MIAMI _ In Erik Spoelstra's position-less Miami Heat approach, Derrick Jones Jr. has nonetheless earned a designation from his coach: energizer.
"DJ just brings an immediate boost of energy when he comes in the game," Spoelstra said.
Forget that the build is a bit lithe for a power forward, the ballhandling not quite polished for a wing. The 6-foot-6 forward has continued to serve as a lightning bolt of a jolt, even during these dog days of the preseason.
"I want to go dunk on somebody from the second I get in the game," the 22-year-old said ahead of Monday night's exhibition against the Atlanta Hawks at AmericanAirlines Arena. "I'm going to do whatever I got to do to get to the rim, get my teammates open shots, get open rebounds, and knock down the shots that I get."
That Spoelstra again cited his vitality hardly came as a surprise.
"I mean, I felt like we already knew that," he said. "Once I get in the game, we got to go. We all like to run. We're all young. So why not get the ball, get it out of the net and go?"
Jones remains among the NBA's premier pregame attractions with his layup-line dunks. The vigor keeps going from there, without much in the way of prodding from Spoelstra when summoned from the bench.
"Nah," Jones said, "it's just him asking me to be myself. It's easy to be myself."
Even as he continues to grow his game, playing more off the dribble this preseason, instead of solely waiting for alley-oops at the rim.
"That's something I've been working on, even before I got here," he said as he enters his third season with the Heat. "It's been part of my game. Now I'm just putting it to use."
