Guard Eddie Jones, who hasn't played in a game since May shoulder surgery, pronounced himself ready to start tonight's
opener and said his minutes would not be limited.
``Eddie has looked real good this week,'' coach Pat Riley said.
Said Jones: ``Coach knows I'm in pretty darn good shape. The first few days I started practicing, my rhythm wasn't there. Every day, I've cut down on the mistakes.''
Anthony Carter likely will start at point guard ahead of Rod Strickland. ``It has to do with knowledge and familiarity with things,'' Riley said. ``We'll just see how it goes. I will play both of them together at times, but not at the beginning.''
Riley declined to say whether Kendall Gill or LaPhonso Ellis would start at small forward, but said Ellis would be needed more in the power rotation while Chris Gatling sits out the first five games to work on his conditioning. One rotation player said he expected Gill will start.