A rebirth in Dallas for ex-Hawk By SEKOU SMITH The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published on: 06/18/06 Miami — He talks about it without hesitation, without any reservation or any trace of regret in his voice. It was five years, five trying years for a player who relishes winning above all else, no matter what others may believe. The Jason Terry who Hawks fans got to know during the first five years of his NBA career is not the same player — and certainly not the same man — these days. Time, maturity and a taste of NBA success have a way of changing a person, as Terry can attest now that he's in the midst of starring on the NBA's biggest stage. Terry and the Dallas Mavericks face off with the Miami Heat Sunday night in a pressure-packed Game 5 of the NBA Finals. The winner will emerge with a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series. And there's no doubt that for Terry, life in the NBA's global fishbowl suits him much better than life on the fringe. "I was blessed to be drafted to Atlanta," said Terry, the 10th pick in the 1999 draft. "I'm serious when I say that. It was a blessing — even with all the struggles we had as a team and the fact that the organization was really just out there in terms of the way things were run. "But now I'm able to enjoy success a lot better because I went through those tough times. And that's not a knock on anybody in Atlanta. It's the way it was." Traded by the Hawks to Dallas along with Alan Henderson and a future first-round draft pick in August 2004, Terry knew a departure from the Hawks is what both sides needed. He knew that he needed a fresh start and that he didn't want to be caught in the transition from one ownership group and management team to another. And like so many other former Hawks, he's blossomed since departing. His career-best individual numbers were all recorded in a Hawks uniform — 19.7 points in his second season and 7.4 assists in his fourth. But he didn't play in the postseason until last year, his first with the Mavericks. And while Dirk Nowitzki and Josh Howard have received the bulk of the attention from the worldwide media horde here covering the Finals, Terry's name is the one that comes up most often when the Heat talk about the player they have to focus on stopping. "When you get to this point of a season, it's all about which guys is willing to step up and take the big shots, which guys is willing to leave everything on the floor to get that [championship] ring," said Heat veteran guard Gary Payton, Terry's longtime idol and one of his closest friends. "I've know JT since he was in high school and he's always been that kind of player, the kind of guy who's going to risk everything for that ultimate prize. "That's what separates the average players from the exceptional ones, from the greats." Terry's lifelong ambition has been to be held in such regard. He knows legends are made in the postseason, and for the record, his 18-point scoring average in 33 career playoff games is higher than his career average (15.8). While several of his teammates have buckled under the pressure of the Heat's ferocious comeback in this series, Terry's in-your-face approach has remained. After a 32-point Game 1 and a nine-assist Game 2, he led the Mavericks with 17 points in their Game 4 loss. He was the only Dallas player who stayed aggressive as the Heat pulled away late. Mavericks coach Avery Johnson roasted his own team after the way they fell in Game 4, arguing that they needed to adopt a more " playground" approach in a series that has taken on that sort of take-no-prisoners feel. "You can't expect anybody to bail you out," Johnson said. It's a style that suits Terry, who'll have added pressure on him tonight since veteran Jerry Stackhouse has been suspended because of the body-block he delivered on Shaquille O'Neal. Terry and Stackhouse have been the players the Mavericks have relied on all season to give them that edge, that swagger, that fearlessness that's surely needed on this stage. Terry, a free agent at season's end, draws his strength from the pressure he has faced down off the court. His 9-year-old niece Imani Horne died in March, a blow Terry admits he'll never get over. His mother, Andrea Cheathem, is severely anemic and suffers from hypertension and congestive heart problems. She's here watching her son a week after having stomach surgery. Finding his balance on the basketball court is nothing compared to the balance he's had to maintain away from it during such trying times. "I know some people might look at the situation we're in right now as this high pressure environment," he said. "But I put it in perspective. I want to win in the worst way, just like every other man on this team. But it's 48 minutes and then it's over. All we can do is handle our business the best way we know how." 資料來源 http://www.ajc.com/hawks/content/sports/hawks/stories/0618breakdown.html --

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