Jones is fit from the start
Cavs guard began last season flabby

The Damon Jones who played in the first half of last season was a fraud. Says who? Says Jones. "I was out of shape," said Jones, a 6-1 guard counted on by the Cavaliers for his perimeter shooting. "I came to camp out of shape. Fans did not see the real Damon Jones in the first half of last season. "They will see the real Damon Jones from the start of this season." Jones, signed to a four-year, $16.1 million contract in September 2005, said he reported to training camp last season weighing 205 pounds. "I'm down to 195 pounds and 8½ percent body fat," he said, "just like I was during my time in Miami."

Starting 66 (out of 82) games for the Heat in 2004-05, Jones had a career season -- averaging 11.6 points while ranking third in the NBA with 225 3-pointers.

Not wanting to risk an injury that would diminish his free- agent value following the breakout season, Jones did little to stay in shape. "Then," he said, "I ended up signing late [September].

"You can't come into camp trying to get into shape," he said. "It took me half a season to get to where I wanted to be."

The result: a 6.7-point average and 140 3-pointers in 82 games with the Cavaliers last season.