Jackson set for 'rookie' season
According to the NBA's official draft order, the Cleveland Cavaliers did not
have a first-round pick last month.
Or did they?
While it's true the Cavs didn't get to select a player at the 2005 draft,
their first-round pick from 2004, Luke Jackson, was hurt virtually all of
last season.
And as far as the Cavs are concerned, the 6-foot-7-inch swingman from Oregon
might as well have been taken this year after playing just 10 games before
having surgery on his back in January.
Jackson has led the 3-0 Cavaliers in scoring (10.3) and assists (12) at the
Vegas Summer League. As he shakes off the rust from a year of virtual
inactivity, he also gets to learn first-year coach Mike Brown's new system
with the rest of the team.
"I feel like I'm starting from scratch," Jackson said after scoring 12 points,
grabbing six rebounds and dishing out six assists in Cleveland's easy 78-55
win over Denver at Cox Pavilion on Sunday. "Each day, I feel a little more
comfortable out there and it gets a little better."
Jackson was supposed to play in the VSL last summer after Cleveland selected
him with the 10th overall pick, but his back kept him sidelined. Despite his
back problems, he started the 2004-05 season on the floor. But Jackson played
sparingly in the 10 games he appeared in and averaged just 2.9 points.
As the back spasms persisted during December and into January, Jackson and
the Cavaliers decided to shut it down. He was placed on the injured list Jan.
5 and a week later had surgery to repair a herniated disc. Jackson missed the
final 52 games of the season and Cleveland ultimately missed the playoffs.
"It was hard for me," Jackson said of being out for a prolonged period. "I
love being in the gym. But it was really tough mentally just sitting and
watching."
Jackson treated his rehab as if he were playing, making it the full focus of
his life. He listened to the doctors and today he is pain-free and showing
signs of being the great player he was at Oregon.
"I'm not as strong as I need to be, but I'll get there," Jackson said. "You
get injured, you can't look back. I'm basically looking at it as a fresh
start. We have a new coach and a new system, so it's good for me to be here
and learn with the rest of the guys."
Mike Brown, the Cavs' new coach, said he's not going to place any added
pressure on Jackson.
"We have no preconceived expectations for Luke," Brown said. "We just want
him to get healthy. But I like his feel for the game. He makes the right
decisions with the ball and it's evident in watching him that he's
fundamentally sound."
Jackson said that having had a taste of playing with LeBron James last year
has him yearning for more.
"He's amazing," Jackson said of James, the franchise's marquee player. "He's
able to physically dominate. I'm looking forward to getting back on the floor
with him and getting us back in the playoffs."
‧ NOTES -- Jackson will have a new teammate today as former UNLV forward
Odartey Blankson has been added to the Cavaliers' summer league roster.
Blankson, a 6-foot-7-inch free agent, had considered joining the Utah Jazz for
this week's Rocky Mountain Revue but decided against it. Cleveland's next
VSL game is Tuesday against Boston. ... Another former Rebel forward, Dalron
Johnson, was added to Portland's roster as he was reunited with one of his
college coaches in Bill Bayno, who is coaching the Trail Blazers' summer
league team. The 6-9 Johnson, who played in the Philippines and the ABA last
year, had two points and three rebounds in eight minutes of an 82-60 loss to
Dallas on Sunday. ... Attendance over the weekend picked up with turnstile
counts of 1,877 on Friday, 2,149 Saturday and 1,856 Sunday. ... Tonight's
marquee matchup has the Knicks facing the Nets at 7 p.m.
他在夏季聯盟表現的滿全能的
不過命中率還要再加強
感覺現在騎士好多全能型球員喔
LeBron不用多說,朝8R 8A邁進
Hughes有5R 5A的實力
希望Luke有LeBron的一半就好了,繳出個3.5A 3.5R的成績單吧!!
對了,三分命中率來個三成五
這樣的要求應該不過分吧!
你已經坐領乾薪一年了喔!!
該是回報老闆的時候嚕!!
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