With 12 steals in the past four games, guard Eddie Jones recently has displayed the skills that made him one of the NBA's best off-the-ball defenders before joining the Heat.

The question is whether Miami's defensive philosophy will allow Jones to sustain that level of production.

Considering the Heat has two players who led the league in steals in the past three years (Jones and Kendall Gill), it's somewhat surprising Miami is last in the league in that category.

Gill, who averaged a league-high 2.68 steals with New Jersey in 1999, isn't playing nearly as much with the Heat and has six steals in 13 games.

Jones, who led the NBA in steals (2.7 per game) with Charlotte in 2000, is averaging 1.4 this season (39 in 28 games).

``We don't go for steals as much here as opposed to me in New Jersey or when Eddie was in Charlotte,'' Gill said. ``That's just not the system of defense we play. I don't feel restricted. This is the system coach wants us to do, where our defense is not compromised.''

Gill said he hasn't been in a system that discourages freelancing defense like this one since high school.


The Heat's bench continues to disappoint. In the past two games, LaPhonso Ellis, Gill, Mike James, Chris Gatling and Eddie House combined for 16 points on 5-for-33 shooting. (Vladimir Stepania played in both games but did not attempt a shot.)
Ellis is mired in a 6-for-32 slump.

House, 4 for his last 20, was benched in Monday's game, replaced by Mike James. Gatling, 2 for his last 9, has been forcing ill-advised shots.


Jones said he will continue to penetrate, as he did successfully against Reggie Miller in his 29-point outing in Monday's win against Indiana.
``All it does is help us overall for me to be aggressive,'' he said.

Jones agreed with coach Pat Riley's contention that Miami's top players are losing dignity because of the team's poor start.

``We have to gain back the respect of the other teams, officials and our coaches,'' Jones said. ``It's not going to be easy.''


Monday's game was the first time this season the Heat has overcome a double-figure deficit to win. Miami trailed by as many as 10.