Cook learns 'D' first
Daequan Cook was acquired by the Heat in the first round of the NBA Draft primarily because of his long-range shooting.
But it was Daequan Cook's defense that quickly came into question when he got his matchup assignment from Heat summer-league coach Erik Spoelstra before Monday's opener against Charlotte.
Daequan Cook was asked to guard 2006 lottery pick Adam Morrison, who is four inches taller and has played in 78 NBA games. Daequan Cook was making his summer-league debut after playing one season at Ohio State.
''Coach told me before the game that I was going to check [Morrison],'' Daequan Cook said. ``He wanted to see if I was tough enough. He wanted to see where my guts were and how I felt.''
Daequan Cook's guts turned out to be fine, although his shot was off during the Heat's 88-74 loss to the Bobcats in the Pepsi Pro Summer League.
Daequan Cook finished with 13 points, but missed 6 of 9 attempts from the field and had six fouls in 23 minutes. But he took far more pride in his defense against Morrison, who scored 14 points but was 2 of 6 from the field. Morrison made 10 of 11 free throws.
Daequan Cook said he approached the defensive assignment as a significant first test. The Bobcats started Morrison and Raymond Felton -- two regulars in their regular-season rotation.
''I felt comfortable out there,'' Daequan Cook said. ``I missed a couple of shots, but I felt like I competed. And that's what I came out there to do. I felt like I played great defense.''
SETTLING IN
Daequan Cook said he was nervous before the game. And those pregame jitters likely grew worse when the Heat entered the gym for warmups in front of coach and president Pat Riley, who watched the game with most of the team's front-office staff.
Daequan Cook missed his first three shots and was scoreless in the first half. He also briefly left in the third quarter to treat a minor injury to his left hand.
Riley said it would be difficult to evaluate Daequan Cook during the summer league, where the Heat is scheduled to resume its five-games-in-five-days schedule today against New Jersey.
''He's had a great week of practice, and he's been shooting the heck out of the ball,'' Riley said.
``In summer league, teams are shooting so many free throws, I can't even evaluate players. In practice we can, because we don't call fouls.''
Daequan Cook did show flashes of the shooting touch that has the Heat's coaching staff believing he can fill the void created by Jason Kapono's departure to Toronto in free agency. Daequan Cook made 3 of 4 attempts from three-point range and all four of his free throws.
But Daequan Cook is stepping into a significant void. Kapono led the NBA in three-point shooting percentage (.514) last season. Daequan Cook, who shot 42 percent from three-point range at Ohio State, also is in the early stages of trying to play his way into a Heat rotation that has not included a rookie draft pick since Dwyane Wade emerged in 2003.
LITTLE THINGS FIRST
But Riley said Daequan Cook's only job now is to remain focused on the little things. The big picture comes later.
''I talked to him about focus -- nothing but basketball,'' Riley said. ``He's staying in a nice hotel. He's got room service. You've got movies. So it's practice, rest, practice, dinner, rest and go back the next day. Can you do that, Daequan?''
Said Daequan Cook: ``That's all I've been doing. Nothing more. I've seen all the movies on pay-per-view. I haven't even talked to my mom in three or four days. But I'll call her.''
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