Miami
Philip Maymin
Basketball News Services
Damon Jones, nicknamed "Little Him" for his shoes-to-shirt-to-performance imitation of teammate Shaquille O'Neal, chose last night's game against the Clippers as an appropriate forum to deliver a moving 32-minute-long message regarding his omission from the Three Point Shootout in Denver. He hit eight of ten three-pointers, making a mockery of the shootout by doing it against the outstretched arms of a defender rather than the wide open shots of the contest.
Since the NBA's announcement of the participants, Jones has hit 24 of 34 three pointers. Last night, he led the Heat in scoring for the first time ever, notching 31 points. In other news, there was a game surrounding Jones's eloquence: the Heat beat the Clippers 113-95to head into the All-Star break with a 40-14 record, first in the East, third overall
Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O'Neal were delighted to find someone they could dish to who could nail the jumper. Wade had 12 assists and Shaq had 5. Furthermore, Wade's assists cost him just three turnovers total in the game, but the 4:1 ratio was not even the highest on the team. Guess who? That's right: Damon "Little Him" Jones dished out 5 assists with just a single turnover, as did Shaq. But who copied who?
Meanwhile, Alonzo Mourning will likely join the team on Monday for an afternoon practice in Chicago before their game against the Bulls on Tuesday. The only thing stopping the Heat is the lack of a roster spot. You can be sure everyone's working the phones trying to get something, anything, for Wesley Person, while at the same time negotiating a buyout with him, with their fail-safe being the waiver of Wang Zhi-Zhi.
NEXT GAME
The Heat are off though their top two players will be All-Stars this weekend. Miami's (40-14, first in the Southeast) next game is Tuesday at Chicago against the Bulls (26-23, third in the Central). That game starts at 8:30pm Eastern and will be broadcast on Sun Sports and NBA League Pass.
TEAM NOTES
Alonzo Mourning is a career 19.8 point, 9.6 rebound man, though this year with the Nets he averaged 10.4 points and 7.1 rebounds in 18 games averaging 25 minutes per game. He also swatted more than 2 shots per game.
INJURY UPDATE
Christian Laettner(foot),Qyntel Woods(knee), andDorell Wright(knee) are all on the injured list.Wesley Person(food poisoning) did not play last night.
Ira Winderman ofThe South Florida Sun-Sentinelwrites: Alonzo Mourning completed his battery of physicals Wednesday for the Heat, with the team awaiting the results.Because of the center's kidney illness that led to a December 2003 transplant, and because the Heat still is gathering the center's medical records, his reunion remains on hold. The 35-year-old former Heat captain is expected to join the team for a Monday afternoon practice in Chicago, with the Heat resuming its schedule after the All-Star break Tuesday night at the United Center against the Bulls. Carrying the NBA-maximum 15 players, the Heat will have to make a roster move before adding Mourning, either the release of center Wang Zhi-Zhi, a buyout of forward Wesley Person or a trade. The NBA trading deadline is a week from today.
Israel Gutierrez ofThe Miami Heraldwrites: Damon Jones' nickname isn't ``mini-me.'' That would be too unoriginal for a group of Heat players who fancy themselves comedians. So Jones has instead been tagged ``Little Him'' because, as rookie Dorell Wright puts it, ``Everything Shaq does, he does.''Jones went all out in his imitation of Shaquille O'Neal on Wednesday, wearing the same sneakers as O'Neal, dubbed ``Little Hims,'' wearing the same protective undershirt O'Neal wears and, completing the performance in style, scoring 30-plus points, which O'Neal regularly does... Since the league announced the participants, Jones has gone 24 of 34 from three-point range for a 70.6 percent shooting clip. Jones said his 8-of-10 showing Wednesday was the ultimate message.
Linda Robertson ofThe Bradenton Heraldwrites: Watching the University of Miami basketball team throw a scare into No. 5 Wake Forest, one was again dumbfounded at how this could possibly be the same cast of characters from one year ago... Even Heat honchos Pat Riley and Randy Pfund were on their feet, chewing gum furiously, as UM set up for the potential tying shot.Damon Jones and Micky Arison were inside the sold-out Convocation Center, too. The pro guys came to campus, curious to find out if UM is legitimate, and they must have been heartened to see how basketball fever is rising in our football-obsessed metropolis.
Ross Siler ofThe Pasadena Star Newswrites: Whether it was because of fatigue from the Athens Olympics, the aftereffects of being traded back to Los Angeles or his struggles fitting in alongside Kobe Bryant, Odom admitted that he did not live up to his standards. "I feel like if I had been playing like this my last 30 games if I had been playing like this for the first half of the season, I'd probably be an All-Star,' Odom said... "Maybe I'm more comfortable with my role on the team,' Odom said. "Maybe I define it to myself more. Maybe I understand it more. I'm just a little more comfortable all the way around.' Perhaps the biggest adjustment came from the expectations that accompany playing for the Lakers. Odom said he arrived from the Miami Heat in July, as part of the Shaquille O'Neal trade, convinced that he would be conferred All-Star status this season. "They're calling me Kobe Bryant's sidekick,' Odom said. "Yeah, I'm going to be an All-Star.'"
Marc J. Spears ofThe Denver Postwrites: Considering his competitive nature, expect seven-time NBA all-star Alonzo Mourning to be focused when he grabs his pool cue at tonight's "Zo and Melo 8-Ball Challenge" charity event at the Wynkoop Brewing Company. Mourning also takes seriously his dream of winning an NBA championship, which he could be one step closer to if he signs with the Miami Heat, as expected, next week... Before he retires, Mourning would like to pass on some of what he has learned to younger players such as Carmelo Anthony. He said he was impressed with Anthony's professionalism when the Nuggets' standout took part in Zo's Summer Groove, a charity banquet, concert and celebrity basketball game, last summer in Miami. That led Mourning to ask Anthony to join him in tonight's pool tournament. Cedric the Entertainer is the host and many celebrities are expected, as well as politicians including Gov. Bill Owens.