NEW ORLEANS —    Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade found himself conflicted while watching the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. He won't face a similar challenge in the Elite Eight.

Thursday night, while preparing for Friday's game against the New Orleans Hornets, Wade watched his alma mater Marquette defeat the University of Miami, a team he had otherwise thrown his support behind this past season.

However, with Indiana losing to Syracuse to set up a Saturday Syracuse-Marquette game in the East Regional final, it won't create a case of mixed allegiances, with Indiana coached by Tom Crean, who coached Wade at Marquette.

"It was an unbelievable season by the Miami Hurricanes, really helping bringing more attention to Miami basketball with the great season they had," Wade said. "Obviously, I'm excited for Marquette to finally get over the hump, going to the Sweet 16 three years in a row and finally getting over that hump. And the performance that they put on was pretty impressive. I'm looking forward to the next challenge."

Wade, though, did take time to tease teammate James Jones, a University of Miami graduate.

Asked what his rooting choice would have been had Indiana advanced to play Marquette, Wade said, "You know what? I wouldn't have had one. I was in a win-win situation if that would have happened. When Indiana got that draw against Syracuse, I knew it was going to be a tough one, but I would have been in a win-win situation."


(sun-sentinel.com)

ORLANDO — Last year it was Dwyane Wade versus Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller.

This time, Wade is up against James Jones.

For the second consecutive year, Wade's collegiate team will face the alma mater of a teammate in the NCAA Tournament. It happens when Marquette plays the University of Miami on Thursday in the Sweet 16.

"Me and James are going to have a lot of dialogue over the next couple days, I can tell you that," Wade said. "It's great. First of all, for Miami I'm very excited for Coach (Jim) Larranaga and that program and what he was able to accomplish. That's a very good team over there."

With that said, Wade is banking on the Golden Eagles collecting a victory. Last year they fell to the University of Florida, where Haslem and Miller played.

"I'm excited for Marquette to be back in the Sweet 16 again," Wade said. "I don't want my team to be satisfied with that. I feel like we've been there the past three years. We haven't done anything. I look for good basketball. Obviously, I want Marquette to win but good luck to Coach Larranaga and 'The U.' It's special. Whichever teams wins, deserves it."

Jones sounded the more confident of the two. In the past, the Heat players have made friendly side bets during the tournament.

Jones said there is no need.

"Either way, it goes we're both excited that both teams will be there," Jones said. "But a victory for me is the only thing that matters. There is no side bet. I don't even think it's fair because I think my team is going to win anyway. Knowing this going in, it wouldn't be right for me to bet him anything."


(sun-sentinel.com)

CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Behind University of Miami assistant coach Chris Caputo's desk in his office, a photo of the Miami Heat's big three is tacked up against the wall. In the lobby of the Miami men's basketball office, a copy of ESPN the Magazine's music issue, featuring LeBron James on the cover.

Those are just some of the more subtle reminders of the superstars who live next door.

There are the other photos, the ones of James, Dwyane Wade and Miami alum James Jones sitting courtside when Miami played North Carolina in early February. There are the stories of James and Wade copy-catting dunk moves from the Hurricanes, and of Chris Bosh's call-to-arms speech two summers ago.

Coming off a loss in the NBA Finals and heading into the uncertainty of a lockout, Bosh was in an unusual mental state when he joined Hurricanes players for pickup games.

"I didn't know if I was going to play basketball again," Bosh said Tuesday night. "I just kept thinking, 'What if I had done this? What if I had done that?' I just told them to work harder so they wouldn't have any regrets."

Bosh lectured the players, telling them winning — and the chance to play in the NBA — doesn't come easily. They had to be more competitive, work harder off the court.

Hurricanes coach Jim Larranaga has called it the best five-minute speech he's ever heard and has not been shy about praising Bosh for igniting the fire in his players. "The message was clear: You've got to work very hard," Larranaga said.

"He gives me way more credit than I deserve," Bosh said, laughing. "He's the coach. He motivates those guys daily. Those guys do their job daily. They deserve the credit."

The ties between the pro and college programs go deeper than one brief speech that kickstarted a program revival. Heat players work out at the Hurricanes' facilities in the summer. Larranaga has worked Wade's fantasy camp. Both coaching staffs get along well, invite one another to their games and see the benefit of a mutual partnership.

Larranaga hopes the glamorous ties will help recruiting; Heat coach Eric Spoelstra hopes it helps encourage more and more kids in Miami to get into the sport of basketball.

"I'd love to see this town become a basketball town," Spoelstra said this week. "I've probably gotten to know Coach Larranaga better than any of the previous coaches. I've been over there at their facilities, talking shop with them. They've been over here. I've gotten to know his entire staff. I think it's great."


(usatoday.com)

MIAMI (AP) -- Miami Heat star James Jones is surprising a Florida foster boy with a personal invitation to attend his summer camp.

Child welfare officials orchestrated Thursday's surprise, telling the 11-year-old he is meeting Jones to get an autograph at Little Haiti Cultural Center. But Jones has made arrangements for the child to attend his Camp for Champions next week along with other South Florida foster youth.

The annual camp includes sports and leadership activities designed to build self-esteem and confidence.

The Department of Children and Families has been encouraging parents to include foster children in normal activities such as team sports, summer camps and family vacations in an effort to create a more normal upbringing.


(wsvn.com)

Children getting swim lessons at a YMCA summer camp is a normal occurrence.

Getting personal instruction from a Miami Heat player? Not so much.

James Jones recently jumped into the water alongside children at the YMCA Aquatic Center in Pembroke Pines as part of a partnership to promote water safety in South Florida. According to the YMCA, drowning is the leading cause of death in Florida for children ages 1 to 4. South Florida led the state with 41 drownings in Miami-Dade and 61 in Broward in 2010. Broward had eight drowning deaths in 2011.

Many children are exposed to water by their parents but don't receive specialized instruction, said Sheryl Woods, president and CEO of the YMCA of Broward County.

"Parent teaching is great, but formal instruction is better," she said. "There are lots of other safety components than just swimming lessons."

Jones said water safety is important to him since he has children of his own. He's participated at past water safety events on behalf of the Heat.

"I don't want to be one of those parents who hears tragic news about their children," Jones said.

Jones joined several YMCA instructors who were working with children ages 6 to 13. Instructors taught children how to jump off a diving board, as well as how to swim with a paddle board. Older children practiced jumping off a starting block, while Jones helped younger children with floating and practicing their backstroke.

"These kids are sponges. They listen," Jones said. "Their eyes light up when they see someone cares about them."

Swimming safety is nothing new for Heat courtside TV reporter and host Jason Jackson, who grew up as a water safety instructor. Jackson also has participated in multiple water safety events.

"This is where you can make a difference," said Jackson, who also hosts a weekday sports radio show. "These kids have an open mind."

The water safety event marked the YMCA's second time working with the Heat, Woods said. About 17,000 to 18,000 children learn annually how to swim through the Broward YMCA's swimming programs. The event's other partners included the American Red Cross and Florida Blue.

Aside from water safety, Florida Blue also encourages swimming for exercise, said Penny Shaffer, president of the company's South Florida market.

"It's how you build a healthy community," Shaffer said. "You can't get better partners than the Heat, the YMCA and the Red Cross."


(sun-sentinel.com)

Q: If Mike Miller is healthy come training camp, I'd rather give James Jones' spot to a prospect (Drew Viney or Terrel Harris) or a more "two-way" player like Raja Bell or Keyon Dooling. -- Jose, Miami Lakes.
A: But that's a huge "if", considering Mike not only hasn't shown an ability to stay healthy in his two seasons with the Heat but even make it through a training camp. But I agree that with so many 3-point shooting swingmen, it is possible James gets squeezed out either in a move toward greater roster versatility or youth.

Read more of Ira Winderman’s Q&A here


(sun-sentinel.com)

James Jones turns 32 in October and is entering his 10th season in the NBA. He played sparingly during the Heat’s NBA championship run against the Oklahoma City Thunder, averaging 10.8 minutes and 2.8 points.

As secretary-treasurer of the National Basketball Players Association and holder of a finance degree from the University of Miami, Jones is savvy enough to know those numbers don’t translate into job security.

That became even more apparent when the Heat went and signed free agent shooters Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis.

But don’t think for a minute that Jones is ready to retire. Not a chance. Not as long as he is still in the running for a spot with his beloved hometown Heat.
He has two years left on his contract, and if he gets his way, he will end his career here. If the Heat starts talking trade, he might contemplate retirement. But as long as Pat Riley and Erik Spoelstra want the 2011 All-Star Three-Point Shooting champ in camp, he’s showing up. He isn’t afraid of Allen and Lewis. He’s inspired by their presence and welcomes the challenge.

“Story of my life,” Jones said Monday. “I have always fought an uphill battle, always had to compete for everything. I’ve been around a long time, and I know that anything can happen in the summer. No one is untradeable, no one is untouchable. The only way for the team to get better is to increase competition. I am one of many great shooters in the league, and I have to keep improving if I want to survive.”

EFFICIENCY IS KEY
He insists he doesn’t worry about his stats.

“I’m not a numbers guy,” Jones said. “That doesn’t matter to me anymore. I don’t define myself by numbers. I used to, but that changed after my wrist injury three years ago. Low point of my career. A shooter with a broken wrist is useless. But I learned since then that it doesn’t matter if you score 20 points or six, it’s how efficient you are that matters most. I expect my numbers and minutes to decline with age, but I want to make sure I am as efficient as possible when I do go in.”
Jones spends three to four hours per day working out during the summer.

In the morning, he drops his three children (ages 7, 4, 2) off at day camp and then spends two hours in the gym doing strength and conditioning.

In the afternoon, he spends another hour and a half doing cardio and endurance on a bike and treadmill. Wednesday is his recovery day, his time for a massage and stretching and relaxing. The heavy basketball drills won’t start until late August or early September.

When he isn’t working out, Jones is running summer camps for local children.

This week, he has the Camp for Champions, a three-day, life-enrichment camp for 60 foster children. He teamed with the Florida Department of Children and Families on the project two years ago. He takes the kids to a Davie ranch to ride and groom horses. He takes them to the FIU North campus, where they do team building through ropes courses, volleyball, cheerleading, dance and football.

SENDING A MESSAGE
While he has their attention, he talks to them about life.

“These kids see me as a basketball player and maybe consider me a hero for that, but I want to teach them that basketball is just a job for me and it isn’t the end-all,” Jones said.

“Ninety-nine percent of the time, I’m experiencing life, and that’s what they need to focus on, life. For many of these kids, just having someone take the time to notice them can make a big difference.”

Last week, Jones made an appearance at a camp in Little Haiti and shared the same message.

Next week, he will focus on basketball fundamentals at the 2012 Dibia Elite Basketball Skills Camp, which he runs with former UM teammate Brandon Okpalobi at Ransom Everglades High School in Coconut Grove for ages 8-18.

HIS HEART IS HERE
Jones’ dream, he said, is to expand his life-enrichment camps all over South Florida. He grew up in Miami, attended American High in Hialeah and is committed to this community.

He proved that when he accepted the league’s minimum salary to sign with the Heat in 2011 rather than make more money elsewhere. That, he said, is why the NBA title was extra special for him.

“It was more than I imagined,” he said. “When I lifted that trophy, it felt even better than I dreamed it would. To win an NBA championship at home, playing for the Heat, it doesn’t get any better for a Miami kid. I had never won any kind of big title before, not in high school or AAU or college. The next-best championship I ever won was districts in high school, and that was just a small plaque. There aren’t too many guys who get to win a title in the town they grew up in.”

“Only after you play so long in the league can you truly appreciate how hard it is to win that trophy,” Jones added. “It would not have meant as much if I won it early in my career. Everything means more the older I get.”


(miamiherald.com)

Miami Heat small forward James Jones told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel on Thursday that he is not retiring.

"I guess, more than anything, I was just stating my desire to stay here in Miami," Jones told the Sun-Sentinel of the retirement reports. "If there is a trade or anything like that, we'll cross that bridge if we get there. But, like I said, I have no desire to be anywhere else but by Miami."

Miami has been busy adding 3-point shooters in guard Ray Allen and forward Rashard Lewis this offseason. Jones is embracing the challenge of having to fight for minutes.
"For me, they're two quality guys," Jones told the Sun-Sentinel. "I'll still be there to compete. I'm going to compete and I'm going to do what I do, and put pressure on Coach (Erik Spoelstra) to play me."

Jones, 31, plans to play the final two seasons of his contract with Miami, which includes a 2013-14 player option, according to the Sun-Sentinel. He says he will only reassess his plans if the Heat try to trade him.

"I'm pretty much like if I'm dealt, then that's probably it for me, because I've sacrificed money, time, energy to be a part of this to win," Jones said. "I sacrificed to be in Miami and this is where I'll be."


(sportingnews.com)

MIAMI — Heat swingman James Jones is a “calculated” person.

In his words, he never backtracks once he makes a decision. Jones will have a big one to make once the season ends. Winning an NBA title this season could potentially push him toward retirement. After nine seasons, Jones, 31, is at a point where he is thinking post-basketball.

“Most definitely,” Jones said of possibly retiring after this season. “I’ve been going for the last two years. I didn’t have a summer off coming off an injury. Then with the NBA lockout and the collective bargaining stuff, it’s been a 24-month grind for me.”

Jones, the secretary-treasurer of the NBA players’ union, spent a great deal of time last offseason negotiating during the lockout. He then jumped into a 66-game regular season crammed into four months, being called upon sparingly in a limited role. Through Thursday, he was averaging just 8.8 minutes during the playoffs.

He said it may be time to walk away. Jones, who played at the University of Miami, won the league’s 3-point Shootout during All-Star Weekend in 2011. That year, he also made a career-high 123 3-pointers.

His best overall season came when he averaged 9.3 points for the Phoenix Suns in 2005-06.

“Mentally and physically, it’s taken a toll on not just on me, but for my family,” Jones said. “At some point, you know the game comes to an end. You see the writing on the wall. You try to prolong it as long as possible. Like anything I’ve ever done, I want to walk away from my challenges rather than my challenges push me aside.”

Jones said he was thinking retirement before the season began. As a free agent, he had interest from five teams that were offering more money. He instead chose to return to the Heat for a lower salary by signing a three-year contract because the lure of winning a championship.

Now, he said he will wait to see how he feels in the offseason before deciding if he continues his playing career.

 “I know once it’s [the season] over and done with, I don’t know how the competitor in me will feel,” Jones said. “I don’t know what kind of emotions I’ll experience, but more importantly I don’t know which direction the team will go. You know championship teams try to get better. All I can control is me. This is a great place to play. They have a real opportunity to win championships. From a personnel standpoint, you just never know.”


(sun-sentinel.com)

Miami Heat swingman James Jones said he is available for Game 2 of the NBA Finals after missing the series-opener because of a migraine.

Jones said he began experiencing the symptoms after Tuesday’s morning shootaround. His absence was part of the reason coach Erik Spoelstra played basically a six-man rotation against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1.

On Wednesday, James said he was ready to go.

“I went back to the hotel and they gave me some medicine,” Jones said. “And it started to kick in late in the afternoon, but I didn’t really get better until after the game started.”

Jones said he has experienced migraines in the past, but it was the first one he had “in a while.”

“Unfortunately, it just happened on the wrong day,” Jones said.


(sun-sentinel.com)

OKLAHOMA CITY —    Erik Spoelstra's eight-man rotation apparently was supposed to be a nine-man rotation if forward James Jones had not suffered a migraine shortly before the Miami Heat's 105-94 Tuesday night loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder at Chesapeake Energy Arena.

Following the loss in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, when asked why he had gone with such a tight rotation and whether he planned to do it again in Thursday's Game 2, Spoelstra said somewhat cryptically, "Yeah, I'm going to have to see who's really available. You know, going into this game we were going to try to keep a tight rotation, maybe not as tight as it was, and give this our best shot.  But I'll probably try to go a little bit deeper in Game 2."

Shortly after that comment, a Heat spokesman clarified that Jones took migraine medication Tuesday, with the team hopeful he could make it to the court, which he could not.

Spoelstra wouldn't up playing only six players for more than 10 minutes, with the Heat outscored 58-40 in the second half.

Asked if fatigue had done in his team, Spoelstra said, "I don't know.  We played big minutes. They had a couple guys that played big, big minutes, as well. You know, because of the circumstances, I had to shorten the rotation, but I'll probably make that change and find out who will be available in the next game. "


(sun-sentinel.com)

MIAMI —    James Jones had planned to eventually put his finance degree from the University of Miami to use.

He just didn't expect the timing to coincide with a potential championship run.

Of course, if anyone can multitask, it's the Miami Heat's 3-point specialist. Last season's run to the NBA Finals provided ample practice, if not necessarily on par to the current challenge.

A year ago, amid the Heat's two-month postseason journey, Jones was kept abreast of NBA labor negotiations, in his role as secretary-treasurer of the National Basketball Players Association. This time, he has been charged with arranging a union audit amid the current acrimony between union executive director Billy Hunter and union president Derek Fisher, the Oklahoma City Thunder point guard, acrimony that has led to an investigation by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Manhattan.

Jones said as treasurer it's his obligation to assist the union's executive board, no matter the timing. But he said like last season, he would not allow union business stand in the way of the greater goal.“

I’ll be involved," he said of the increasingly ugly fracture within the union, "but it's not like CBA negotiations, where you have to fly to New York and you have to be in a meeting room for nine or 10 days. It's more of just communicating via telephone via email and putting the right people in place."

The situation has grown so divisive that his fellow players selected Jones because of their respect for his organizational skills.

"The timing was an issue, in general, and unfortunately Derek didn't seem to give us that consideration when he brought all these allegations against the union," said Washington Wizards guard Maurice Evans, a union vice-president. "Therefore, we had to address the matter urgently and we had to form a subcommittee and James is the treasurer of the executive committee."

Jones heads a subcommittee that also includes San Antonio Spurs forward Matt Bonner, the University of Florida product, and journeyman center Etan Thomas.

This, of course, is heady stuff for a player who also has to keep his head in the game at the most important time of the season.

That has the union's executive committee appreciative of the delicate balance for players such as Jones and Bonner, whose teams are in the playoffs.

"We're not overextending James in any way," Evans said following Thursday's season finale at the Verizon Center. "We're very cognizant of the fact that they're contending for a championship and we would rather them focus on the playoffs. They earned that right. We don't in any way want to hinder their ability to try to contend for a championship."

Amid word of the extent of Hunter's payments to family members and their firms, Jones finds himself in the middle of something seemingly tawdry.


(sun-sentinel.com)

WEDNESDAY, APR. 25: Miami Heat star and NBA three-point champ James Jones will be in Bermuda to help teach a basketball camp this summer.

Jones will take part in the Dibia Athletic Development Elite Basketball Skills Camp scheduled for August 6 to 10 at the Sandys 360 Centre.

Camp organizer Steven Simons said this is a fantastic opportunity for Bermuda’s young basketball enthusiasts.

He said having Jones here is “unique.

“This is huge. I think the last time we had an NBA player come to Bermuda for a camp like this was when I was 10 or 11-years-old and that was (Chicago Bulls player) Craig Hodges.”

Simons attended those camps at MSA, which were organized by Dr Freddie Evans.

Simons said he remembers the huge impact it had upon him to be able to rub shoulders with Hodges and helped create a love of the game that has seen him play for the Bermuda men’s national basketball team.

“That was so huge, especially being in Bermuda where we don’t have access to NBA players. We only get to see them on TV, but to have one here, teaching kids hands-on, is huge.”

Impact

Simons pointed out Jones’ impact could be even bigger since they are likely to be one of the playoff favourites.

“He could potentially be the NBA champion by the time he gets here considering how well the Miami Heat are playing.

Simons said those attending the basketball camp could glean much from a player the calibre of James.

“Most young basketball players are striving to be in the NBA so they can get that unique outlook from somebody who is actually there through hard work. He wasn’t a first round draft pick but he’s ended up as NBA three-point champion and he’s playing regular minutes for the Miami Heat.

“With all his experience and his know-how, it would be great to get across to the kids.”

Simons said his friend Brandon Okpalobi, who is helping put on the camp through Dibia Athletic Development, played with Jones at the University of Miami.

“He has maintained a good relationship with him since, so he reached out to James and asked him if he would be interested. James has a brother-in-law in Bermuda, so that helps.”

Okpalobi, founder and CEO of Dibia Athletic Development, said: “The youth of our community are our most important asset. Dibia Athletic Development is an organization dedicated to helping athletes overcome daily obstacles by educating them on the principles of life, while providing basketball instruction.

“Dibia Athletic Development provides elite basketball training to athletes worldwide to help them maximize their full potential. Through intense training, players develop the necessary skills to excel on the basketball court; these skills also transcend to players’ personal development.

“I have dedicated my career to helping young people develop physically, mentally, and spiritually through athletics. I am as excited about the advancement of Dibia Athletic Development Elite Skills Basketball Camps and the benefits it provides for children.”

The camp currently costs $400 for the week, but Simons is hopeful a title sponsor will step forward to help reduce the costs and make it more affordable for families.

Registration details will be announced shortly. Simons said: “We’re hoping to have 100 kids attend the camp.”


(bermudasun.bm)

MIAMI -- Heat reserve James Jones has been ejected from Thursday night's Miami-Chicago game after committing a flagrant foul against the Bulls' Joakim Noah.

The hit came with 6:05 left in the first half. Chicago's Luol Deng missed a 3-pointer, and Jones stretched out both arms while trying to move Noah out of the way for a rebound. Replays showed Jones made contact around Noah's head.

After conferring, referees quickly motioned that the flagrant was a penalty-2, which carries with it an automatic ejection. After reviewing the play, referee Mike Callahan confirmed that the flagrant merited the more severe designation.

Jones quietly walked off the court, shaking his head slightly. Heat guard Dwyane Wade, who sat on the scorers' table while referees reviewed the play, shouted "What?" in disbelief, and Noah clapped his hands in time with a chant from the stands.

It was the second flagrant foul and first ejection of Jones' nine-year career, according to STATS LLC.

Including his three scoreless minutes Thursday, Jones is averaging 3.2 points in 47 games this season.


(miamiherald.com)

MIAMI – With less than a dozen games remaining before the playoffs, Erik Spoelstra hasn't exactly posted a 'Help Wanted' sign as he looks to shore up his team's postseason rotation.

But it appears the Miami Heat coach is currently poring through resumes.

And if that's the case, it might be time for Spoelstra to amend his view of at least one applicant. James Jones shouldn't be seen as a luxury as the Heat look for reliable shooters who can space the floor around LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.

It's time to make Jones a necessity in the rotation.

Of course, it's easy to endorse Jones' application after his latest job performance, one that included matching his career high with six 3-pointers for 18 points off the bench in Sunday's blowout win against Detroit. But this isn't a spur-of-the-moment argument.

Jones has done this kind of thing before, this thing that allows him to respond to being pushed to the back of the bench by splashing threes out of nowhere the moment he enters the game. A nine-year veteran in his fourth season in Miami, Jones is like one of those characters from a pop-up book.

The only way to keep him down is to close off any chance for him to see action. But the moment there's an opening, boom. He turns in the kind of performance that makes you take notice, makes you question why he hasn't been a part of the rotation all along.

Makes you wonder why Spoelstra just won't let him do his thing.

Jones has had promising moments this season when he showed he could be a reliable and fearless shooter to complement the attacking styles of James and Wade. But Sunday's game was Jones' most playing time since January. With Wade sitting out to rest an ankle injury, Jones went 6 of 8 from 3-point range and also had four steals in 23 minutes. It was an oasis of an opportunity amid limited stints and DNP-Coach's Decision distinctions.

“I didn't know that Dwyane wasn't playing until 20 minutes before the game,” Jones said. “Coach didn't tell me anything. He just expects all of us to be ready.”

Staying in a state of perpetual readiness is the only place Jones knows where to reside. It's been that way since he arrived as a free agent in 2008 to be a Mike Miller-type shooter for this team well before Miller actually was signed.

Miller was brought in as the team's fourth-highest paid player in 2010 when the roster was reloaded around James, Wade and Bosh. Then last offseason, Shane Battier arrived to add even more depth on the perimeter. Indirectly, Jones helped to facilitate the makeovers by taking a buyout in 2010 to create salary cap space for the Heat. He then re-signed with Miami each of the past two offseasons.

“I made the adjustment last year where, mentally, I convince myself that I get paid and I'm here to be ready to play, not (necessarily) to play,” Jones said. “So I spend all my time and preparation just knowing that when I do get a chance to play, they expect me to perform. I prepare as if I'm a rotation guy even though I'm not playing. So when nights come up like (Sunday), I can help my team.”

Jones has shot 43.4 percent from 3-point range this season and has appeared in 41 games. But he's been the victim of a numbers crunch. He's not as versatile as Miller, but he's proven to be far more durable. And Jones is not nearly as effective a defender as Battier, but he's a far more consistent shooter.

The Heat also has used rookies Terrel Harris and Norris Cole ahead of Jones for stretches this season. Jones has taken it all in stride without losing any confidence in his stroke.

“It was extremely difficult early,” Jones said of adjusting to sporadic opportunities to play. “I'm starting to get a feel for it. I know that it's not an indictment of my skill level. It's just that some great players are in front of me. We're loaded. Coming into this season, I understood that. All of the guys knew we'd have to make a sacrifice. Unfortunately for me, it's been playing time.”

But that might soon change if Spoelstra truly is open to tweaking his playoff rotation, even in the slightest way.

It's safe to assume that five players are locked into extensive roles in what's likely to be an eight-man rotation: James, Wade, Bosh, Battier and Udonis Haslem. From there, expect Chalmers and Ronny Turiaf to maintain starting jobs at point guard and center – although it doesn't guarantee they will finish games.

That accounts for seven players already, which basically means one more spot – possibly two – would be up for grabs in a traditional playoff rotation.

Despite still being in striking distance of the Chicago Bulls, San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder for the league's best record and homecourt advantage through the playoffs, the Heat remain very much a team trying to see which pieces fit best around James, Wade and Bosh.

Ideally, Miller would have a key role. But he just returned Sunday after missing a month with an ankle injury, the latest setback in a line of injuries he's dealt with over two seasons.

“(Spoelstra's) got to get a rotation set so we can get ready for the playoffs,” Miller said. “I think he's going to be juggling for the next few games to see how it works out. We'll see what happens.”

Spoelstra considers this a good problem to have.

“A lot of guys are making compelling cases to play, but there will ultimately have to be a sacrifice for the team,” Spoelstra said. “I hope I have to make tough decisions as we go forward. Everybody has the right mindset in that locker room. When their number is called, they’re ready to step up for the team.”

And those who don't get many chances to step up have remained professional enough to sit down without being much of a distraction.

Jones has excelled at both.

He's even taken on the role of the always popular backup quarterback when it comes to fan support. Jones said he's heard the chants for him to play at games and has listened to sports talk radio shows, which sometimes have been flooded with callers disappointed in his limited role.

“Every guy is on edge pretty much, trying to play to their utmost capabilities,” Jones said. “What you see now is a sense of urgency with the coaches as far as the rotation, a sense of urgency as far as all the players, knowing we don't have (much) more time to figure it out. We have (11) games. After that, you win or go home.”

Miami is home for Jones.

The challenge now is whether Spoelstra can find a resting spot for the sharpshooter in his rotation.


(espn.com)

PHILADELPHIA— Few in the NBA make as much out of less than James Jones.

So Wednesday night, in a flash of 3.2 seconds, the veteran 3-point specialist managed to score more points than any other Miami Heat reserve scored the balance of the night against the Chicago Bulls, draining consecutive 3-pointers.

Actually, Jones achieved his six-point night in 2.2 seconds, removed for the intervening Heat defensive sequence.

In the wake of the 106-102 loss at the United Center, the question was whether accounting for two of the Heat's six 3-point conversions and six of the Heat's 15 bench points might lead to more time amid this continued injury absence of swingman Mike Miller.

Jones, though, seems to know better, having been through the drill these past two seasons.

"I'm not expecting that if I make shots that I'll continue to play, not expecting that if I miss shots that my number won't be called," he said, as the Heat looked ahead of Friday's game against the Philadelphia 76ers, the final stop on this three-game trip that has opened with losses to the Orlando Magic and Bulls. "For me, I know my role for this team is to be able to make shots at a moment's notice and to just have a free-and-clear mind."

So with 10 seconds remaining Wednesday, he drained his first shot of the night, a 3-pointer that drew the Heat within 102-99. With 6.8 seconds to play, his 3-pointer made it 104-102.

It was as close as the Heat would get. But on a night when there was LeBron James and Dwyane Wade and little else, Jones again provided hope that he is there if needed, when called upon.

"We all know what James is capable of," said James, who scored 35 points against the Bulls, but only two in the fourth quarter. "Hopefully he continues to get minutes, continues to get out there with us.

"We love him on the floor. He has no fear, no conscience. Every time he shoots the ball, we believe it's going in. And for the most part, it is."

Coach Erik Spoelstra was not as forthcoming when it came to discussing Jones' time on the floor going forward

"We'll see," he said after utilizing Jones for 14:41, less than all four of the other reserves utilized other than seldom-used center Dexter Pittman. "But he's definitely going to play while Mike is out, anyway. Our late-game execution, in general, has been much better, anyway."

But few can do what Jones can, come off the bench cold and heat up in an instant.

"I mean, I don't have that ability, so I can't even talk to that ability," said guard Dwyane Wade, who scored a season-high 36 points against the Bulls, including 19 in the fourth quarter. "I mean, that's special. You give a lot of credit to guys like that.

"But he works hard. When he's not playing, when he's not getting his opportunities he's still working just as hard. Like we said, credit goes to him for being a professional."

Jones now needs three 3-pointers to tie Antoine Walker (221) for 12th place on the Heat's all-time list and seven more to tie Damon Jones (225) for 11th.

"We're all big supporters of J.J.," Wade said. "And, obviously, with Mike going down, it gives him an opportunity to get back into the flow of the game with us."

But Jones has resigned himself to such opportunities being fleeting.

"I'm a pro and I know the work I put in every day," he said. "So I don't think my lack of playing time is an indictment on my skill. It's more of my position, my role with this team."


(sun-sentinel.com)

The trophy was there for the taking for James Jones.

With a chance to defend his 3-point contest championship Saturday, Jones needed just a score of 17. Instead, Jones fell just short.

He scored 12 points in the final round, eliminating him from the contest. Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Love then defeated Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant in the finals tiebreaker to capture the title.

It was Love's first time in the event. Durant, a late addition to the competition, finished second. Utah Jazz forward Jeremy Evans won the slam dunk contest, winning 29 percent of the fan votes.

"The first round I felt good, the shots were falling, the ball was feeling soft, the rim was looking nice and the shots were going down," Jones said. "In the second round, the shots just didn't want to go down."

The competition ended a week of their Heat teammates being torn between who to cheer. Many of them wavered back and forth before just deciding to root for both.

For Jones, it was a chance to become just the sixth player to win consecutive titles. The last player to do so was former Heat swingman Jason Kapono in 2007-08. Others to win the award in back-to-back years were Mark Price, Larry Bird, Jeff Hornacek, Craig Hodges and Peja Stojakovic.
For a while, it looked like Jones was well on the way to earning a second straight trophy. He won last year's event in Los Angeles, and returned to defend despite Chalmers having a breakout season at the 3-point line. They were just second pair of teammates to participate in the event together, joining Paul Pierce and Ray Allen.

Jones wasted little time captivating the audience at Amway Center. He found his stroke in the first round. After a slow start, he caught fire near the middle. Jones hit his final five baskets, tallying a round-high score of 22.

"That was definitely one of the best first rounds I've seen in a long time," Jones said. "It's just a testament to the quality of shooters in this league."
Jones after the round looked across the floor and yelled at Dwyane Wade and LeBron James, who were sitting courtside. The performance was quickly forgotten when Jones struggled in the second round. He was unable to find a good rhythm, with many of the shots coming up short.

"It's one of those competitions where at the end of the night, you're smiling," Jones said earlier in the weekend. "If you win, if you lose, you're happy, you're humbled to be a participant and you're happy for the guy who wins. At the end of the day, it doesn't determine whether or not you make it to the playoffs."


(sun-sentinel.com)

NEW YORK — Miami Heat sharpshooter James Jones will defend his title in the NBA All-Star Game Three-Pointer Contest against five rivals, including teammate Mario Chalmers, the league announced on Wednesday.

The event will be staged on February 25 on the eve of the NBA All-Star Game at Orlando, Florida.

The Three-Pointer field also includes Orlando's Ryan Anderson, Atlanta's Joe Johnson, Minnesota's Kevin Love and New Jersey's Anthony Morrow.

Jones claimed the crown last year, beating a field that included 2010 champion Paul Pierce and his Boston Celtics' teammate Ray Allen, the 2001 winner who is the all-time NBA leader in 3-point baskets.

Jones hopes to join back-to-back Three-Point Contest winners Mark Price, Peja Stojakovic, Jeff Hornacek and Jason Kapono, one shy of the record three wins in a row achieved by Larry Bird and Craig Hodges.

Chalmers is the most accurate 3-point shooter this season among those in the contest at 46.3 percent followed by Anderson at 42.1 percent and Morrow at 42.0.

Morrow has the best career regular-season 3-point average of any of the shooters in the contest at 44.3 percent with Jones second at 40.2 percent.


(ap.com)

A couple of weeks ago , James Jones said he would decline the automatic invitation to defend his three-point title during All-Star weekend in Orlando.

Jones changed his mind, however, and has chosen to make the short trip.

(Nor did it hurt that the league has raised the participation reward).

Jones is shooting 42.9 percent from three for the season, but has been out of the rotation of late.

Mike Miller, who has been in the contest twice, doesn’t expect to get an invite, though he is 12-of-22 from three since returning from hernia surgery.


(palmbeachpost.com)

Heat swingman James Jones plays one of the most interesting roles in the NBA.

One game he doesn’t even step on the court and watches everything from the bench. The next game he’s a starter and contributes significantly. Jones did not play in the Heat’s final two games of its five-game road trip, but on Tuesday he was a starter, filling in once again for injured star Dwyane Wade.

“Whenever I get an opportunity to play, my teammates and coaches expect me to come in and perform and that’s mind-set going into it,” Jones said during Tuesday’s morning shootaround. “This is a big game against San Antonio. Our team desperately needs some energy and life after a tough road trip.”

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra calls Jones a relief pitcher but, keeping with the baseball metaphor, Jones really is more like a utility player who can just as effectively fill in as a pinch hitter, second baseman or left fielder. Entering Tuesday, the Heat was 3-0 with Jones as a starter.

Jones was shooting 48.4 percent from three-point range before Tuesday, which represents a significant jump above his career average (40.2). More impressive than his shooting percentage, Jones’ level of professionalism has remained steady despite his difficult role. He said it’s something he wouldn’t have been able to do earlier in his career.

“It has been a three-year process,” Jones said. “Since the day I first got here, I’ve had to adjust the way I prepare; the way I play. And now I’m at a comfort level where regardless of where I’m playing that night — if I’m playing 30 minutes or I’m playing one minute — my mentality is the same.”


(miamiherald.com)

Q: Got a stat for you: Miami is 8-0 when James Jones takes a least one shot, 0-4 when he doesn't. Don't you think it shows how much better LeBron James and the team play when there's a shooter on the floor? -- Adrian.

A: Hmm, I looked it up and you're right. That's not to say that they won because James was shooting or even operating as a decoy. And James almost always gets his shots because of others, be it off dribble penetration or out of double-teams. What it says is that the Heat need a shooter on the floor, but that shooter might soon instead be Mike Miller.

Read more of Ira Winderman’s Q&A here.


(sun-sentinel.com)

Despite being offered considerably more elsewhere, free-agent forward James Jones has agreed to return to the Miami Heat on a three-year contract.






(fantasysp.com)

Miami Heat forward James Jones got students moving Tuesday at Indian Trace Elementary School in Weston. 

“Sometimes when I wake up in the morning and I’m tired I run in place for 5 seconds,” he said. Then he got them to run, jump and twist.

He was hoping to motivate them to stay active.

“My main message to you guys is enjoy being athletic,” he said.

Physical Education is mandated for middle school students in Florida. A proposed bill before a Florida House subcommittee calls for deleting physical education as a requirement in grades 6 through 8.

Representative Larry Metz from Central Florida is the bill’s sponsor.

“There’s an opportunity cost for a mandate when the kids might not need it. They may be trim and fit soccer players that don’t need the mandatory PE that want to take the elective that would give them some other additional interest or skill” said Metz in Tallahassee.

The American Heart Association has issued a statement strongly opposing House Bill 4057, calling it “dangerous to our children” because currently 30 per cent of Florida’s youth are overweight or obese.

“I think it’s imperative that everyone understand the long term ramifications of eliminating PE,” said Jones after learning of the bill.

It’s already very limited at the elementary school level.

“We alternate PE with Spanish. So Spanish is every other week alternating with PE which is 40 minutes every other day,” said Indian Trace principal Wanda Ross.

This spring Indian Trace will be a site for YFit by Broward’s YMCA. The after school program is an  hour and a half of physical activity two days a week. 

“We’re putting back in what’s been taken away from the schools which is the physical educator. So we’ve developed this in response to that and the child obesity epidemic to increase physical activity but also make it fun,” said Crystal Lockwood of YMCA Broward’s youth  health initiatives.

The Rotary Club of Weston is sponsoring the ten  week pilot program . After that the monthly cost is 59 dollars. 



(nbcmiami.com)

MIAMI -- Meet "The Gun."

This is a shooter's best friend in the offseason, but sharpshooter James Jones missed having it around because of the lockout. With no one else around to play with at the Heat's practice facility, free agent Jones busted out his long-lost friend and shot jumpers all by himself.

"It's really your coach," Jones said at Monday's workout. "You can pick the pace -- either slow or fast. When you're a shooter like me that's all you really need. Someone to pass you the ball."

It doesn't just pass you the ball. It's also a rebounding machine, adorned with enormous nets wide enough to snag a whale. And get this: it comes with a computer that displays number of shots taken, shots made, and even field goal percentage.

Technology!

Jones started using them in college and likes to time his shooting sessions with a watch. Yes, Jones maintains a personal shots-per-second ratio.

What's he normally shoot on The Gun?

"75-80 percent," the reigning 3-point shooting champ said.

"There's no defense so it's easy, you know?"

(espn.com)

James Jones, Miami Heat small forward. The Lakers need to clamor aggressively for Jones' services, considering ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported it's unlikely Miami will retain Mike Miller. Jones' 40.2% mark from three-point range would provide another option for the Lakers to address their outside shooting if they don't sign Richardson. Because Jones offers very little else beyond his shooting, the Lakers can sign Jones cheaply.


(latimes.com)

MIAMI— If the goal of Wednesday's scaled-down negotiations regarding a new NBA collective-bargaining agreement was to reduce the pessimism in the room, then the session involving union chief Billy Hunter and NBA Commissioner David Stern may have achieved at least one objective.

The meeting in New York amid the NBA lockout was limited to Hunter, NBPA President Derek Fisher, union attorney Ron Klempner, Stern, Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver and San Antonio Spurs owner Peter Holt, who heads the league's labor-relations committee.

Sitting out the session was union secretary-treasurer James Jones, the Miami Heat forward.

"We're very far apart," Jones said on a Wednesday appearance on WQAM. "There's always a chance of a deal being reached, because these things can moved fast, especially as you start to get up against the clock. I think football showed everyone."

Still, Jones was not optimistic about a quick fix, with training camps, which were scheduled to open Oct. 3, now in jeopardy, as well as the preseason. The Heat are scheduled to open the regular season Nov. 2 at Madison Square Garden against the New York Knicks.

"We're polar opposites right now," Jones said. "Unless something serious happens, I expect for us to miss some time."

As for his own free agency, Jones said he is leaving the door open on a possible return to the Heat.

"Most definitely," he said. "I've stated before, I'm a free agent, so that means every team has a shot. I love my teammates, I love the organization.

"I'm just hoping we can get a deal, a CBA done first."


(sun-sentinel.com)

Contract status: Unrestricted free agent.

Case for keeping: Whether it was draining 3-pointers, creating 4-point plays or drawing charges, Jones maximized his limited skill set last season. He is a specialist who accepts his role and remains a positive presence in the locker room. His height allows him to thrive as a zone-buster.

Case for kicking: By the latter stages of the postseason it was clear that a healthy Mike Miller would be the choice moving forward when it came to the role Jones held earlier in the season and earlier in the playoffs. With Jones opting out of the final year of his contract, the question becomes whether money could better be spent elsewhere.

We say: It all comes down to the degree in faith in Mike Miller. If Miller is viewed as recovered from last season’s ailments, it would reduce Jones to an end-of-bench existence. But gambling on Miller’s health simply might be too risky. At the right price, Jones stands as reasonable insurance.



(sun-sentinel.com)

"He's tall," said 13-year-old Iyonna Knight when she first spotted the Miami Heat's hometown star.

Knight is one of 57 foster kids at the James Jones Legacy Foundation Summer Youth Enrichment Camp.

It's a partnership with the state's Department of Children and Families, which runs 'Camps for Champions.' Florida International University and other volunteers also make it possible.

For two-days, Knight will meet new friends, learn new athletic games, and hear from motivational speakers.

"We want them to know we support them," said Jones, who shared pointers with kids on the court. "It's a great opportunity to have fun with your friends."

Organizers plan to make the experience an annual self-esteem building event for middle schoolers.

Before Knight leaves, there is one thing she wants from Jones.

"His autograph," she said.

To learn more about Jones' foundation and Camps for Champions go to http://www.campsforchampions.com/JJones.shtml.


(nbcmiami.com)

Joe Bell represents Heat free-agent forward James Jones and said there have been no overseas explorations with the 3-point specialist.

Jones is secretary-treasurer of the National Basketball Players Association and has been named as a defendant in a motion brought by the NBA against the union.

"He's neck-deep in the union stuff, how can he go overseas?" Bell said. "James isn't going anywhere."


(sun-sentinel.com)

MIAMI— Miami Heat free-agent forward James Jones is one of 13 NBA players named as defendants in a class-action complaint for declaratory relief filed by the NBA in U.S. District Court in New York.

The action was one of two taken Tuesday by the league amid rancorous negotiations with the players' association during the NBA lockout.

James was among the players listed because of his role as secretary-treasurer of the National Basketball Players Association.

Of the action, the NBA said in a statement, "The federal lawsuit seeks to establish, among other things, that the NBA's lockout does not violate federal antitrust laws and that if the Players Association's 'decertification' were found to be lawful, all existing player contracts would become void and unenforceable."

The NBA also filed an unfair-labor-practice charge before the National Labor Relations Board, asserting that "the Players Association has failed to bargain in good faith."

"These claims," NBA Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement, "were filed in an effort to eliminate the use of impermissible pressure tactics by the union which are impeding the parties' ability to negotiate a new collective-bargaining agreement."

In response, Billy Hunter, executive director of the union, issued a statement that said, "The litigation tactics of the NBA today are just another example of their bad-faith bargaining and we will seek the complete dismissal of the actions as they are totally without merit."

For his part, Jones has consistently downplayed decertification as a bargaining option, referring to it only as a means of last resort.

The NBA regular season is scheduled to open Nov. 1, with training camps opening a month earlier, a schedule imperiled by the lack of a collective-bargaining agreement.


(sun-sentinel.com)

MIAMI (CBS4) – Giving back to the community in a big way Miami Heat forward James Jones, along with several other celeb athletes including gymnast Shannon Miller and Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard, has launched a summer camp for foster kids.

Jones, a Miami native, said his work with children has always revolved around basketball, but he often came away wondering “how can I impact the youth, the community in a way that’s beyond the game. My desire is to do something that will have a lasting impact on them.”

Jones and DCF Secretary David Wilkins announced James Jones Camp on Thursday. It’s one of six camps around the state where foster children will learn leadership skills, team building, exercise and nutrition tips and get tutoring help.

“When you get the chance to interact with leaders like this and get the inspiration and insight from them personally, it changes your life,” said Wilkins.

The agency is looking to have more camps running next year to reach more children. There are nearly 40,000 foster kids in Florida.

Camps for Champions is an expansion of health, leadership, and wellness camps held in previous years for foster children by Tennessee Titan and former Florida State football All-American Myron Rolle and by the Dwight D. Howard Foundation.

The Heat’s Udonis Haslem and former Florida State Seminole greats Corey Simon and Derrick Brooks will also participate in the camps.


(miami.cbslocal.com)

NORTH MIAMI, Fla. (AP) - Whenever the NBA lockout ends, James Jones says the league's players will be ready to return.

Jones, who helped the Miami Heat to the NBA finals this season, believes the players tried to "move in the right direction'' by making concessions in talks with owners last month before the lockout began.

But the league's reigning 3-point shootout champion adds that he and other players are "realistic'' about the divide between the sides. The league's labor agreement expired June 30.

Jones appeared Thursday at an event to announce his involvement in summer camps operated by Florida's Department of Children and Families.


(cnnsi.com)

MIAMI— Saying he merely was looking to "find the best situation for me," Miami Heat forward James Jones confirmed Wednesday to the Sun Sentinel that he has decided to opt out of the 2011-12 season on his contract.

Jones, however, stressed that the decision was not in response to being benched for the final nine games of the playoffs, including all six games of the NBA Finals, which the Heat lost to the Dallas Mavericks.

"If anything," Jones said, "making it to the Finals is an enticement to stay."

Jones, 30, a University of Miami graduate and Southwest Ranches resident, said the decision was made merely to increase his options.

"I just decided to become a free agent," he said. "My goal is still to find the best situation for me, and that possibly could be Miami."

This is the second consecutive year Jones has hit the free-agent market, this time opting out of the $1.3 million on his contract for 2011-12.

Jones is coming off a career season from beyond the 3-point arc, with a career-best 123 3-pointers. He also won the 3-point contest during All-Star Weekend.

Jones worked out a brief separation from the Heat last summer that aided the Heat in the free-agency machinations that allowed the team to sign LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Mike Miller and Udonis Haslem. At the time, the Heat only could bring Jones back for a veteran-minimum salary.

Jones, however, actually cashed a pair of checks from the Heat this past season, one for the $1.1 million veteran's minimum and another for the $1.5 million buyout of his previous Heat contract.

In fact, even by opting out of his latest Heat contract, Jones still is due $1.7 million for next season and $1.8 million from the Heat in 2012-13 from the buyout of his previous deal. Any new Heat salary would be paid over and beyond that salary.

The NBA free-agency period begins Friday or at the conclusion of a lockout, which is expected to be imposed by the league later this week.

While Jones thrived at times during the regular season, he was reduced to afterthought in the playoffs, with Miller moving into a more prominent role in the rotation. The 6-foot-8 forward appeared in only 12 of the Heat's 21 playoff games, dropped completely from the rotation after the second game of the Eastern Conference finals against the Chicago Bulls.

Jones has been representing the Heat in the negotiations with the NBA over a new collective-bargaining agreement, in his role as secretary-treasurer of the National Basketball Players Association.


(sun-sentinel.com)

F/G James Jones (free agent): Didn't play in NBA Finals, but this is home, and he's cheap, reliable labor.






(sun-sentinel.com)

James Jones (toe) has shed the walking boot he had been utilizing during the Miami Heat's series against Chicago.

This is a positive development for Jones, who has been hampered by the toe injury as well as a bad back over the last couple of weeks. With the emergence of Mike Miller, Jones probably won't have any 20-plus point outbursts like he did in Game 1 vs. Boston, but a healthy Jones provides depth to a Miami team that doesn't have a lot of it.



(rotoworld.com)

James Jones Could See Limited Playing Time Throughout Rest of 2011 NBA Playoffs

The Miami Heat are doing pretty well for themselves so far in the 2011 NBA playoffs, and it's mostly thanks to the Big 3 of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh. Thanks to their efforts, the Heat are just two wins away from the NBA Finals.

However, the Heat have also been getting solid contributions here and there from certain role players. Udonis Haslem came up with 13 big points in the Heat's win over the Bulls in Game 2, and let's not forget James Jones' huge 25-point effort back in Game 1 in the conference semis against the Boston Celtics.

Speaking of James Jones, you might be wondering what's happened to him. He has played just 26 minutes in the series against the Bulls, 24 of which were in Game 1.

Apparently, part of the reason Jones has disappeared is because he's injured.

This is the word from Shandel Richardson of the South Florida Sun Sentinel, who reported via Twitter that Jones is battling foot and toe injuries.

There's more to Jones' lack of playing time than just his injuries, though, as Heat head coach Eric Spoelstra said that Jones' "limited playing time is 'situational.'"

That makes sense. The Bulls don't exactly have a Ray Allen that Jones can guard, and the fact that the Heat got blown out in the one game that Jones played in probably doesn't bode well for his playing time in the rest of the series. Spoelstra is likely to stick with rotation he's established in the last two games.



(bleacherreport.com)

MIAMI — Heat forward James Jones is one of the least physically imposing players on the team.

At 6-foot-8, 215 pounds, he's hardly Shaquille O'Neal. But when it comes getting aggressive, James has no problem.

He's been involved in a couple skirmishes in the postseason, refusing to shy from physical play.

"It's not that I'm being aggressive. I'm not stepping into guys' faces, and I'm not out here trying to muscle the game," Jones said. "Guys are stepping towards me, or at least I'm the guy that's out there trying to lay it out, stepping in front of them, making them uncomfortable. So it's just that I'm not going to back down."

Jones, mostly known for his 3-point shooting, nearly brawled with Philadelphia 76ers forward Thad Young in the first round. In Game 4, he got into a minor altercation with rookie Evan Turner before Young intervened. Both players were given technical fouls.

The second incident occurred in Game 1 against the Boston Celtics. Boston forward Paul Pierce took exception to being fouled hard by Jones. Pierce appeared to head-butt Jones after the play, drawing the first of two technicals in the game.

"I'm not being aggressive. I'm not a fighter. I'm not a brute," Jones said. "That's not me. But when it comes to competing I'm going to stand my ground. I might be small and frail, but that doesn't mean I won't stand up."

As to why he's attracted so much physical play, Jones said it's a matter of it being the postseason and the opposition going after the supposed weak link.

"It's nothing more," Jones said. "You just look out there on the court, you've got three of the best players in the league [LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh], and so they're going to go at what they feel is the lesser player, the rotation guys, the support guys, the backup guys. That's part of basketball. It's the chess match."

The feistiness is proof the Heat can play physical after earning a reputation of being a finesse team early in the season.

"We're aggressive, competitive players," Jones said. "Our demeanor and our motives aren't to go out there and batter and bruise people. But it's, 'We aren't going to be bruised.' We've taken our licks this year. We've had our growing pains, we've taken our lumps and I think it's made us better made us stronger and mentally."



(sun-sentinel.com)

Many of the nation’s NBA fans — and the Boston Celtics — were probably shocked to see James Jones score 25 points off the bench and spark the Heat to a 99-90 win in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Sunday.

But for the coaches and players who worked alongside Jones at the University of Miami from 1999 to 2003, his big night was not entirely surprising. He is the best student and one of hardest-working players ever to come out of the Hurricanes program, and they view his performance as a just reward.

Jones graduated from UM with a finance degree and a 3.4 grade point average. He remains the only UM men’s basketball player ever to be named Academic All-American, and he was as obsessed with his jump shot as he was with his grades.

Perry Clark, the former UM coach, texted Jones a congratulatory note immediately after the game from Corpus Christi, Texas. Stan Jones, the former UM assistant coach who recruited him with Leonard Hamilton, watched with pride from his home in Tallahassee.

And Brandon Okpalobi, a former Hurricanes teammate, fielded calls from relatives and friends during the game asking, “Didn’t you play with that guy at UM?”

VERY PROUD
“I am very, very proud of the way he played, but his performance didn’t surprise me at all,” Clark said. “His work ethic and confidence in himself has been his label since he played for us at UM. He is quiet, and very, very smart, and as competitive as they come. His talent and personality are the perfect complements for that Heat team.”

When Jones played for Clark at UM from 2000 to ’03, the coach called him “our silent assassin.” The media and opposing defenses tended to focus on Darius Rice and John Salmons, and Jones took advantage.

STEALTHY PLAYER
“James likes sneaking up on people,” Salmons said at the time. “Makes him hungry.”

Said Rice: “They never key on James, and he capitalizes.”

A prime example was a 2001 game against then-No. 22 Seton Hall.

All the talk was of the Pirates’ Eddie Griffin, who was a highly-regarded freshman. Griffin was leading the nation with averages of 12.5 rebounds and 5.1 blocks a game. More than 15 NBA scouts were at Miami Arena to see him.

What they saw was Jones, the game’s other No. 33, score a game-high 21 points on 8-of-13 shooting (5 of 7 from three-point range). His defense was equally impressive. Jones held Griffin to 12 points — seven came in the final minutes — and zero blocks.

PERFECT FORM
“James was always in the gym early and left late,” Okpalobi said.

“Shooters have to shoot, and you can tell by his perfect form how much he has worked. It’s all paying off. With LeBron [James] and [Dwyane] Wade being slashers, that leaves James to take target practice.”

Stan Jones, no relation, was impressed with Jones from the time he started recruiting him from Miami American. The son of two corrections officers, James Jones was extremely disciplined.

“His character and great intelligence separate him from the pack,” Jones said. “He has a quiet confidence, never lets misses bother him, and that’s why he’s such a good shooter. But Sunday, I was most proud of his toughness. I was glad to see him add fire to the team and not let guys bully him.”

Early this season, Jones was asked what it was like playing with the Big 3.

“I’m just another clown in this circus,” he said, smiling.

The Celtics will surely take that clown more seriously in Game 2 on Tuesday.



(miamiherald.com)

With his role reduced in recent seasons and his reserved nature not prone to hype, it is easy to forget that James Jones has been here before, at the highest level of playoff competition, with visions of the NBA Finals.

"My first year in Phoenix we lost in the Western Conference finals," the Miami Heat reserve forward said during a break in this opening-round NBA playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers. "Between me and Boris Diaw, we played a lot.

"You never forget what it is like to play when it means something."

Through the first four games of this best-of-seven series, which the Heat lead 3-1, Jones has been the Heat's most reliable perimeter player behind mainstays LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.

With swingman Mike Miller pulled from the rotation due his erratic play and various ailments, and with point guards Mike Bibby and Mario Chalmers struggling with their shot, Jones has emerged as an unlikely closer.

"This just happens to be my moment," the University of Miami product and Southwest Ranches resident said.

Through the first four game of the series, Jones is shooting 50 percent from the field and a respectable 5 of 13 on 3-pointers. By contrast, the team's remaining wings -- Miller, Bibby, Chalmers and Eddie House -- are 13 of 54 from the field through the four games, a worrisome .241 percentage.

After averaging 19.1 minutes during the regular season, Jones is averaging 23.8 in this series.

Initially bought out in the offseason to clear cap space for the free-agency haul of James, Wade and Chris Bosh, Jones was re-signed to a minimal deal.

An enhanced playoff role certainly was not the vision in July.

"James has been steady, probably one of the more consistent guys all season long in his role," coach Erik Spoelstra said. "Number one, he's smart enough to understand what his role is. He stays within that role. He accepts it. He doesn't get outside of his boundaries very often.

"He's one of our best team defenders, and obviously we know about his ability to step in and take hits and do a lot of the dirty work on the weak side and we value all of those things."

But taking charges is not the ultimate value. It is attracting defenders, something the Heat's other 3-point shooters have had trouble doing, particularly Bibby, who missed open shot after open shot in Sunday's 86-82 loss at Wells Fargo Center.

"He spaces the floor for us, whether he's making shots or not," Spoelstra said of Jones. "People know where he is on the floor at all times. So he's been productive for us and that's the reason why he's playing."

That, of course, is only part of the story. He is playing because Miller seemingly can't and because the rest of the perimeter rotation is struggling.

But what he has done is create confidence, not only with his shooting, but with defense as good as anything being offered on the perimeter beyond James and Wade.

"He stays in front of guys defensively," James said. "He's always in tune on the weak side. He takes as many hits as anybody on our team, twice as many, and he's always aware of what's going on on the court. So you've got to respect that."

Less respected is Jones' playoff resume. Yet entering this postseason, there were 52 games of postseason experience, just 14 fewer than Wade. And there was that run through the 2006 postseason with the Phoenix Suns that left him two victories shy of a meeting with the Heat in the 2006 Finals.

While that would have evoked a warm homecoming story, what he could potentially accomplish now with his hometown team in this newly expanded role is just as stirring.

"It's always better to do it at home," he said. "The playoffs, just being a part of the playoffs, is something special. But being able to do it at home means a lot more.

"I'm with that team that I watched growing up. I'm with the team that has been my NBA team for as long as I can remember. That holds some special value, because that's something that rarely happens in this league."



(sun-sentinel.com)

MIAMI— Heat forward James Jones can do more than just shoot 3-pointers.

He's plenty capable of shooting from inside the arc, grabbing a few rebounds or couple of steals and an even assist. The often one-dimensional Jones had his version of a "stat-stuffing" game in Saturday's 97-89 victory against the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

James finished with nine points, five rebounds, one assist and a steal. Only one of his four field goals came on a 3-pointer.

"Well I'm a basketball player," he said. "This team requires me to do certain things and I try to do my job as best as I can. As we make adjustments going into the playoffs, guys are starting to get comfortable. We're starting to learn to play better with each other and making better basketball plays."

Jones entered the postseason with just 23 two-point baskets. Most of his production has come on his 123 3-pointers, but Jones played more aggressively against the Sixers. He scored one basket on a rebound put-back.

That's not to say he's ready to become an inside scorer.

"I don't even like shooting two-pointers," Jones said. "If I'm shooting twos, that means somebody else should be shooting the two. That's just a chance for somebody else to get to the rim. … I know my role on this team."

Jones played extended minutes (25) off the bench because swingman Mike Miller tweaked his already injured left thumb. Miller played just three minutes before leaving the game in the first quarter.

"If I'm playing, I'm still expected to do the same things I've been doing all year," Jones said. "If Mike is playing, it's the same. Whether or not, I play a lot or he plays a lot, it will be determined by our coach. We understand. It may be me today, him tomorrow. As long as it's his number or my number, we both have to come through in the clutch."



(sun-sentinel.com)

The Heat's reserves showed the NBA just why they should fear facing Miami in the postseason as they led the team from South Beach to a 97-79 victory over the Raptors in Toronto on Wednesday, April 13 to close out the season.

Miami coach Erik Spoelstra sat LeBron James(notes), Dwyane Wade(notes), and Chris Bosh(notes), while Mike Miller(notes) wasn't on the court as well (nursing a sore left thumb and ankle).

Most impressive, though, was James Jones(notes) pouring in 12 points on 4-of-6 from downtown. Jones is now 18-of-28 from three-point range (64.3 percent) over his last eight games; which shows he's ready to deliver huge moments like the ones he gave the Heat in their 98-90 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Monday, April 11 with his two late, fourth-quarter daggers from deep.

That's not to say House's 35-point explosion wasn't impressive, as it was as breathtaking as it was welcome. However, James Jones is likely to be the first option off the bench when Spoelstra wants a three-point specialist in the game late in a contest against the Philadelphia 76ers or any other opponent in the playoffs.

What House's fabulous night showed is Spoelstra will have options beyond Jones in crucial situations. His 7-of-13 from beyond the arc against Toronto has to have the 76ers head coach Doug Collins sweating bullets wondering how he'll stop the 6-1, 190 lbs. dynamo if Spoelstra inserts him into a contest late.



(yahoosports.com)

Los Angeles - Long-distance sharpshooter James Jones received a late call and rescued the Miami Heat.

LeBron James scored 34 points, and Jones buried back-to-back threes to trigger a decisive 10-2 closing run as the visiting Heat recovered after blowing a 20-point cushion to clip the Atlanta Hawks 98-90 on Monday night.

'He's cold-blooded, he has ice in his veins,' Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said of Jones. 'When he's needed in the fourth quarter, he's proven that he'll hit big shots.'

Minutes later, Miami secured the second seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, when the lowly Washington Wizards stunned the visiting Boston Celtics 95-94 in overtime.

'It took us 81 games to get to this point,' James said, 'There's a lot more work to do.'

As a result, the playoff pairings in the East are set for this weekend.

The Heat will meet the seventh-seeded Philadelphia 76ers, while the Celtics will face long-time rivals the New York Knicks in a battle of the third and sixth seeds.

Also, the top-seeded Chicago Bulls will tangle with the eighth-seeded Indiana Pacers, and the Orlando Magic will go up against the Hawks in a showdown of the fourth and fifth seeds.

Dwyane Wade netted 21 points while Chris Bosh finished with 15 for Miami (56-24), winners for the 14th time in 17 games, including Sunday's physically and emotionally 100-77 beat-down of Boston.

After building a 76-56 cushion with 3:18 left in the third quarter, the Heat appeared to tire. Playing mostly with a lineup of reserves and using an effective zone defence, the Hawks went on a 31-12 run, capped by Zaza Zaza Puchulia's drive past Zydrunas Ilgauskas to pull within 88-87 with 3:30 remaining.

On the play, he clipped Ilgauskas with an elbow in the face. Ilgauskas retaliated by firing the ball off Pachulia's back as the Hawks big man trotted down court. Ilgauskas was ejected and Atlanta hit the free throw to knot the game at 88-88.

Enter Jones, who replaced Ilgauskas in a move that immediately paid off. He promptly fired in the go-ahead three and added the ensuing free throw after being fouled by Josh Powell with 3:15 left.

After Bosh took a charge on Powell, Jones nailed another from behind the arc, just 34 seconds later. James added the final three points and the Heat escaped with the victory.

'When I came in guys told me, we'll get you some shots, make sure you get them up and make sure you make them,' Jones said. 'I got a good one up and Powell was a little too late recovering for the four-point play. I hit another one that sealed the deal.'



(monsterandcritics.com)

View more videos at: http://www.nbcmiami.com.

(nbcmiami.com)

AUBURN HILLS, MICH. — Many, including Erik Spoelstra at times, have presented this as an either-or proposition. If Mike Miller plays, James Jones sits. There are only so many minutes to divide among reserve perimeter-oriented players on a Heat team that features two of the world's best starters at those positions.

Yet Wednesday against the Detroit Pistons, for a third straight game, Spoelstra checked Miller and Jones into the game together.

And, later, they were both out there again, during the stretch that the Heat pulled ahead and away.

With LeBron James triggering the offense and Dwyane Wade on the bench, Miller and Jones each made three-pointers during an 18-0 run that helped the Heat overcome a sluggish defensive start, and the ragtag Pistons, in a 100-94 victory.

"Potent," Jones described the lineup.

Let's start with promising.

And let's start with the two reserves, rather than focusing on the starters - even as James, Wade and Chris Bosh combined for 66 points, 19 rebounds and 13 assists. By now, you pretty much know what they're giving you. To beat teams far better than Detroit, however - even on a night that Rip Hamilton (27 points) found his 2004 form - the Heat must get some offensive production from its bench.

Wednesday, the Heat got 22 points from Miller and Jones. They weren't lights out, making 5 of 12 three-pointers, but that shouldn't dim the enthusiasm. They weren't shy, even Miller, who has often been reluctant to fire.

This is what the Heat needs its shooters to give its stars: "Daylight," Jones said.

When they're threats, James, Wade and Bosh have the space to operate.

"We can take advantage of the 'four' guarding me, get him out of the paint, and just open up the floor, so when (they) attack, there aren't too big bodies down there," Jones said.

"When we make a couple shots, make teams pay, they really have to adjust how aggressive they are on our main three guys. Because if they are, me and Mike will just do what we do, shoot open shots."

The criticism of Miller is that he hasn't shot them enough, with no more than three attempts in any of the past five games. This week, after a practice, Spoelstra spoke of the difficult transition that Miller needed to make, from a 32-minute playmaker to more of a part-time stand-still-and-wait shooter, and that it was the coaches' and players' responsibility to help him be more than that, to engage Miller in the offense on the move, in rhythm.

Spoelstra also downplayed any concerns about Miller's misses, saying that "if you only get two or three looks per game, I don't make any evaluation, whether the ball is going in or not. That's not enough of a sample. That's not even fair."

Miller acknowledged the difficulty of so often shooting cold, or sporadically. That's something Jones has done throughout his career, in part due to other limitations.

"My role is not the same as it was in the past, but I knew that before I came here," Miller said. "I've got to go out there and do my job."
Wednesday, Miller made his first three-point attempt of the evening.

Later, he made the one that started the rally. The one at the end of the third quarter.

"We were down five," James said of the start of the fourth quarter. "We looked at the monitor, we were down eight."

That was because a Mike Bibby three-pointer had been erased by the officials, on replay, after the fact.

"It was either go now, or how long were we going to wait?" James said.

The same could have been asked about Miller.

Until Wednesday night, when he and Jones got going together.



(palmbeachpost.com)

When James Jones goes on the road, he racks up a huge food bill.

But not for the reasons you're thinking.

"Room service is tough. The side dishes are the most overpriced thing on the menu," said Jones. "I'm ordering five side dishes of steamed broccoli, five dishes of steamed asparagus and a bowl of brown rice. My bill for that right there might be $70, but that's the trade-off if you want to eat right on the road."

That is, if you're a vegetarian. Jones, a reserve small forward with the Miami Heat who won the 3-point competition during this year's NBA All-Star weekend, described himself as a "very heavy meat-eater" before becoming a vegetarian in 2007. His go-to meal in the old days? Macaroni and cheese with barbecue chicken.

James said that becoming a vegetarian opened him up to lots of new grains, rices and oatmeal. And though it has closed him off to meat, he's not beyond knowing that everyone else loves a good meal piled high with animal protein.

So that's exactly what he made when he was a celebrity chef on Gordon Ramsay's Fox reality TV show "Kitchen Nightmares" last summer.

Along with members of the Miami Dolphins and Florida Panthers, James was faced with making the perfect pizza in three minutes. So what did Jones pile on?

Well, meat of course.

"But you see, I didn't eat the pizza. I'm the weird guy. I only eat pizza with straight sauce," said Jones, who became a vegetarian during the 2007 NBA playoffs when he was busy knocking down 3-pointers for the Phoenix Suns.

Making the change was as tough as getting a few minutes on the floor behind the Big Three. What with fast food, arena food and room service making up three of an NBA player's food groups, what's a vegetarian to do?

Ask John Salley. Now a vegan, Salley was 27 when he signed with the Heat (1992-95) and decided to become a vegetarian.

"For me, I was gaining weight and I was depressed. Everyone thinks that life in the NBA is the best life you can have, but then it's like baseball and you run into a slump," said Salley, who has launched John Salley Foods, an organic and vegan food company.

"That's the way it goes when everyone treats you well and you are having steak dinners at restaurants, and it's 'surf and turf,' and the manly thing is not to order a salad. I had to get out of that."

Both Salley and Jones made the decision to drop meat for health reasons. Salley saw family members struggle with food and their health while Jones is concerned about how his body will fare in the future.

But it's not easy.

"I'm by far the weirdest eater. I go straight to dessert first, and then I'll go for some side dishes," Jones said. "For me, I want to make sure I get the good foods in first -- baked potatoes, asparagus, broccoli -- and then if I'm still hungry, I'll do some beans. I might have some fish or substitute with some tofu."

Salley has found a unique way to spread his gospel of food -- the seven-day "John Salley New You Cruise," featuring Caribbean destinations, nutrition lectures and cooking classes. The cruise goes out of Fort Lauderdale on Sunday, and Salley will take the chance to pop into Miami.

"I'm planning to make a stop in Miami around then, and hopefully talk to Dwyane Wade," said Salley. "Because the reason he's having the problems with his legs is he's dehydrated and not getting anything to satisfy what his muscles do, and no one is telling him."



(espn.com)

Coming into Saturday’s three-point shootout, many people had Ray Allen as the favorite to win the competition, but thanks to James Jones’ smooth shooting stroke, the Miami Heat finally beat the Boston Celtics at something this season.  Miami’s deep threat held off Celtics’ teammates Ray Allen and Paul Pierce in the final round to win his first three-point shootout, scoring 20 points in the final round.  The win was sweet redemption for him because two years ago his career was in jeopardy when he ruptured a tendon in his right wrist requiring reconstructive surgery.  It took him two years and a lot of hard work to get to this point but a solid showing in both rounds was enough to take home the trophy.

James Jones joined WQAM in Miami to talk about if Blake Griffin deserved to win the Dunk Contest, whether winning the 3-Point Competition is the highlight of his career, and if he went into the Contest thinking he was going to win.

If Blake Griffin deserved to win the Dunk Contest:
“Nah.  He was not my pick…  That was a great event.  A lot of creativity, tremendous athleticism but JaVale McGee, the people underestimate and what people don’t realize the difficulty of the dunks, the things that he did for someone his size.”

Whether winning the 3-Point Competition is the highlight of his career:
“Personally I would say this is probably the best individual award I have ever won because I think this is the only individual award I have ever won, but it holds s special place for me because I called it redemption because this was an event I aspired to participate in and I felt like I was on my way ther eprior to my wrist injury, and once my wrist injury occurred I wasn’t really sure if I would ever get to this to plateau.  I wasn’t really sure if I would reach this point, so to be able to go there and represent my hometown team and also win it against the all-time greatest Ray Allen, it was special.  Like I said it was just for one day I beat the best.  Now I have to go back to work and try to beat the best in a seven-game series.”

What kind of trash Paul Pierce and Ray Allen talking:
“It was the light banter back-and-forth.  Ray does not talk trash.  Ray is a guy that just does it.  He becomes a leader because he just goes out there every night and he just shoots and he does it without a lot of hoopla and fanfare because that is his craft, that is his skill.  Paul always has something to say.  That is just his nature but nothing too serious because it was all in fun and this was an event that was really for the fans and I think we gave them a pretty good show.”

What he said to Paul Pierce when he knocked him out of the tournament:
“I am not a talker.  Talk does not work for me.  I have never been a guy that talks so when I won those guys congratulated me.  I congratulated them for being a part of it because they definitely fueled my fire and helped me focus, but like I said, it was just shooting the basketball, shooting three-pointers something that I do every single day.”

If he went into the Contest thinking he was going to win:
“Yeah, I went in saying that if unless something crazy happens, unless I just laid an egg, that I was going to win it.  I felt that competition suits me and really there is no pressure for me because that is what I do every day.  Those guys, for the event, they might have to focus in a little bit more.  For instance, they are jump shooters.  Ray is a jump shooter so for him the amount of effort and the amount of consistency you need to make those shots, it takes a lot more than for a guy like me that is just straight up and down, easy stroke.  So guys like K.D., Daniel Gibson, and the same way.  They are jump shooters and it takes its toll when you are talking about mentally focusing in to try to shoot the same shot 25 times straight.”



(sportsradiotinerviews.com)

LOS ANGELES — It wasn't hard, growing up in Miami, for James Jones to identify the shooters. All someone had to say was that they usually played in parks like Lake Shore and Buccaneer, parks attractive for their smooth concrete rather than choppy asphalt, but which still featured challenging elements.

"If you can shoot outdoors, with the wind, with the rain, you can shoot anywhere," the Heat forward, now 30, learned as a kid.

Saturday night, Jones will shoot in the controlled climate of the Staples Center, as one of six contestants in the All-Star three-point contest. He'll face Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Kevin Durant, Daniel Gibson and former Heat teammate Dorell Wright, and try to become the fourth player representing the Heat (after Glen Rice in 1995, Jason Kapono in 2007 and Daequan Cook in 2009) to earn the title.

Jones, tied for 15th in the league in three-pointers made, had hoped for an invitation, and his mere presence here is an accomplishment. It shows he successfully transformed himself from an inside player at American High and the University of Miami to outside gunner in the NBA.
And it is a tribute to his perseverance following 2008 wrist surgery, which has forever altered his shooting mechanics.

Still, that doesn't mean he set aside extra time in Los Angeles to practice.

"You don't want to make it more than it is," he said. And he had plenty of other commitments, as the Heat's player representative in labor talks, enough that he chose to leave his family back home.

"I'm the lone ranger," Jones said.

He'll have some support, however. Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh are all expected to attend All-Star Saturday night, to cheer their only teammate in any of the events (which also include the skills challenge, the dunk contest and the shooting stars competitions). Through Wade, who is close friends with Wright, will be torn.

"He'll be low-key," Wright said of Wade rooting for him.



(palmbeachpost.com)

Rare is the NBA All-Star Weekend participant disqualified for the use of performance-enhancing cadavers. So Miami Heat forward James Jones is probably safe on that count when it comes to Saturday's 3-point shooting contest at Staples Center.

But without that outside assistance, it is doubtful Jones could have made it back to NBA relevance, let alone a spot in such a showcase alongside Kevin Durant, Paul Piece and Ray Allen.

To appreciate how far Jones has come in his climb back up the league 3-point charts is to appreciate where the eighth-year veteran stood at the start of the 2008-09 season, when he was uncertain whether he would be robbed of his special gift.

On the eve of his first season with the Heat, James ruptured a tendon in his right wrist. Surgery was scheduled. At the time, the former University of Miami standout said, "Just imagine somebody punching you in your stomach as hard as they can."

Into the breach stepped modern medical science. To that degree, Jones will not be alone at All-Star Saturday, and for more than teammates LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh also being in Los Angeles for the All-Star Game that follows a day later.

He'll also being carrying the added benefit, quite literally, of a personal benefactor.

In order to rebuild James' stroke, the team's medical staff essentially had to rebuild Jones' wrist. Not only were his own tendons repaired, but extra tendons were added.

"Because we strengthened my wrist, we changed the way the tendons work, where it wouldn't get to a point where I was fighting my body," he said.

Jones basically not only went in for a tune-up for his shooting wrist, but an overhaul.

"My tendons in my wrist, they repaired 'em, strengthened 'em, tightened them up, and then they wrapped 'em," he said. "So there's more tendon in there."

At that point of his explanation, Jones was asked to pause. A question had to be asked:

Extra tendons?

"When your tendons tear, you cut a section out, put a section in, to repair it," he said in a matter-of-fact manner. "Then they wrap it with extra tendons to make sure."

And where exactly does one get "extra tendons"?

"I guess from the same cadaver I got my other new tendon," he said. "It's not mine. It's human, from someone's hip. So I have tendons wrapped around other tendons, to prevent it from rubbing against the bone, the friction."

No, he does not know the identity of his donor, although it is safe to say a deceased shooting specialist was not exhumed for the process.

The bonus tendons came with a tradeoff: Less friction with the bones in his wrist, but also less flexibility. That meant having to relearn his stroke, a grueling process that now has him 15th in the league in 3-pointers converted, 17th in the NBA in 3-point percentage, and, of course, a half-game out of first place with the Heat in the Eastern Conference.

"Given the severity of the injury, I didn't know if I'd be able to shoot effectively again, without pain, without discomfort," he said.

"Initially, when I first came out of my cast and saw I had zero range of motion, the doubts creep in and reality sets in, and you realize you have a long road ahead of you and whether or not you'll ever get back on top of the mountain is to be determined. But you know you're at the bottom at that point."

The climb has proven swift and efficient. Teammate Mike Miller, who had to regain his own stroke after preseason thumb injury, said Jones' rise to the All-Star contest is a remarkable achievement, considering how a wrist is everything to a shooter.

"Any time you mess with something, as a shooter, on your shooting hand, it's going to mentally and physically take a toll on you," Miller said. "He's just worked so hard. He deserves everything he gets."

And yet, the clock also is ticking. The loaner tendon apparently comes with an expiration date.

"It's one of those things, because of the bones that are in there, the way my bone structure is, eventually it'll probably be a deteriorating condition," Jones said. "Eventually, over time, the tendons are compromised."



(sun-sentinel.com)

MIAMI -- Though he's a role player off the bench for the Miami Heat, James Jones will be quite a busy man at the All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles.

Not only has he become the fifth Heat player ever to be invited to participate in the Three-Point Shootout, he's also the treasurer and the secretary of the NBA Players Association and will be an important part of CBA labor negotiations.

After the Heat's 117-112 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday night, Jones was looking forward to putting on a shooting display but was also optimistic there would be progress to avoid a potential lockout.

"I'm hopeful. I'm very excited," he said. "Being involved in the collective bargaining sessions is a privilege for me. Our sessions have been tough sessions. Not very much has been done, but I'm always hopeful that at some point in time eventually a true dialogue can start, and we can get on our road to figuring something out."

Jones graduated with a degree in finance from the University of Miami with a 3.41 GPA and as a member of the National Honor Society. He chose his major because of his love for numbers, so he's probably aware that he's already connected on 93 3-point field goals this season, surpassing his second highest single-season career total with 30 games left in the regular season.

He earned his spot in the shootout because of his 42.5 percent shooting (39.5 career) from 3-point range this season. In just the second game of the season, Jones already equaled his career high in 3-pointers made in one game with six.

Jones certainly sounded confident about his chances in the contest, even while noting he had never been in a shooting competition in any level of his basketball career.

"None of the racks are scary," he said. "You go up there and you shoot the ball. Evidently, within this system, I shoot a lot in the corners but every day when you're in the gym, you're shooting from all the spots. For me, it's just taking it one shot at a time, but you're not trying to rush through them because the shot that you rush and miss isn't worth anything. You're better off just taking your time and making every one that you shoot."

His team is certainly excited for him as well. Jones quickly dismissed any talk of having a lot to live up to since three of the four Heat players invited to the shootout have won (Daequan Cook in 2009, Jason Kapono in 2007 and Glen Rice in 1995). Nonetheless, LeBron James left little doubt great expectations would be placed on Jones to make a good showing for their team.

"Absolutely, he will have pressure," LeBron confirmed. "We haven't talked about it yet, but I've had a few teammates be a part of All-Star Weekend. He's a great shooter and we're looking forward to it."

With Mike Miller lost to injury, Jones stepped up and relished the role of shooting specialist with plenty of open looks playing next to the Big 3. His role on offense is so clearly defined, he's tried just one shot at the rim this season and attempted only 38 two-point field goals out of 257 total field-goal attempts. With a supporting cast put together to complement the star trio with an array of shooters, the Heat, as a result, rank in the top five in the league in three-point shooting percentage, precisely because of all those open looks they're enjoying.

"This team is tough," James said when asked if any of his teammates would be worthy competitors if they faced off in a shootout. "Eddie House is one of the streakiest and hottest shooters I've ever seen. Mike Miller is like a machine and he's really consistent. I'm just a streaky guy. You could throw in a guy like LeBron and D-Wade. They're scorers so they have the ability to just lay it on and make multiple shots.

"It's a very unique team because normally there's one guy that you'll (think) will be a tough battle, but here you have four or five guys."



(fanhouse.com)

MIAMI — Heat forward James Jones has never participated in a 3-point competition in his life.

That changed Tuesday when he was selected to compete in the 3-point contest during NBA All-Star Weekend Feb. 19 in Los Angeles. Jones will join Ray Allen, Kevin Durant, Daniel Gibson, Paul Pierce and Dorell Wright in the event at Staples Center.

"It's an honor and a privilege," Jones said. "It's one of those things as a kid, and especially as a professional, that you relish. For me being a 3-point shooter, this is the ultimate competition. It'll be a lot of fun and exciting at the same time."

Jones is shooting 42.7 percent from 3-point range, ranking fifth in the league. His 91 3-pointers are just 19 shy from tying his career-high for a season (110). He is the fifth Heat player to participate in the competition, joining Daequan Cook, Jason Kapono, Glen Rice and Jon Sunvold.
Cook won the event in 2005 while Kapono (2007) and Rice (1995) also took home the title.

"We're happy about it," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "He deserved it. He's put in a lot of time on that shot. Because of his release and the way he shoots, he might have a shot at this thing."



(sun-sentinel.com)

During his first two years with the Heat, injuries limited James Jones to playing a total of 76 games.  In those games he averaged just under 15 minutes a game and made a total of 70 three-pointers, hitting them 37% of the time.  This was coming from a guy who hadn't made less then 90 triples in a season over the three previous years, when he made 91, 90 and 110.

When Jones came to Miami those were the kind of numbers that he was expected to put up.  He passed up offers from other teams so that he could come home to South Florida and play for his hometown Heat, and the timing seemed perfect.  He was coming off a season in which he shot a career best 44% from downtown while Miami was fresh off of a 15-win season in which they hit just 36% of their 3-pointers as a team. 

After two years though, it looks like the Heat are finally getting the guy they had hoped for when signing Jones to a 5-year deal.  Not only has he played in all 48 games this season, but this could very well end up being the best year of his career.  His overall consistency has solidified him in Erik Spoelstra's rotation and there is no reason to believe that his minutes are going to be in question.

Jones is on pace to shatter his previous career high in 3-pointers made and possibly shoot better then ever as well.  Back in 2005-06 he made a career-high 110 triples for the Phoenix Suns, then two years later he hit 91 shots from downtown, shooting 44.4% from beyond the arc and 43.7% from the field for Portland.  Those both stand for the best shooting percentages he's had in the NBA. 

This season he has already made 88 triples and is shooting 42.7% from the field and 42.9% from beyond the arc.  While playing in every single game for the Heat this year there has only been 7 in which he didn't have a trey, and each of those games he played well below his average of 22 minutes. 

It's already difficult to stand out when your on a team with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, so its no surprise that we haven't heard a ton about Jones' success.  It isn't like he's going out there and having monster games either.  Only four times this year has he hit 5 or more shots from downtown, but the key is that he has consistently been making triples on a gamely basis for the Heat. 

Beyond his shot making, Jones provides solid defense is very good at taking care of the rock.  He has turned the ball over just 12 times this season which is another thing on pace for a career high, or in this case a career low.  He also has a chance to beat his best numbers in assists and steals.  It's amazing that he can be having such a great season and still quietly fly under the radar.

If his start to 2011 is any indication of the way he is going to finish out the season then he is absolutely having the best year season of his career.  In the 14 games since the calendar flipped over, Jones has shot 43.8% from the field and 46.3% from downtown, drilling 25 triples.  Whether he gets attention from anyone outside of the Heat organization or not, I'm sure that Coach Spo and his staff are well aware of what J.J. is doing this season and should continue to plug him into the lineup on a gamely basis. 



(sbnation.com)

Robert Bailey, James Jones and future proCane Brandon Harris were guests on WQAM this week. Click here to listen to the interviews.




(wqam.com)

LOS ANGELES — Three-on-one fastbreak. LeBron James with the ball. Dwyane Wade on the right wing. James Jones on the left. Down two. Less than a minute to play in the fourth quarter.

And the ball goes to?

The one man in the building who wasn't surprised to see it going in his direction.

"I was expecting it," Jones said of the play with 49.9 seconds left in regulation of what turned into a 107-100 Miami Heat overtime victory Sunday at the Rose Garden against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Fouled on the play, Jones converted both free throws to tie it 91-91.

To coach Erik Spoelstra, it was a huge step forward in the team's trust quotient.

"That's a great trust play to dish it to J.J.," Spoelstra said, as his team turned its attention to the third stop on this five-game trip, Wednesday's game at Staples Center against the Los Angeles Clippers. "It's the right play and he stepped up and made both free throws."

"I think everybody in the building thought that that was going to be a forced highlight to Dwyane. And it was a great read to make the right play to J.J."

Jones said that playing with James he knew he had to be ready.

"I was looking at LeBron and with me ahead and Dwyane to the right and the guy shading to Dwyane before he even got the ball, I was expecting it," Jones said. "At that point, with LeBron such a great player, you have to expect it to come, because at the last second he can throw it to D-Wade, at the last second he could take a shot."

There was one disappointment for Jones with the play.

"I was hoping I could have gotten a shot off and made it a three-point play," he said.

Just being able to run a break with James and Wade was ample satisfaction.

"It's something you cherish," he said, "because every player doesn't get an opportunity to be in that situation."



(sun-sentinel.com)