James Jones thriving in supporting role

After months and months of residual discomfort, it finally happened one morning this summer. James Jones opened his eyes, rolled out of bed and moved his wrist without pain.

Two years after surgery on his right wrist that threatened to derail his career, Jones is enjoying a personal comeback amid the hysteria surrounding the Heat. The 30-year-old shooter and graduate of the University of Miami has made 18 three-pointers through five games, the most in the NBA. He only had 37 all of last season.

``His confidence is growing daily,'' coach Erik Spoelstra said. ``This is who he used to be.''

This is the player Spoelstra and Heat president Pat Riley envisioned when the Heat signed Jones to a free agent contract in 2008. Shortly after returning to his native Miami, Jones ruptured a tendon in his shooting wrist that required surgery. He struggled through two seasons and the Heat waived him in June. A month later, the Heat re-signed him.

``This past summer is when I had that final breakthrough where there wasn't much inflammation,'' Jones said. ``This summer, basically two years later, is when I finally started feeling fine.''

Giving Jones another chance is proving to be a wise decision for the Heat.

With the loss of Mike Miller until January because of thumb surgery, Jones has made the most of the opportunity to reestablish his career. He is shooting 52.9 percent from three-point range and averaging 2.4 rebounds and 27.2 minutes per game.

GIVEN A GREEN LIGHT
``The way he's shooting now, I don't care if the ball goes in or not,'' Spoelstra said. ``It's the way he's taking his shots. There's no hesitation. It's catch and shoot.

``He's one of the very best shooters in this game. I do not want any hesitation with him at any point when he's out at the three-point line.''

Only LeBron James (34.4), Chris Bosh (31.8) and Dwyane Wade (31.6) have logged more minutes than Jones through five games.

These days, the only parts of his body that might feel a little soreness from overuse are Jones' legs. He welcomes that feeling.

``My legs are fine,'' Jones said. ``I've had three years to rest to build up some stamina to play some minutes but, when you're playing at the level we're playing, with the guys we're playing with, time gets lost.''

Jones' scoring production can partly be credited to the Heat's commitment to a balanced offense -- a team-first attitude. In other words, Jones is getting open and his teammates are finding him.

The Heat has set season highs in assists in each of its last three games. Against the Nets, the Heat had 29 assists in a 23-point victory. On Tuesday, the Heat had 31 assists against the Timberwolves.

James, the NBA's reigning two-time MVP, has averaged less than 18 points per game during the Heat's four-game winning streak while creating wide-open opportunities for Jones.

FINDING CHEMISTRY
Jones credits his teammates' maturity and court awareness for his resurgence. The team chemistry the Heat is enjoying is different this year, Jones said, than in previous seasons. He said he can hustle into position for a shot and know beforehand that the ball will find him.

``It's a different dynamic,'' Jones said. ``We have a chemistry of experience.

``Now I know two or three passes before I get the shot that the shot will be there because the guy in front of me will make the right play, so that makes it a lot easier because as far as my preparation, I can see a shot coming whereas the previous couple years you never knew if a guy was really going to make the right pass or just break it off and do his own thing.''



(miamiherald.com)