James Jones Set to Return

Shapecity · Nov 22, 2008

One day out of his cast, James Jones was back making shots Tuesday.

"Of course," the Heat forward said, "that's what I do."

Until Monday, the former University of Miami standout had no shot, with his right wrist in a cast following Oct. 18 surgery for a ruptured tendon.

Now the team's prime offseason acquisition is hopeful of seeing his first action with his new team before the turn of the calendar.

Jones, who still must wear a splint when not shooting, is enjoying his current small victory, even as he remains on the inactive list.

"I'm pain free," he said. "This is the first time I've been pain free shooting in like three months. It's a weight off my shoulders."

When first injured in late July while playing in a pick-up game at Cooper City High, the Miami Lakes resident thought it was a simple sprain. But as the pain lingered through training camp, and after an Oct. 15 mishap in practice, further tests revealed the rupture.

The timetable from the surgery remains eight to 12 weeks. "Basically," he said, "it takes four weeks for the tendon to heal. And then, after that, it's all about flexibility and strength."

Jones said the most optimistic outlook would be "another four, five weeks from now, right before the end of the year."

For now, contact remains prohibited for Jones, who finished third in the NBA in 3-point percentage last season while with Portland.

"I have to get the scar tissue down," he said.

Standing his ground

Despite failing to draw his first NBA charge in the four times he took a hit in the lane entering Wednesday's game against the Raptors, Heat rookie forward Michael Beasley said he welcomes the challenge.

"The block I took against [LaMarcus] Aldridge, that was the first charge I ever took," he said of last week's unsuccessful bid against the Blazers. "I never took a charge in my life."

Why?

"Just because I never wanted to take a charge," he said with a smile, quickly urged upon his arrival by coach Erik Spoelstra to change his ways.
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Source: Sun Sentinel

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James Jones Set to Return

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James Jones Set to Return

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