Jaime Jaquez Jr. he went back to basics

The Heat didn’t go into detail against Charlotte (144-117). A collective demonstration, symbolized by the XSL performance Jaime Jaquez Jrauthor of 28 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists in 28 minutes, with +43 on +/-! A real blow for the Mexican-American winger, who comes off the bench but is omnipresent on the field.

Performance in line with his excellent start to the season: In his first four games, the former UCLA standout averaged 18.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists, all while shooting 68%. The only flaw: his outside skill as he made just two of his eight attempts from behind the arc.

But after a troubled sophomore season, marked by a decline in performance (8.6 points compared to 11.9 as a rookie), he took full advantage of the new offensive momentum led by Erik Spoelstra. The Heat coach overhauled his system to pick up the pace and encourage his players to attack the circle more often.

A philosophy that perfectly fits the profile of a winger, visibly much more fulfilled in this setting.

Less focused on his 3 point address

“It’s a really fun way to play basketball. Everyone shares the ball and we have fun on the court. Guys can find me, which allows me to make easy layups. When you play with a group that shares the ball, it’s easy to get baskets.” he explains after the meeting.

But this surge in power can’t be explained by the Heat’s tactical adjustments alone. After a frustrating sophomore season, Jaime Jaquez Jr. refocused on his strengths.

“I stopped putting pressure on myself about the success or failure of my 3-point shots” admits Jaime Jaquez Jr. “It doesn’t matter if I score or miss. Last year I put too much pressure on myself because of that. This year I focused on my strengths, and among them is attacking the rim and creating plays either for my teammates or for myself.”

In order to focus less on his failures, Jaime Jaquez Jr. also worked with a mental coach over the summer to focus on the essentials.

“The most important thing for me was to understand how to keep a clear head and not focus on a million things at once. Focus only on your core strengths.”

How to read statistics? MJ = matches played; Min = Minute; Shots = Shots Successful / Shots Attempted; 3 points = 3 points / attempt 3 points; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive jump; Tot = Total number of jumps; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal mistakes; Int = intercepts; Bp = lost balls; Ct: Against; Points = Points.