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HEAT Defeat Mavs

With an extra swagger in his step these days, HEAT veteran Eddie Jones is enjoying the sweet taste of victory right along with his hardworking teammates.

“This is exciting,” says Jones, who has been part of six playoff teams, one of which was here in Miami in 2001, throughout his 10-year NBA tenure. “We have really come together as a team, doing what we are capable of out on the court.”

Although the battle to the playoff race is not quite yet conquered, the winning mentality, building confidence and climbing momentum this talented group is exhibiting leaves a bright light at the end of what began as an ominous season.

“The truth is, I always knew we had the potential. Once I saw this team back in the pre-season, I felt like we could really do something,” says Jones with a definitive assurance that is in line with the entire HEAT team’s current frame of mind. “We have an abundance of talent. We have a lot of guys who can put the ball through that hoop, and when a team is full of players who can shoot well consistently, then you’ve got a chance in this league.”

With each “W,” the high spirits and positive energy is spilling over to all aspects of the team’s unity, making their locker room, airplane and bus time together one for the books.

“It is like a comedy show around here,” says Jones, followed by a chuckle and a flash of his sideways grin. “These guys are so funny, I’m talking absolutely hilarious.”

Dwyane Wade, Samaki Walker, Loren Woods and Rafer Alston having fun at the Season Ticket Holder Game Show on February 25.

Granting Lamar Odom the award for “class clown” and deeming Rafer Alston, Loren Woods and Rasual Butler as some of the other resident team comedians, the bond these players share is a special one.

“The humor, the constant joking around and ragging on each other in good fun, it brings a relaxed environment, allows us to loosen up from the pressure a little bit,” adds Jones, as he himself gets a kick out of the lighthearted banter that was going on between Dwyane Wade and Caron Butler at the time.

But, Jones, along with the rest of the HEAT veterans, knows when it is time to turn on the energy, the focus and the competitive attitude, and leave the giggles for later.

“It is the responsibility of the veterans to keep the younger guys focused at such an important time of the season,” says Jones. “I don’t need to get on them or anything, but sometimes just casually say, ‘Hey, let’s go out and get this win, we can have fun later.’ We (veterans) really try our best to keep them on the right track from the standpoint of staying in gear.”

Jones also adds that, in turn, the unwavering vim and vigor emulating from these young guns is enough to inspire the entire team.

“Down the stretch of an NBA season, it gets tiring, but these young players have so much energy, so much enthusiasm, they are making all of us play even harder.”

And while this HEAT success story can be attributed to the collaborative play of the whole team, Jones is surely doing his part to contribute. Leading his team in scoring with an average of 17.5 points per game and hitting 150 three-point shots in this season alone, there’s no telling how this season’s pleasantly surprising journey will end.

“I can’t predict the future, but I can say this,” says Jones. “Continue to stick with us because I truly believe we have something really good here.”