FROM THE PENTHOUSE...|OFF THE CANVAS|FRIEND AND FOE|PERFECT TIMING|TOGETHER, FOR THE FIRST TIME|WOUNDED PRIDE|HOMECOMING

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THE PLAYOFF GODS CHOSE TO SHINE THEIR LIGHT ON DAMON JONES. BUT BEWARE: THEY CAN CHANGE THEIR MINDS IN A FLASH

Damon Jones approached P.J. Carlesimo's hotel room that November night in 1999 with optimism. Twenty-four hours earlier, he'd had a career game-17 points, five assists-against the Jazz. P.J. had obviously summoned him to ompliment his play. The starting lineup couldn't be far away, Jones thought, as he knocked. Carlesimo asked Jones to take a seat, then removed his glasses as he turned his attention away from the television set.

"There's no easy way to say this," the coach began. He didn't have to finish. Jones knew where the conversation was headed. He'd been through it before. He was used to it, and he hated that he was. His team was going to play the Lakers the next night, but in the morning Jones would already be on a plane to Galveston, Texas, his hometown. And once again he'd be on the outside looking in. It wouldn't be the last time. Not even close.

Throughout his career, Jones has been a man who's learned not to unpack, who's considered meal money precious gold, who's been forced to confront the fact that maybe "they're all right about you." He's been that dreaded J word: journeyman. Speak it around him, and brace yourself. "As soon as a reporter uses that word, the interview is over," Jones says.

So call him whatever you want. The fact is, the only team to draft him out of Houston in 1997Z was the Black Hills Posse of the IBA. Then it was on to the Jacksonville Barracudas (USBL). And that was all a prelude to an odyssey that has taken him through 11 NBA cities in seven years. Jones got his first taste of the big time in the winter of 1999, latching on with the Magic. He was released after 12 days, having never entered a game. A couple of weeks later, the Nets picked him up. He played a grand total of 131 minutes in 11 games for them. Then came Boston, Golden State, Dallas. It seemed the numbers game always caught up to him. Even in Vancouver, Houston, Detroit, Sacramento, Milwaukee

"Yeah, yeah, let's talk about what I'm doing now," Jones says.

Jones has been starting for the Finals-favorite Miami Heat since Dec. 6; they went on a 16-1 streak immediately after. On April 5, he broke Tim Hardaway's team record for most threepointers in a season. "I don't know that we are where we are without him," says Stan Van Gundy. And no, Van Gundy has not forgotten that he sends out the best one-two combo in the league each night.

Jones' 17 treys against the Nets in the first round was an NBA record for a four-game series. "I've got one of the highest winning percentages of any starting point guard in the NBA over my career," he says. "What does that tell you?" Well, for starters, the twoyear, $5.2 million deal he signed last summer was a bargain for Miami.

THEY TOLD JEROME JAMES TO THINK ABOUT QUITTING. WHAT DID THEY KNOW?

"I never stopped believing I could get here, even after July 27, 1999. I still remember the date. It's when I completely ruptured my ACL and tore cartilage in my left knee at an informal practice session with the Kings. Rick Adelman didn't think I'd ever play again, so he cut me and suggested I explore other career options. When I left his office, the equipment manager handed me a big black garbage bag to carry out my sweatpants, pictures and shoes. Then a security guard escorted me off the property. That might sound bad, but it's normal when someone is cut. I don't blame them for the decision. I just didn't want to believe their opinion.

This isn't my first time in the playoffs; I went with the Sonics three years ago. But it's the first time a team has so heavily depended on my performance. I always envisioned myself as a KG or Shaq, but that's not the path my career took. I had to learn how to be the best role player I could be. Now I'm getting to show that maybe I can be more, but I'm not getting the chance because we're running plays for me. It's because teams focus on stopping Ray and Rashard. I know that. I'm just thankful I could be in the right place at the right time. If this opportunity had come earlier in my career, I wouldn't have handled it the way I am now.

Despite his transaction-filled career, Jones, 28, is not one to shrink from the spotlight. So it's weird he's gotten as much press for the dark wraparounds he wore at a postgame press conference earlier this postseason as for anything he's done on the court. The league said the shades-Yves Saint Laurent's, one of four pairs he owns- kept him from connecting with fans who were tuning in. That's weird, too. Jones has always been a guy fans can reach out and touch. It's okay, though. "It shows people are paying attention to me," he says.

In fact, he has always been very popular with other players around the league. This season, he's caught the fancy of the biggest room-filler of them all. Jones and Shaq have quickly become inseparable. "He's my best friend," says Jones. "I'm funnier, more handsome and dress better, but he's still my boy."

Jones can almost always be found within earshot of The Daddy, the better to match him quip for quip. The ice Jones sports on his wrist and neck? A gift from Shaq. When Jones' sneaker deal fell through, O'Neal arranged for him to wear his signature Dunkman shoe. To teammates, Jones is Donkey to Shaq's Shrek, and Jones laughs it off because he knows they kid because they care. Being a part of a group like this is what he's been aiming at for eight years. Then again, he isn't so much part as epicenter. "He's a big reason the mood is so good around here," the Big Fella says.

Now that Jones has finally been embraced by the in crowd, he goes out of his way to make others welcome as well. He never forgets to extend an invite to rookie teenager Dorell Wright whenever a group of players are about to hit the town or gather to watch a game. But it's the situation, not Jones, that has changed. "He kind of took me under his wing when I was in college," says Heat forward Rasual Butler, who played summer pick-up with Jones. "Even when he wasn't in the league, he encouraged me. You won't find another teammate like DJ anywhere."

So this is it for Jones: a sweet life on the inside, one in which he gets to hang with megastars, play in June, unpack. On a recent South Beach day, he sat with Shaq at a trendy sidewalk cafe. Jones' silver Bentley coupe parked at the curb. What else could he say? "Yeah, I've definitely made it."

Recent success, though, hasn't yet erased some people's memories of the failures. In a midseason home game against the Cavs, Jones hadn't scored by the fourth quarter, and from the front row, Jay-Z and his boys taunted him mercilessly: "When you gonna do something?" Late in the game, with the Heat safely ahead, Jones turned to the high-profile hecklers. "I'm the starting point guard for the best team in the East," he shouted. "What else do you want?"

Damon Jones knows his journey is over.

WHEN LAMAR ODOM WENT FROM SOUTH BEACH TO HOLLYWOOD, HE DIDN'T GET THE PART HE REALLY WANTED

I'm rooting for the Heat. If nobody had liked each other last season or they wanted to get me out of there or the press ripped me as I left town, it would be different. But my loyalty to Pat Riley and the Heat staff goes far beyond basketball. They stood by me when a lot of people questioned my character. What they're doing now started with last season, so if they play for a championship, I'll be there watching them. The worst part for me is I'm rehabbing my shoulder, so I can't play. But I'm watching more basketball, and in a different way. I'm more attentive, watching games with the sound off to build my basketball IQ. I really enjoy watching Tracy McGrady-the way he controls the game, making plays without taking a shot. They should change the rule to be the same as hockey: you get an assist for the pass that leads to the assist. It would make the game better, too; you wouldn't hold the ball as much. I guess not playing gives me more time to think about things. This year was tough. I don't think we all understood the importance of being a Laker when the season started. There is a target on your back; everything is magnified when you wear the purple and gold. Everybody wants to beat Kobe because he's beaten everybody. We had to get used to that. You'll see a different Lakers team next year. We'll have that Lakers pride, but we had to go through this year to get it. With the same team next year, there's no doubt we'll be in the playoffs.

In last year's playoffs, Odom averaged 16.8 ppg and 8.3 rpg. His replacement, Udonis Haslem, went for 8.8 ppg and 11.8 rpg in a first round sweep of the Nets.

THEY TOLD JEROME JAMES TO THINK ABOUT QUITTING. WHAT DID THEY KNOW?

"I never stopped believing I could get here, even after July 27, 1999. I still remember the date. It's when I completely ruptured my ACL and tore cartilage in my left knee at an informal practice session with the Kings. Rick Adelman didn't think I'd ever play again, so he cut me and suggested I explore other career options. When I left his office, the equipment manager handed me a big black garbage bag to carry out my sweatpants, pictures and shoes. Then a security guard escorted me off the property. That might sound bad, but it's normal when someone is cut. I don't blame them for the decision. I just didn't want to believe their opinion.

This isn't my first time in the playoffs; I went with the Sonics three years ago. But it's the first time a team has so heavily depended on my performance. I always envisioned myself as a KG or Shaq, but that's not the path my career took. I had to learn how to be the best role player I could be. Now I'm getting to show that maybe I can be more, but I'm not getting the chance because we're running plays for me. It's because teams focus on stopping Ray and Rashard. I know that. I'm just thankful I could be in the right place at the right time. If this opportunity had come earlier in my career, I wouldn't have handled it the way I am now.

James' scoring spike, from 4.9 ppg in the regular season to 17.2 ppg in the playoffs, is the league's biggest.

DESPITE WHAT YOU THINK, Dirk Nowitzki CAN'T WAIT TO FACE STEVE NASH AND THE SUNS

"The hardest part about playing against your best friend in the playoffs? That's an easy one. Answering all the questions about it. Every time we play Phoenix, that's all anyone wants to talk about. Me and Steve. I really don't like it. I think both teams have moved on. Michael Finley and I are pretty much the only guys left who played with Steve here, anyway.

At the beginning of the season it was a little tough to turn on the TV and see Steve in a different uniform. And obviously, it's a little comical that the first year he leaves Dallas we meet in the playoffs. But I don't really think it's going to be that hard.

If I try to tell you he's just another player, of course that's a lie. I care about Nashy like he's family. He had an unbelievable season and deserved the MVP. I'm very proud of him. But to say this is going to be an emotional series because he's on the other team, that's going a little too far.

I don't think it's going to be weird at all. We'll be fighting on the court, but I'm sure we'll go out for dinners like we normally would. Why wouldn't we? I want to see his kids. I want to see his future wife. And if we go out, I can promise you we're not going to be talking about our game plans, how we're going to defend him or how they plan to defend me.

We're competing against each other, but I've always said we're going to be friends for the rest of our lives. We both have the same job to do. Hopefully, the Mavs will come out on top. And hopefully next time I won't get as many questions about Steve.

With Nash on his team, Nowitzki averaged 25.6 ppg in four postseasons. This year: 21.3 ppg.

WHEN JAMAAL TINsLEY WAS ON IR, ALL HE WANTED WAS A CHANCE AT SOME PT

Before you go and get all caught up in the triumphant story-line possibilities of Reggie's farewell tour, know this: the Pacers will go only as far as Jamaal Tinsley can take them.

"Jamaal is the head of the monster," says Pacers forward Stephen Jackson.

Indiana's 6'3" point guard missed the final 29 games of the regular season, hobbled by a throbbing left foot. At the time, Tinsley was in the midst of a career year-15.4 ppg, 6.4 apg, 4 rpg. He didn't play again until the Pacers were locked in combat with the Celtics in a first-round playoff series. "It was a long time to be out and to have to watch the team," Tinsley says. Adding to his frustration was the fact that for what seemed like forever, no one quite knew what was wrong with the offending appendage. (It turned out to be a midfoot sprain and stretched ligament.) Tinsley got up and running only in the middle of March and finally got back on the court in Game 5. Shaking off the rust, he sparked the Pacers to a 90-85 win at the FleetCenter, scoring six points while dishing out seven assists and pulling off five steals in 28 minutes. "JT was big, considering he was out for so long," Jackson says. "It shows what he means to us."

Fill-in point guard Anthony Johnson kept the Pacers focused during their late-season playoff surge, but Tinsley is clearly the more dangerous option. His penetration creates space, leaving shooters like Jackson and Miller wide open. "They're really two different point guards," Miller says. "I like the way those two guys complement each other."

Sitting and watching really burned Tinsley, particularly because it meant missing out on so much of Miller's final season. "He's done a lot for the game, and I couldn't go out there and play with him," Tinsley says.

He's got the chance to make up for the lost time now.

Tinsley's 30 playoff games rank fourth among starting PGs in the second round.

GILbERT ARENAs AND ANTAWN JAMIsON HAD TO BREAK UP BEFORE REALIZING HOW GOOD THEY WERE TOGETHER

Anyone who saw Antawn Jamison and Gilbert Arenas fail miserably together with the Warriors has to be rubbing his eyes in disbelief at their joint success these days in DC.

Who could have expected that, when GM Ernie Grunfeld traded Jerry Stackhouse, Christian Laettner and No. 5 pick Devin Harris to the Mavericks for Jamison, he was getting the piece that would make the Wizards one of the year's big surprises. Jamison is still the serious vet with an inside presence and double-doubles, and Arenas is still the clowning sharpshooter who knocks down winners (see Game 5 vs. the Bulls). This time around, though, they're more oil-and-vinegar than oil-and-water. "Their losing in Golden State helped our winning here," says coach Eddie Jordan.

The Warriors were 48-81 in games Arenas and Jamison played together. Their combined numbers have changed: 35.6 ppg, 10.6 rpg and 3.5 apg in Golden State; 45.1 ppg, 12.3 rpg and 7.4 apg in Washington. But the bigger difference is they are finally playing to win-the Wizards were 45-37-instead of for themselves.

This has been a season of bliss in Washington. The Wizards are in the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 1982, and Jamison and Arenas both made their first All-Star team. The good vibes trace back to a phone call from Arenas shortly after the trade. "He said, 'Twan, I'm tired of this losing,' " Jamison says. "I felt it in his voice. It was the first time Gilbert was actually serious."

After the call, Jamison, who got his first taste of the postseason last year, knew he could get back there again. "It's not that they didn't get along," says Larry Hughes, who also played with the two in Oakland. "It's that losing makes people miserable. Hey, Twan lets GA drive his Bentley now."

And watch his kids. "I'm Uncle Gil," says Arenas, who sometimes babysits for Jamison's daughter, Alexis. And Jamison plays matchmaker for Arenas. At least he used to. "I tried to hook him up," Twan says, "but I don't see him settling down any time soon. Gil is different."

So are these Wizards.

Only three players on the Wizards' roster, Jamison (five games), Hughes (eight) and Anthony Peeler (50), have played in the playoffs. But six of their 12 players played in the Final Four. So will March mean anything in June?

LAST YEAR sAM CAssELL AND HIS WOLVES WERE SITTING PRETTY. THIS YEAR THEY'RE SITTING AT HOME

With the hamstring injury I had, and all the other injuries the team had, our health problems were just too much to overcome. That's the reason we didn't reach the playoffs. Not contracts, not Flip Saunders. Last year, with Latrell, Kevin and myself healthy, we got the No. 1 seed. I got hurt and we weren't as strong. That's it. It eats at me not to be playing right now. I'm not used to being home this time of year. I'm spending time with my family and on getting healthy, and I have to be a fan. I'm going to support my boy, Damon Jones. He supported me through my run in the playoffs last year, so I'm going to support him down in Miami. It's going to be tough sitting in the stands and watching, but that's how it is. Missing the playoffs is just a part of life, man, but it's a big, disappointing part of life.

This is only the third time in 11 years Cassell has failed to make the postseason. Two of the three occurred after his team reached the conference finals the prior year.

EXILED ONCE, Mike D'Antoni IS SPICING UP THE LEAGUE IN HIS RETURN

Treviso is a picturesque Italian city, but for Mike D'Antoni it was basketball Siberia. "After I got fired from Denver, I thought I was done," says D'Antoni, who got dumped in 1999 after the lockout-shortened season. "You have to be real lucky to get a job in this league. I was sure there was no chance it would happen for me twice." After assistant gigs with San Antonio and Portland, D'Antoni went to coach Benetton Treviso in 2001, but he followed NBA action from afar. "I was a fan," he says. "But my life and my game were in Italy."

D'Antoni not only got a second chance in the league-he was repatriated in 2002 by the Suns, who hired him as an assistant before elevating him to the top job 18 months later-he's now the talk of it. To be fair, D'Antoni knows more than some of the attention is fueled by skepticism of the Suns' style of play, and he admits to being relieved his team is thriving in the playoffs. "You hate to think what you've committed to isn't good enough," he says. Well into May, that's not the case yet.

Since 1985, only two coaches have won rings in their first full season with a new team: Phil and LB.

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