Meet Dahntay the shooter, more than just a defender
Earl K. Sneed looks at the role that newcomer Dahntay Jones figures to play for the Dallas Mavericks this upcoming season, highlighting his perimeter shooting over his defensive prowess.
Meet Dahntay the shooter, more than just a defender
DALLAS -- Last season for the Indiana Pacers swingman Dahntay Jones did much more than just play the role of defensive stopper. He was also an assassin from the outside.
Jones shot a staggering 42.9 percent from 3-point range in 2011-12, all while often guarding the opposing team’s best perimeter scorer. After accompanying point guard Darren Collison to Dallas in the sign-and-trade deal that sent big man Ian Mahinmi to Indiana, Jones will now have the opportunity to play a similar role for the Mavericks. And while he admits that his shooting may not be what he’s known for, the defensive specialist intends to bring far more than suffocating lockdown defense against some of the game’s marquee names.
“That’s the role that I’ve had throughout my career and that’s one that I take pride in,” Jones said of his defensive prowess. “My main priority is to play defense, to play hard, to knock down open shots and to bring an all-around game. And I have a great cast of guys here who do other things. They’ll be the leading scorers, but my job is to just come in here and just change the tempo of the game and make it hard for people. … And I enjoy it, yes.”
Meanwhile, Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle already appears to have a plan for Jones in his rotation, comparing the newcomer to an ex-Mav whose perimeter defense and timely 3-point shooting helped lift the franchise to its first NBA title two seasons ago.
“Dahntay is a guy that we think brings some of the same qualities that DeShawn Stevenson brought to our team for the two or three years when he was here,” Carlisle explained at the team’s introductory press conference of their new additions on Monday.
Still, Jones is quick to remind you that he is not DeShawn Stevenson, looking to make a name for himself in whatever role Carlisle cast the eight-year veteran in this upcoming season.
“[Assistant coach] Tim Grgurich came over here from the Denver Nuggets and kind of tried to put DeShawn Stevenson in the role that I had in Denver,” Jones explained, reminiscing on his role with the 2008-09 Nuggets team that advance to the Western Conference finals. “We faced [the Mavs] in the playoffs that year. But it’s a compliment. It’s a role that I am comfortable playing. DeShawn did a great job. And DeShawn is a champion, so I can’t say anything about that. He’s a great player. I look to add a different dynamic to it, but also lead that continuing defensive effort and just be a complement to the great players we’ve got.
“I’m a complement,” he added. “I’m a guy who fills in the cracks and does some things to help us win. I’m a glue guy and spot-up shooter is a thing that I’ve been working on. I’ve been pretty successful here lately at it and I’m just working to get better and better and fill in where these guys want me to be. … I like to do a little slashing, getting out in transition and get some twist to the hole, but also I’ve been working on being a spot-up shooter and that’s going to be a big part of our success.”
