James Jones Quieting Doubters, Me
When the Cleveland Cavaliers signed James Jones with Mike Miller it was no big deal. Jones was a LeBron James “tax” that made LBJ and Miller happy that he was brought along. Most fans hoped he could make a couple of shots but that he mostly sat the bench all season, much like he did down in Miami.
That is how the season started for Jones and the Cavs. In the first month of the season, plus two games in October, Jones played a grand total of 15 minutes. Twelve of those minutes came in blowout wins by the Cavaliers, 6 each against the Hawks and Magic. In December he started seeing some irregular minutes, which picked up near the end of the month as LeBron sat out.
Then the Cavs picked up the New Three (Timofey Mozgov, J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert) and it looked like Jones would never see anytime off the bench, except for blowouts. Smith took over starting while Shumpert, when fully healed from his shoulder issue, became the key wing player off the bench.
As the trade deadline rolled around some, especially this writer, wondered (hoped) Jones would be moved to open a roster spot for someone who could actually produce. With the Cavs limited space, Jones seemed like the perfect player to move out to bring in a backup point guard or another big. I even suggested he retire and the Cavs hire him as a coach or special assistant.
He has since gone about his business of quieting his doubters, especially me. As ESPN notes, Jones has played an important role for the Cavs as they push toward the #2 seed in the Eastern Conference:
"James Jones hardly played this season, but recently he’s received significant minutes from head coach David Blatt and produced as he scored 39 points in the last four games, while making 11-of-22 three-point shots.“It just seems that every time we throw him out there, he does something to help the team,” Blatt said recently, according to The News-Herald. “Every day he’s in it, he’s engaged and all about helping the team whether it be saying the right things. He’s a dependable veteran you can trust. He’s playing excellent basketball for us. He’s a leader in our locker room. He’s a leader on how we want to approach the game. When his number gets called, he’s ready to give you what you need.”"
Jones’ production has been surprising. He has scored 5 or more points in 7 of the 8 games since the All Star break. He has hit at least 2 three pointers in 6 of those 7 games and has become the Cavs small ball, stretch power forward when Kevin Love is out of the game. An amazing turn around for a player who barely saw the floor in the first month plus of the season.
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Since the last game of February, Jones has averaged 20 minutes a game and is shooting right at 50% from the 3 point line. He even had 6 rebounds in 21 minutes against the Celtics this week.
While Jones is limited, he is proving to be a very essential part to the Cavaliers run this season. It is possible that Mike Miller might find his stroke again, and the fountain of youth, and that Shawn Marion could come back from injury healthy and ready to go. Those two could steal some of Jones’ minutes but “Champ,” as LeBron likes to call him, looks like he is here to stay in the Cavs lineups.
He has proven all of his doubters, especially me, wrong. I am glad he has done so. James Jones has become important to the Cavs plans.
Are you surprised by James Jones performance as of late?