SAN ANTONIO -- With Derek Fisher now an ex-point guard for the Dallas Mavericks, Dominique Jones remarkably is in position to become the Mavs' starting point guard.
Certainly, a case can be made that Jones has played as well as any Mavs point guard during the last two games. The 6-5, 215-pounder collected seven points and seven assists in 26 minutes this past Thursday against the Miami Heat.
And on Friday night against the Memphis Grizzlies, Jones contributed a career-high tying 13 points and seven more assists in a career-high 32 minutes. Now, the door is wide open for Jones to seize the moment and become the Mavs' starting point guard.
"When the opportunity presents itself you've just got to take advantage of it,'' Jones said after Sunday morning's shoot around at the AT&T Center. "The main thing is just going out there and being aggressive and playing well, keeping everybody involved, and just playing the role of a point guard.
"It's out there, it's right there on the table. It’s just what you’re going to do with it.''
As the Mavs (12-15) prepare to play the San Antonio Spurs (20-8) at 6 tonight, Jones said the best thing for him to do is just forget about what he was able to accomplish against the Grizzlies
"It’s a new day, a new game,'' said Jones, who also had five turnovers against Memphis. "I've just got to come out here and do better than I did then.
"I had some crucial turnovers, and different things that I did I saw on film. Just each game I’m trying to get better.''
Coach Rick Carlisle said he likes the way Jones plays with aggression, and he's fond of the way he attacks the basket.
"He's making a lot of good things happen,'' Carlisle said. "He’s made some turnovers too, so he’s got to cut back on those.''
Jones hopes to learn from some of the leadership qualities Fisher taught him and the team's other point guards.
"I saw the leadership role,'' Jones said. "It just his leadership and how he kept everybody together and on the same page.
"Me looking at that, it puts it in my head that that’s what I’ve got to do. Especially when I’m on the court, and even when I’m off the court.''
-- Dwain Price
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