Heat expects big things from James Jones after All-Star break

PHILADELPHIA — Soon, school will be out for Heat forward James Jones.

"I'm expecting big things out of him in the second half of the season," forward Udonis Haslem said.

That means Jones, Miami's angular, 6-foot-8 sixth-year small forward, has to become proficient in the Heat's unusual system of defensive rotations. He also has to get comfortable offensively alongside ball-handling guards Dwyane Wade, Mario Chalmers and Chris Quinn. And Jones has to do it quickly.

For the past few weeks, Jones, who has played in 11 games for Miami, has been cramming. Pre-season wrist surgery put him way behind and he's been watching extra film and doing other homework to catch up.

But the Heat (26-22) needs him now, as in today's 7 p.m. game at Philadelphia (24-24). With guard Daequan Cook home nursing a bruised left thigh, the Heat has an opening for a long-range shooter. Jones, who tied for third in three-point percentage (.444) last season with Portland, was signed as a free agent for that purpose.

"I'm anxious to get involved and have a bigger role and do more," Jones said.

But first, there's the defense. Almost every first-year player struggles with it because of the Heat's system of rotating and helping.

"Because we force the ball baseline and not to the middle, a lot of times we' re not guarding our guys straight up," Jones said. "We're influencing them one way, so they have a slight half-step on you. That half-step means your defensive reaction time is sped up so much faster. It's unnatural, but you get used to it."

It helps that Jones, who seems to have moved past Yakhouba Diawara in the lineup, is a smart player.

"He's got a great understanding of the league tendencies and really pays attention to the game plan," coach Erik Spoelstra said.

Offensively, Wade is trying to fast-track Jones' learning.

"I want him to shoot it every time he touches it in practice just so he can get the feel of it," Wade said.

Wade has also told Jones he'll try to give him the same shots he gave Cook, who ranks sixth in three-pointers made at 105.

"Hopefully after the All-Star break he'll be where we need him," Wade said.

Once that happens, it's on, Haslem said.

"I even envision lineups where we can put him at the four (power forward) and maybe me at the five (center), or whatever the situation might be, and we can put an all-shooting lineup on the floor," Haslem said. "There are a lot of different things you can do with a guy like James."

(palmbeachpost.com)