Twitter’s character limit and what’s next: While We’re Waiting…
October 2, 2015C-Cap Recap: October Baseball!
October 2, 2015It’s impossible to spend five or ten minutes with James Jones and not come away completely impressed. Whether it’s his calm demeanor, his well-thought discourse, or his otherworldly grasp of the game, Jones is one part veteran sharpshooter and one part scholar, garnished with the occasional defensive play that can change the tide of a game. For Cavalier fans who tuned in to NBA TV’s broadcast of Thursday morning’s training camp session, the introduction featured a mic’d up Jones barking hoop cadence to his teammates from the baseline of the western court at the Cavs’ practice facility—slash, cut through, there you go. Later during the televised practice, one sees Jones strategizing with coaches. Then, when called upon, playing power forward with the team’s starting unit, Jones casually buries a three-pointer.
The telecast was a perfect depiction of what Jones has brought to this Cavaliers team since acquired last offseason. Sure, he’s a close friend of LeBron James, but while most fans simply know Jones as “Jumpshot James,” a player sporadically called in to action to help space the floor and knock down the occasional three-point shot, he’s played a key role in establishing a foundation of maturity and toughness and the understanding of what it takes to consistently win in a league where everyone else is gunning for your back. In a league where players feel their appreciation is gauged by the amount of playing time they receive, Jones is the poster child for the adage that titles are given, but reputations are earned. He’s played for five teams over the course of what’s going to be at least a 13-year career, and he’s still working on improving his game, sharing that he spent the summer attempting to work on his ability to move with the ball.
“In this offense, the way it has morphed, there’s a lot of space,” said Jones on Thursday. “Coach is creating a lot of opportunities for myself, for [Kevin] Love, so it’s going to be important to—not every play—but every once in a while to be able to put the ball down and make some shots off of the move.”
Regardless of what light the media or fans decided to cast upon the 2014-15 Cavaliers, Jones reiterated that the public persona of the team was much, much different than the private version. Last season—with veteran teachers like Mike Miller and Brendan Haywood and Shawn Marion—was about growth. It was about learning. It was about becoming professionals.1 This season is a bit different, with a few new veteran faces and an entire offseason behind them. Players are digging deep in to film, showing up before practices and sticking around after.
Never the best one-on-one player on either end of the floor, Jones has thrived through his career large in part to concept and scheme. Alongside Richard Jefferson, he knows that he may be asked to step up2 while Love rehabilitates, but is the kind of player who will have little problem fading back into the baseline with assistant coaches once his team is up to full strength.
“The veteran guys helped lay a foundation,” said Jones. “My guys became workers, they became professionals in a matter of months and they carried that with them into the offseason… Most importantly, they understand their roles and are pursuing them.
“Last year was about building an environment where everyone comes in willing to do their job, but not preventing someone else from doing theirs.”
Additional Training Camp Notes:
– Another day, another practice without Tristan Thompson. Jones, the Players Association’s secretary-treasurer, says that the team continues to support the power forward while he negotiates with the team. “At the same time, the guys who are here are working, and we have a goal and a mission and that’s not going to keep us from focusing.”
– Carrying the same message from media day, this year’s practices appear a lot more focused with much less scrutiny and, as Jones said, “chatter.” Players across the board have stated that head coach David Blatt seems more comfortable and more confident. With a year behind them, there is a much better grasp of the system and what’s expected. Blatt said things are going faster and smoother, and with a foundation in place, they’re starting with a bit of a tailwind this time around as opposed to building from the ground up.
– Speaking of Blatt, I recommend all Cavs fans check out this piece from Cleveland.com on the Cavs head coach and J.R. Smith. “Coach really cares about me as a person,” Smith said. “That’s one of the first coaches I’ve had that actually cared about me off the court more than on the court, so it was that much easier for me to play for him and give my all because I know he cares about me as a person.”
– Those who watched the NBA TV airing of camp may have caught Blatt also tell Joe Harris that he has a “green light” from outside. Not sure how much time he’ll get, but the injury to Iman Shumpert could open some doors for the second-year guard.
– Anderson Varejao says he is fully cleared from both his blood clot issue two seasons ago as well as his Achilles injury from last season. Much like a quarterback coming back from an injury, Varejao discussed the main hurdle in getting back was mental—running that first conditioning drill without thinking his tendon will once again tear. He sought advice from both Chauncey Billups and Jonas Jerebko in terms of coming back from such a devistating injury. The Cavaliers went through a two-a-day on Wednesday and Varejao participated in both parts, feeling good afterwards.
– Thanks to his offseason knee surgery, Timofey Mozgov is roughly 60 percent of where he will need to be physically, but Blatt says that’s a good thing as he looks really good in present form. Blatt says Varejao is further ahead conditioning wise than anticipated—”He really surprised me.”
– With 14 players under contract (once Thompson returns), the Cavaliers will have one active spot to fill. “With Shump going down, that becomes a more important spot,” said Blatt. “Our young guys, and even our vets who are coming in to camp trying to make the squad, they’re looking good.” While Blatt could not speak with certainty on filling the 15th spot with a player currently in camp, it appears that this will be the plan heading into the start of the regular season.
- “Any time there’s growth, it’s painful,” said Jones. “You have to become uncomfortable to become comfortable.” [↩]
- “My role is to make shots, it’s no secret. They’re not asking me to go out there and [put up] triple-doubles or double-doubles. I’m a guy who’s here to space the floor, bring energy and be efficient.” [↩]
5 Comments
6-% for Moz, means more reps for Kaun.
I watched a lot of NBATVs coverage and I was shocked Mozgov was doing as much as he was the first day. Love has had longer time to recuperate and he was doing less then Timo.
Blatt made numerous comments to Lue about Kaun and his work ethic. I don’t think we can overlook Blatt’s familiarity with Kaun as one of the main reasons the Cavs finally brought him back to America. I’d love to see Kaun take on a role similar to how the Spurs initially used Tiago Splitter. Eventually Splitter earned more time and wasn’t a bad role player. I’d like to see Kaun follow that kind of trajectory.
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