Damon Jones Interview
By InsideHoops.com / Feb. 9, 2005
Miami Heat guard Damon Jones is having a terrific season. He's one of the NBA's best three-point shooters (third in the league in threes made), starts alongside all-star Dwyane Wade, and is a key part of the team's success. InsideHoops.com editor Jeff Lenchiner met with Jones in Madison Square Garden for an exclusive mini-interview.
InsideHoops.com: Back earlier in the season, you got your shot to start and play real minutes, and since then you've emerged and gotten to show everyone the player you really are.
Damon Jones: I think I just continued to work hard, and whenever I got those minutes I tried to contribute as much as possible. The coaching staff made a concerted effort, wanted us to have a better rhythm, and then I was inserted into the lineup, and since then it's been great, a great run.
InsideHoops.com: And you guys don't have the most orthodox lineup as far as size goes, with D-Wade next to you and Eddie Jones playing bigger than he is at small forward, but it works.
Damon Jones: I think we do a good job at just working hard at our schemes. We have a defensive philosophy here and if we work hard at it, it doesn't matter how tall you are, it's just a matter of you being in certain spots at certain times and just working hard, and we've done that thus far, and we just want to continue to do that.
InsideHoops.com: A smaller lineup also obviously lets you run a bit more than most teams can.
Damon Jones: That's something that we make a big emphasis in, that we want to push the ball and get out in transition. We have guys that attack the basket really well. And we do have Shaq, so throwing the ball into him against guys that are that are a lot smaller than he is, it's easy for him to dominate.
InsideHoops.com: Why don't more teams run? It seems like more teams could, but don't.
Damon Jones: I think you have to organize your offense as far as your personnel is concerned. You have guys that can get up and down the floor then you run. If not, then you play a basic halfcourt game. I think that's the reason why a lot of teams don't run, because they don't have the personnel to.
|