Former Miami Hurricanes Star James Jones in 7th Straight NBA Finals
He went on to discuss the importance of confidence to the success of an NBA team:
"“Guys on this team, what they’ve done their whole lives is play high-level basketball – at home and on the road. They’re the best at what they do. So, no matter what their teams look like or how well their teams are faring, they always have a home crowd supporting them and a road crowd going against them.”"
While the impetus would be that players could be rattled by a hostile crowd, Jones said that playing in front of empty crowds that was the most difficult.
"“The toughest thing is to play in front of an empty road crowd. That’s when it becomes more about us than any external factors… When that’s the case, for us, it just becomes: play the game of basketball, execute at a high level, do what you do and respect your teammates behind you. Do your job so they don’t have to come in and do it for you."
In his final summation, Jones discussed the importance of the Cavaliers living in the moment:
"“But the past has zero to do with what’s going to happen over the next two weeks. Zero. We’re all older. It’s another year. The calendar has turned. The only thing we care about is the team that we put on the floor and the game that we’re playing that night.”"
Next: Where is Miami Hurricanes Basketball Ranked Post NBA Draft Deadline
Although not a marque name in the league, Jim Larranaga can have Jones come back to speak to his team about where you can get if you work hard. Having gone to seven consecutive NBA Finals, Jones should be able to make an impression on 18-22 year old young men.