Derrick Jones Jr. of the Miami Heat came on strong last season, but there is still room to improve. Here are three specific ways in which he can do so.
The Miami Heat have done it again. They took what another team thought was expendable, and turned it into something exemplary. The player in question here is none other than the springy Derrick Jones Jr., or as he is best known, Airplane Mode.
Jones Jr. is a freak athlete. While the first thing that immediately jumps out at you is his tremendous leaping ability, the fourth year lefty out of UNLV is also very long and rangy. At 6’7″, with his length and explosiveness, it is no wonder the Miami Heat saw individual tools that they could help turn into a complete set.
While still very raw, Jones Jr. already excels at defense and anything aerial. He is a good finisher, a good rebounder, and doesn’t mind doing the little things or dirty work. Here are the three goals he could most look to accomplish heading into this upcoming season that could see him take his game to the next level.
Become a Better Jump Shooter
While every player should always be working on the fundamentals of the game, dribbling, passing, and shooting, Jones Jr. could really stand to work on his jump shooting and specifically his 3-point shooting. He shot 30.8 percent from deep last season, while only attempting 1.5 shots from distance per game.
If he were ever able to consistently nail the jump shot and three-ball, he would be a terror to guard. Because Jones Jr. can jump out of the gym and finish the way that he does, a consistent jumper and deep ball would inevitably give him more opportunities to score from all areas of the court.
While hitting the jump shot is what it is in itself, it would then cause defenders to have to run out or guard him close. This would put them firmly at his mercy since it is almost a certainty that he could elevate over the top of them to finish if he drove by them to get to the cup. This takes us to the next aspect of his game where he can improve.