Jones Jr. is nowhere and everywhere
Small forward’s minutes fluctuate in bubble
If the NBA’s schedule of seeding games was supposed to provide clarity for teams in advance of the playoffs, it only has added confusion when it comes to Derrick Jones Jr.’s role with the Miami Heat.
Unless, of course, the games are taken as an exercise in adaptability.
In the first seeding game, Jones played 12:25 as Erik Spoelstra’s 10th man in the blowout victory over the Denver Nuggets.
In the second, he played 16 seconds in the loss to the Toronto Raptors. Yes, 0:16.
In the third, he was cast as sixth man, going 20:51 in the victory over the Boston Celtics.
In the fourth, he again was sixth man, playing 14:58 in the loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.
And then, Saturday, with the Heat shorthanded, he started, played 24 minutes, but was limited to two points on only two shots.
With Jones, 23, an impending free agent, there are arguably as many questions about Jones at any point during his three seasons with the team.
“I always just stay ready so you ain’t got to get ready,” Jones said ahead of Monday night’s game against the Indiana Pacers at Disney World’s Wide World of Sports complex. “That’s all I can say. I’m always ready when my name is called.”
With the Heat cycling through the absences of Jimmy Butler, Goran Dragic and Kendrick Nunn during the two-week schedule of concluding regular-season games in the NBA’s quarantine bubble, Jones’ role, position and playing time largely has been a product of the availability of others.
“I know the plays at multiple positions,” Jones said. “That’s just how I’ve always been raised to play the game, not only knowing
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your position, but your teammate’s position. Because if you see something different on the floor, then you can change something. So I just know every position on the floor.”
Among the reasons for Jones’ diminished minutes has been the injection of Jae Crowder into the starting lineup. Like Jones, Crowder has been cast in a variety of roles, since joining the Heat from the Memphis Grizzlies at the Feb. 8 NBA trading deadline.
Crowder said the Heat have made the fit easy on the offensive end.
“I think I’m playing with a lot of guys who are familiar with the offense,” he said. “And for me, with the style of play with Coach Spo, it’s been an easy transition for me, because the ball moves. And I think once you have the ball movement on offense, you’re able to find spots and find how you can help the team on that end of the court.
“And I just try to find my spots within the offense and try to shoot the ball with confidence. And I work very hard at it.”
Like Jones, Crowder has been plug and play.
“I want to come in and feed off of other guys and play off of other guys and not be passive on that end of the court, and just try to fit in,” he said. “And I think with the ball moving the way it has been moving lately, it has been very easy for me to try to find my spots on the court.”