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Player-by-Player: James Jones

Minutes--  Last Year: 18.1  This Year: 22.0  Change:  +3.9

Points-- Last Year:  6.4  This Year: 8.0  Change:  +1.6

Field Goals Attempted--  Last Year: 5.8  This Year: 5.6  Change:  -0.2

Field Goal Percentage--  Last Year: 36.8%  This Year: 43.7%  Change:  +6.9%

Three-Pointers Attempted--  Last Year: 3.1  This Year: 3.5  Change:  +0.4

Three-Point Percentage--  Last Year: 37.8%  This Year: 44.4%  Change:  +6.6%

Free Throws Attempted--  Last Year:  1.1  This Year: 1.7  Change:  +0.6

Free Throw Percentage-- Last Year: 87.7%  This Year: 87.8%  Change:  +0.1%

Effective Field Goal Percentage-- Last Year: 47.0%  This Year: 57.6%  Change:  +10.6%

Offensive Rebounds-- Last Year:  0.4 This Year:  0.7 Change:  +0.3

Defensive Rebounds-- Last Year: 1.9  This Year:  2.0 Change:  +0.1

Overall Rebounds-- Last Year: 2.3  This Year: 2.8  Change:  +0.5

Assists-- Last Year: 0.6  This Year: 0.6  Change:  +0.0

Steals--  Last Year: 0.4  This Year: 0.4  Change:  +0.0

Blocks-- Last Year: 0.6  This Year: 0.3  Change:  -0.3

Turnovers-- Last Year: 0.4  This Year: 0.5  Change:  +0.1

Salary Status:  Player option for next year at $3.2 million

Former Blazers GM John Nash once said that one of the keys to a successful season was having two or three guys who weren’t necessarily your stars, or even your big-minute players, come in and contribute more than you expected.  By any measure James Jones fit that bill this season.  When we got him from Phoenix with a mere trade exception you figured, "This is one of Kevin Pritchard’s pet projects."  Frankly there wasn’t much Jones could have done wrong.  Contributing anything would have been a bonus.  That he became a integral, if somewhat subtle, part of our offensive system is a credit to James himself.  He came ready to play, threw himself into the season, accepted his role, and helped out in enough ways besides just scoring that Nate could keep him on the floor.  All of that paled next to his shooting though.  He didn’t just stretch defenses, he confounded them.  He was at or near the top of the league in three-point percentage much of the season, finishing third overall.  This was a guy who had never shot above 41.8% from the field overall in his career and he shot 44.4% from the three-point arc this season, 43.7% overall.  And this was without a clear inside scoring presence to play off of.  His overall and three-point percentages rose nearly 7% each and that effective field goal percentage is just crazy.  (It factors in the value of three-point shooting, obviously.)  Though he never hit a game-winner, Jones contributed to plenty of wins.  We were 18-6 when he scored 10 points or more.  We weren’t the same team when he wasn’t clicking.

This brings us to the downside.  He didn’t click all season.  Whether due to injury, fatigue, smarter defenses, or focus Jones faded during the second half of the season.  One of the problems is likely his body, which isn’t set to take an NBA pounding for 82 games.  He’s smart enough to get in the right position but not athletic enough to make a difference there.  He’s not a strong rebounder or defender.  When he wasn’t getting and hitting shots he became a questionable player, especially during those later months.

The big question for the Blazers is whether the magnificent shooting is enough…or rather whether the team will have enough shooting without him.  Given our hopes for Martell Webster and Travis Outlaw is there also room for Jones on this team?  Him being 27 is an advantage over a guy like Channing Frye.  James might be willing to accept a mid-bench role and spot minutes as the three-point specialist behind our young guns.  You could imagine him flourishing with a true post player on the floor to collapse defenses.  But a lot will depend on the size and length of contract he’s willing to accept.  I don’t envision the front office sacrificing major cap flexibility for Jones if they think they have other shooters in uniform already.  Also if we do invest in him he’ll need to be more consistent through the year, up to and including the playoffs, where he could prove the straw that breaks the camel’s back.  A longer-term contract means greater expectations.  Pleasant surprise won’t do it.

For this year, however, there’s not much bad to say.  Acquiring Jones was like going to a garage sale and picking up a Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card for a dime.  It’s not going to make you rich, but it’s a real nice get and something you’ll talk about for a while.

Verdict:

James_jones_medium

    You kinda snuck up on us, but we’re glad you’re here, Baby!

--Dave (blazersub@yahoo.com)

0 recs  |  Comment 13 comments

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I'm with you

At first I wondered who he was and now I’m glad we have James Jones on the roster. I think he was a major part of the streak. I don’t know what the future holds for him. If he would have stayed healthy, I think he would have opted out. Since he was hurt for a lot of the season, I think he’s staying. I just don’t know for how long.

How come I never see FUBU baby clothes on your child? Don’t they have a FUBU outlet in Idaho? I get my FUBU from TJ Maxx.

Mahna mahna, (ba dee bedebe), mahna mahna, (ba debe dee), mahna mahna, (ba dee bedebe badebe badebe dee dee de-de de-de-de)

by tominhawaii on May 2, 2008 1:25 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

He was a nice piece...

but as long as we have our nuclious, all others are expendable. If james stays on that would be great though. I would only want to keep him for one more year., then let him walk, but if he could get paid, i would chear for him and not begrudge. I think he should get paid, he was valuable to us, I just dont want to be the team that pays him. keep our payroll lean.

In the NBA, on the other hand, the vast majority of NBA championships are won by teams led by a player who would be considered the best player in the league at the time, or among the top three players in the league at the time.

CP3+ODEN=DYNASTY

As the great Vonnegut said, more or less... "You are what you pretend to be, so you must be very careful what you pretend to be."

by timbo on Apr 29, 2008 7:33 AM PDT

by ptwnblzr on May 2, 2008 3:32 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

My babies are not more babies but 12 and 14 years old.

These photos of your beautiful baby begin to touch my heart. I miss my babies. I want your baby in my arms for a while at least to kill my emtyness. Oh man, you are cruel.

Diputado A: Su Señoría da una en clavo y cien en herradura.
Diputado B: porque su Señoría no se está quieto.

by amlmart1 on May 2, 2008 6:09 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

His babies make me hungry

because babies are soooo DELICIOUS!!!

Photobucket

Photobucket

YUM!!! (here’s hoping the links work)

"No way. I love this town. We're gonna bring back the glory years. These boys are my boys. This is my team and my town." - Greg Oden when asked about leaving.

by ratbastird on May 2, 2008 7:56 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Heh

I remember those photos from a while ago. I think it had something to do with K0be.

Obama, Outlaw '08

by Sabonis4Ever on May 2, 2008 3:39 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

My brother is having a baby

soon I will be able to experiment with a cook book of my own. I look forward to it.

Here's to being hated. Come on #1 pick!

by ratbastird on May 5, 2008 8:31 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

hmmm

I HAVE a bunch of Ken Griffey Jr cards… all rookies. dang it. I wanted to be rich.

"No way. I love this town. We're gonna bring back the glory years. These boys are my boys. This is my team and my town." - Greg Oden when asked about leaving.

by ratbastird on May 2, 2008 7:50 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Jones was very valuable this season

He’s a character guy who brought veteran savvy to the young Blazers and who got hot at an opportune time. Having said that, Jones is no rebounder or defensive stopper, and his offensive game is extremely one-dimensional (his career shooting percentage is worse from 2-point range than from 3). So long-term, I don’t see James Jones in the Blazers’ picture. I do wish him the best, though: he helped make ‘07-’08 a memorable season.

"We don't back down to nobody." --Joel Przybilla

by hurryup09 on May 2, 2008 1:30 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Keep if cheap

If Jones opts to stay, keep him. If he opts out seeking big bucks, let him go.

I thought Jones was a pleasant surprise this year and a major reason we were able to win 41 games. On the other hand (or knee), he had one of the longest bone bruises in history that seemed to limit his effectiveness. While he seems to have high B-Ball IQ, I think he’s less athletic, a poorer defender and rebounder than our other 3’s (or 2’s).

I was surprised that Jones was 5th on the team in minutes played in the 4th quarter—Nate had a lot of faith in him in crunch time. With the addition of Oden and (supposedly) Fernandez, there will be fewer minutes available next year, so Jones will be a role player with fewer minutes.

Bottom line: Keep if cheap.

by vcubed on May 2, 2008 1:57 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Ever notice?

Ever notice that James Jones looks like Gary Colman (from Diffrent Strokes) stretched on a rack.

"Be wary of strong drink. It can make you shoot at tax collectors... and miss" Robert A. Heinlein

by 92wastheyear on May 3, 2008 6:17 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

NO! That is just wrong.

"We comin along." Travis Outlaw

by annthefan on May 3, 2008 7:03 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

If you think that

Martell and Travis have long-term futures in a Blazers uniform, then Jones is out the door. I agree with hurryup09 about Jones’ one-dimensionality and with vcubed re: being wary about his knees, and in three years he’ll just be beginning to decline as we ascend to the summit of our Tower of Power. If you believe that either Martell or Travis should be dealt in conjunction with other pieces for a PG, though, it becomes a whole different story.

by BlazersOrBust on May 4, 2008 5:01 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

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