ATLANTA – On one end of the Philips Arena hardwood Tuesday, Terrence Jones sank a pair of three-pointers, then drove through the Atlanta defense to create shots for teammates or himself, showing off the athleticism that belies his powerful 6-foot-9, 255-pound frame. At the other end, Jones – a power forward – was forced into defensive duty against the likes of true centers Dwight Howard and Edy Tavares, the latter an immovable object at 7-foot-3.
The New Orleans Pelicans emphasized versatility in the 2016 offseason, focusing on adding players who can help a team in more than one area. Through the three games he's played in preseason, Jones has personified that concept as much as any of the squad's new faces. Tuesday's 96-89 defeat in Atlanta was another illustration of the Kentucky product's multi-dimensional skills, as he finished with 18 points (including going 2/5 on treys), four rebounds and one block in only 21 minutes. Jones now leads the preseason Pelicans in scoring average (15.0) and is third in rebounding (4.7 rpg), despite being on the court just 25 minutes per appearance.
“He is what's going on in the league right now,” forward Solomon Hill said of Jones being a taller player who possesses some of the traits of a guard. “A (power forward) who can pick-and-pop, can also put it on the floor and create for others. And he's a big body. Once he gets in that paint, it's hard to contest his shots. He's putting his body into (defenders) and getting to the free-throw line and finishing plays.”
Jones, who had an outstanding 2013-14 for a 54-win Houston team but was beset by injuries the past two seasons, is seeking a bounceback year with New Orleans. He missed both games in China due to a right knee contusion, but had played well in the initial two preseason contests (17 points, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks vs. Dallas; 10 points, 5 rebounds vs. Indiana).
Against the Hawks, Pelicans centers Omer Asik and Alexis Ajinca both quickly picked up three first-half fouls, which led to Jones being matched up defensively against Howard and Tavares, centers who rarely stray far from the paint. Despite giving up inches and weight, Jones held his own physically.
“That's where he's valuable,” Pelicans assistant coach Darren Erman said of Jones being able to defend in the low post. “They aren't always fair matchups for him, (such as) going against Tavares, who is a big player and really good rolling and catching deep-post passes. It was tough to keep him off the glass once the shot went up, but (Jones) battled. I couldn't be happier for the way he played.”
As challenging as it can be to face oversized centers, Jones often has a much bigger advantage on the other end, because he's comfortable playing away from the basket. On numerous occasions this month, Jones has caught a pass beyond the three-point line and caused a dilemma for defenders, who have to account for his three-point stroke (4/13 in preseason) or ability to drive (14 free-throw attempts).
Erman: “He can make plays, he can handle, he was making some shots. He's good with that shot fake, getting into the lane to make plays. That's what he's really good at.”
“We've really been working on great spacing,” Jones said of his offensive opportunities. “I feel very comfortable at the four position with the floor spread, having the opportunity to attack off the dribble against slower defenders, and still create space by shooting that three if it comes to me off a great drive.”
“I love his aggressiveness,” rookie guard Buddy Hield said after Tuesday's game. “He's so aggressive. He's a mismatch nightmare for bigs, because he can put the ball on the floor, he can shoot it. I like his game. He's been working on his shot. He attacks. He plays above the rim. He just competes hard, and we like guys who compete hard.”
