"They come together in Seattle every summer, an offseason reunion. When he saw Nate Robinson this past summer, though, Jamal Crawford could see a difference.

They have known each other since the eighth grade, have played together with the Knicks. But after four months with the Celtics, going to the Finals and playing a major role in the team reaching Game 7 against the Lakers, Robinson wasn't the same player Crawford knew.

"He's grown up an awful lot,'' said Crawford. "I think that he actually won a couple of games in the playoffs for them with just his energy and his impact on the game. He's never going to back down. If you're going to war, that's somebody you want to be in a foxhole with.''"