Damon Puts The ‘J’ In Jones
When Danny Ferry signed Damon Jones as a free-agent from the Miami Heat after the 04-05 seasons, he no doubt had dreams of threes raining down from all angles at the Q. It finally happened, and only a year later than the Cavs had hoped. Jones, who admittingly showed up to his first Cavaliers training camp a bit out of shape. Such is usually the case for a free agent trying to protect his bidy by ding absolutely no basketball work for fear of an injury. Jones was booed several times, relegated to the bench others, and despite hitting some big shots in the playoffs, namely the series clincher in the first round series against the Wizards, Damon was openly shopped during the off-season. Jones’ situation was made more tenuous on draft night when the Cavs drafted two players that play in the backcourt, then later signed David Wesley for back court depth.
Unlike last season when Jones openly pouted when overlooked for the starting point guard position in favor of Eric Snow, Damon kept his mouth shut and his butt in the gyn. The results were noticeable from the first day of training camp. Jones has been steady, if not spectacular this season, until tonite against the Knick in New York. A career night for Jones, who finished with 29, in the Cavaliers’ 102-96 win. Though Jones didn’t hit a big shot to win the game, he might as well as have with all the big shots he hit in the first half to keep the Cavs remotely close.
As was the case the past few games, the Cavs started slow, with little energy, and quickly fell behind 10-2. It wasn’t James who brought the Cavs back, nor Hughes, Z, Drew, not even Scot Pollard brought the Cavs back. It was Damon Jones, who started firing away from long range, and didn’t stop until he had 24 points on 6/7 from distance, and the Cavs had a 51-47 lead. Jones added 5 more in the 2nd half, but the action after halftime belongs to one person, #23, and it was no different Monday Night for King James, who finished with 29.
FOr the third straight game the bench was a huge factor in a Cavs win, and along with D.J. Cavs’ fans have to be most impressed with the play of Sasha Pavlovic, who followed up 16 and 14 points contests with 7 points and more importantly several key defensive stops. Good things will be in store for the Wine and Gold if the bench continues to give Mike Brown solid effort night in and night out, and the increased minutes for guys like Sasha and Damon can only help come playoff time.
The Cavs moved to 5-2, and once again seemed to win a game that last season they probably would have lost. The Knicks are young and athletic, usually a kryptonite to the Cavs, but not tonite. Cleveland was able to withstand the early rush, jumped out to a 14 point lead, watched the Knick get within one, before putting the game away in the end. A nice game, no doubt about it….
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