team.”
That adjustment took time. He’s a career 39.3 percent shooter from 3-point range, he finished second in the NBA last season at 44.4 percent and never has been under 35.3 percent. Yet, through Feb. 6, he found himself averaging 11.5 points and hitting just 35.3 percent.
Since then, he has looked more befitting of the three year, $56.3 million salary the Nets traded for. He has averaged a team-high 17.2 points and hit 39.5 percent from behind the arc.
“Coach has preached to me, assistant coaches, they’re like, ‘You’re here for a reason.’ To be passive the way I was, not being as aggressive, I was trying to feel things out,” Crabbe said. “You don’t want to come in and be overly aggressive, the new guy just jacking up shots.
“As the season went along, just started to get more comfortable. … Just talking to Coach Kenny, even in film sessions he’s talking, ‘Get 15 3s up a game; I don’t care.’ So just having that type of confidence from your coach, it just allows you to play freely and go out there and play basketball.”
How did the Nets prod that out of him?
“Yell at him a lot,” Atkinson said jokingly. “A lot of one-on-one talking helps. Film helps. Articles help. You’re constantly coaching him in that area.”
Crabbe, whose improved aggression has even shown up on defense (his 4.0 defensive rebounds nearly double his prior best of 2.6), has set 200 3-pointers as a goal.
“Yeah, definitely,” he said. “I want to get my percentages back up to what they’ve been. Thirty-six percent, that’s the lowest I’ve shot in my career. Just getting back to 40 percent-plus is key. Just looking forward to going into the summer, having a big summer and really improving.”
Dante Cunningham (concussion protocol) is questionable to play Wednesday.
