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Season Reviews: Allen Crabbe Proves His Worth on Defense

By Jacob Swanson

Feb 9, 2017; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Allen Crabbe (23) defends Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas (4) in the second half at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 9, 2017; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Allen Crabbe (23) defends Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas (4) in the second half at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 6, 2017; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Allen Crabbe (23) reacts after a three point basket against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the fourth quarter at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 6, 2017; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Allen Crabbe (23) reacts after a three point basket against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the fourth quarter at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports /

Last off season, the Trail Blazers gave Allen Crabbe a 4-year deal that increased his yearly salary by 1852.96 percent, according to HoopsHype.

Considering some of the massive contracts given out by NBA teams last summer, the 4-year, $75 million deal matched by the Blazers to retain Allen Crabbe seems like a pretty sound investment, despite the initial shock value of giving a role player over $18 million a year.  He proved himself as a strong catch-and-shoot guard from the wing and established a role as the Blazers’ defensive stopper.

The 2013 second-round pick by the Cavaliers was given a career high 28.5 minutes per game by Head Coach Terry Stotts. He responded with consistent defense and the second-best three point shooting percentage in the entire NBA, making 44.4 percent of his triples on the season.

Crabbe was a true anchor for a second unit that was desperate for consistency, appearing in 79 games and coming off the bench in all but seven.  His defensive season was one of the best on the team, posting a defensive rating of 108.9 on the season, according to NBA.com.  Only Ed Davis and Pat Connaughton were better among players who ended the year with Portland.

Apr 6, 2017; Portland, OR, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Andrew Wiggins (22) dribbles past Portland Trail Blazers guard Allen Crabbe (23) during the second quarter at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 6, 2017; Portland, OR, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Andrew Wiggins (22) dribbles past Portland Trail Blazers guard Allen Crabbe (23) during the second quarter at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports /

He was also tasked with guarding the other team’s best player, leaving him on the floor during crunch time.

Def Pen Hoops’ Justin Jett noted down the stretch of the Blazers’ 110-106 win over the Spurs on March 15.

This continued into the postseason, when Crabbe was given the unenviable task of tracking two-time NBA MVP Stephen Curry, arguably the most lethal shooter in NBA history.  That didn’t end as well, as can be seen in this clip from the third game of the series with the Warriors, via NBA on ESPN.

Despite the end result of that particular game, it speaks volumes to Crabbe’s value that he was given that defensive matchup, especially with Kevin Durant out of the lineup.