![]() IGN Sports: You have played with Dwyane Wade and against him since he has been in the league, what is it about him that makes him so tough and such a great player on the court? Eddie Jones: I think the one thing that he does is open the floor for everybody. It is one of those things where you want to be playing well when your best player comes back because he is just going to take you over to another level. Do you feel like this team is flowing largely because you guys are being more consistent on both ends of the court? Eddie Jones: We have a lot of consistency right now and that is where we want to be. IGN Sports: Although Dwyane Wade is out, this team is starting to get healthy and now is playing some of its best ball of the season. I don't say stuff like I'd rather play this or that team, I'd rather just wait and see when the schedule comes out and the season is over, then we will know exactly. We will find out and everybody will know who we are going to play. Right now we need to get ourselves in position to win games. Of course Detroit…I don't look at who we are going to play. IGN Sports: When you look at where this team is in the standings, do you have a preference on first round opponent? Who causes the biggest threat to this team in the Eastern Conference? Eddie Jones: I don't even look, I don't even look. I have been around for so long that I am not going to let anybody just talk to me any old way. ![]() I mean there are rules on how a coach can talk to a player. I don't look at it any other way than player/coach. IGN Sports: Do you think playing for a coach like John Chaney helped you make the adjustments to a coach like Pat Riley simple because he can be so demanding? Eddie Jones: It is not a problem because I have been playing basketball in the league for 14 years. They are totally different coaching styles. Coach Chaney is a tough in your face type of guy and Coach Riley is one of those guys that is very intense. Eddie Jones: They are totally different, totally different guys. IGN Sports: You came out of college playing for a tough coach, John Chaney at Temple, and you are playing for one of the toughest coaches in the NBA right now, Pat Riley. If we could get up in that upper area, I think we have a great shot at doing some special things. We are a veteran team and if we play well at home maybe we could get that second or third spot, I don't know. IGN Sports: How critical is it to win close games down the stretch at this stage in the season? Eddie Jones: I think it's imperative at this point to beat teams we are supposed to beat in order to get ourselves a better seed. I like to play basketball that matters and I want to be in a situation that matters. It was brought to my attention that they would do a deal with me and I did it. Did you feel like the window of opportunity was starting to close for you to win a championship title? Eddie Jones: I did not demand anything. IGN Sports: You were traded to Memphis in 2005 and spent the first part of this season with them before demanding a trade or to be released so you could move on. On the other end, I need to defend and rebound on both ends of the court. I am here to make open shots, defend and rebound. is pretty much the same compared to last time. ![]() I am going to play with a lot of heart and effort. I am playing on a veteran team, a team that knows how to win. IGN Sports: You have returned home for a second time to play for the Heat, can you talk about what it is like getting a second chance to play for Miami? Eddie Jones: Just like it was before, no difference really. ![]() IGN Sports caught up with the south Florida native to talk about going home again, playing with Dwyane Wade and playing with a team full of veterans. And no homecourt is sweeter than when it's your hometown. Will Jones' luck turnaround now that he has his second shot in Miami? "Homecourt is everything in the NBA," Jones tells me as he talks about potential playoff match-ups. ![]() This is the second time Jones has nearly missed out on collecting a ring as he was with the Lakers prior to LA's title run as well. Jones was part of the blockbuster trade that sent him packing from his hometown and brought guys like Jason Williams, James Posey, and Antoine Walker to Miami. ![]()
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