Jamal Crawford answered his phone before one ring had completed.

“How crazy is this going to be?” Crawford asked both excitedly and rhetorically.

The affable guard was referring to his Hawks’ upcoming Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Bulls, which would have been a lot more fun if Kirk Hinrich hadn’t suffered a “significant strain” to his right hamstring late in the Hawks’ closeout victory over the Magic.

Hinrich, who told one source he felt his hamstring “pop,” is doubtful for the whole series.

“We need to have him,” Crawford said before news of his status broke.

Indeed, Hinrich represented a crucial element — particularly at the defensive end — for the Hawks, who haven’t shown much trust in backup Jeff Teague. Moreover, Crawford and Hinrich, both popular former Bulls, played well in the Magic series.

Crawford, last season’s NBA Sixth Man of the Year, averaged a team-high 20.5 points in 29.8 minutes and shot 45.9 percent from three-point range.

“I played as well as I have in any playoff series,” said Crawford, who bowed out in the second round last season after spending his first nine seasons on non-qualifying teams. “I was more relaxed and confident. Last year, I didn’t know what to expect.

“That’s why we have confidence against Chicago, who we have a lot of respect for. I think it will be an evenly matched series. I don’t think there will be blowouts either way. We have athletes and a good coaching staff. So do they. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Crawford spent his first four seasons with the Bulls before leaving in a sign-and-trade transaction with the Knicks in 2004. He has been gone so long he won’t face any former teammates in this series, but the same can’t be said for Hinrich.

Traded to the Wizards to clear salary-cap space on draft night last June, Hinrich endured a losing season with Washington before landing with the Hawks near the trade deadline. Now Hinrich, who spent his first seven seasons with the Bulls, including six with Luol Deng, faces more adversity.

“We love Kirk, but we know he’s trying to beat us,” Deng said before the injury’s severity was known. “I have a lot of respect for Kirk. I came in at 19 with him as my point guard. All those guys, Kirk, (Andres Nocioni), the way they played the game rubbed off on me. They always played hard.”

That quality, plus his defensive prowess, make it easy to call Hinrich a player Tom Thibodeau would have loved to coach.

“I have a lot of respect for him because of the way he competes,” Thibodeau said. “He was in here (the Berto Center) a lot this summer, you could see his professionalism. That’s the way of the league. Sometimes you get the opportunity, and sometimes you don’t.

“Hinrich is one of the top defenders in the league. He has the ability to guard multiple positions and brings a lot of toughness.

“Crawford is such a big part of their team also. Usually at the end of the game, you’re looking at Hinrich, Crawford and Joe Johnson on the perimeter.”

No longer, thanks to the injury. Former teammate Joakim Noah, who used to call Hinrich “Kirky Worky,” wished he could play, calling him “a helluva competitor.” Crawford wished Hinrich could too.

“We had aspirations playing as well as the Bulls are when I was there,” Crawford said. “We’re happy for them, but not too happy since we want to beat them.”