SG Daequan Cook (Ironi Hai Motors Nes-Ziona - Israel)

[brodybuck21]

Class....way to go Daequan

 

[Buckskin86]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvZ-tyJ0Juc]YouTube - NBA star reaches out to child killed in fatal accident[/ame]

 

[MaxBuck]

DaeQuan is yet another Buckeye who makes us proud by his off-the-court actions. Props to this fine young man.

 

[naptownbuck]

Well done young man. :osu:

 

[Buckskin86]

Summer school is in for Heat's Daequan Cook
By CHRIS PERKINS
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Monday, July 13, 2009

MIAMI ? By the time the Heat's week-long practice session is over, guard Daequan Cook might be sick of the pick-and-roll.

"I want him to get 500 pick-and-rolls this week, where he has to see the situation and make a play out of it," coach Erik Spoelstra said.

This is part of Cook's re-education, and part of the Heat's plan to broaden the skills of its young players. To that end, the Heat, which isn't participating in a Summer League this year, has organized five days of practice for youngsters. Included in that group of 18 players are Cook, forwards Michael Beasley and Dorell Wright, guard Mario Chalmers, the Heat's two second-round draft picks (guard Pat Beverley and forward Robert Dozier) and a collection of free agents.

Although Cook is a shooting guard - actually a long-range shooting specialist - the Heat wants him to learn ball-handling skills so he can be a so-called "combo guard," one that can play both shooting guard and point guard.

It's similar to the Heat wanting power forward Michael Beasley to learn small forward skills. The Heat needs its players to be versatile, and it seems as though the message has gotten through to Cook, a first-round pick in 2007.

"I'm a big threat behind the three-point line," said Cook, who won last season's three-point shooting contest during All-Star Weekend. "So my whole mentality going into this summer is being a bigger threat going to the basket and being able to create, not just for myself but for my teammates."

Cook, a third-year player from Ohio State, is still bothered by the right shoulder injury that dogged him late in the season. It wasn't just the injury that dogged Cook. Defenders did, too. After Cook won the three-point contest defenders smothered him and the tactic was effective.

Before the All-Star break Cook averaged 10.4 points per game and shot .411 on three-pointers in 48 games. After the All-Star break he averaged 6.9 points and shot .333 on three-pointers in 27 games. He ended the season averaging 9.1 points and shot .387 on three-pointers.

When defenders stayed close to Cook he had few offensive options and that's why the Heat wants Cook to learn to create off the dribble.

"The scouting report is out there on him," Spoelstra said. "The wide-open, stand still jump shot where he's checking for the wind, those aren't really going to be available for him anymore."

Summer school is in for Heat's Daequan Cook

Miami Heat encouraged by Daequan Cook's improvement
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra envisions Daequan Cook as a combo guard, so Cook is focusing on ball-handling skills during the summer.
BY BARRY JACKSON
[email protected]

The message has been delivered to Daequan Cook: Simply being a shooter will not suffice.

So Cook is trying to expand his game during the Heat's summer workout program, which intensifies this week. And so far, the results have been encouraging.

Coach Erik Spoelstra envisions Cook as not merely a shooting guard, but ''possibly a combo guard'' who can shoulder some ball-handling duties. ''His ball-handling has improved vastly already in the last month,'' Spoelstra said Monday.

``He's put in a lot of time. He wants to expand his game. He knows we need him to expand his game. The scouting report is out there on him. The wide-open standstill jump shot where he's checking for the wind -- those are really not available to him anymore. We're expecting him to do more.''

Spoelstra said he wants Cook ``to get 500 pick and rolls this week where he has to see the situation and make a play out of it. Really expanding his game and being able to do more things off the dribble. I don't even care how many mistakes he makes this week with it. I want him handling the ball as much as he can this week.''

Cook averaged 10.4 points, 38.5 percent shooting overall and 41.4 percent shooting on three-pointers before the All-Star break, but his numbers fell off and he finished at 9.1, 37.5 and 38.7.

Cook blames his post All-star-break decline on a shoulder injury. He said he still feels tightness but ``it should be good by training camp.''

The Heat also is working with small forward James Jones on his ball-handling. Jones has had 30 workouts since the season ended.

''I don't want to see him shoot a spot-up three,'' Spoelstra said. ``James is 44 percent the last two years. He pretty much perfected that. Everything has to be off the dribble.'

http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/basketball/story/1139716.html

 

[Buckskin86]

Miami Heat concludes summer workouts
BY PETE PELEGRIN
[email protected]

The Heat wrapped up its summer workout program Thursday at AmericanAirlines Arena.

Coach Erik Spoelstra said he was pleased with the week of practice, which featured guard Daequan Cook working some at point guard and Michael Beasley playing at small forward.

''We invested quite a bit of time with all the young guys for the last five weeks,'' Spoelstra said. ``It's really the culmination of Phase 1 for them.''

Cook, who primarily has been a shooting guard since being drafted by the Heat, got plenty of repetitions handling the ball, bringing it upcourt against a pressure defense and running the offense -- especially pick and rolls.

Miami Heat concludes summer workouts - Basketball - MiamiHerald.com

 

[Buckskin86]

That is unless there's an unexpected wild card in play, some form of relief already on the roster. The only other in-house option that comes to mind would be Daequan Cook. But if you recall, the backup shooting guard was a disaster in that brief stint when he was pressed into point guard duty a while back. Maybe he's improved. Cook, last season's 3-PT Shootout Champion at All-Star Weekend, spent the bulk of this offseason running pick-and-roll sets and working on his ball-handling. And that might be his best path to steady playing time, considering the roster crowd at shooting guard and small forward.

On the Beat: Miami Heat

 

[osugrad21]

DDN

NBA fame hasn?t really changed Dunbar's Cook

Cook?s personality still much the same; surgery won?t keep him from OSU game.
By Kyle Nagel, Staff Writer Updated 2:59 AM Wednesday, September 9, 2009 Even in dog breeding, Daequan Cook is competitive.
?Mike Beasley got three Cane Corsos,? Cook said. ?I got on the Internet to try to find a dog bigger than that.?
And he did, buying a 185-pound South African Boerboel named King about a year ago to top his Miami Heat teammate Beasley.
His dog-buying practices, like his attendance at two weekend football games at Welcome Stadium, showed to many in the crowd that Cook still has largely the same light-hearted, entertaining and competitive attitude he did as a star player at Dunbar High School and for one season at Ohio State.
With a long holiday weekend, Cook stayed five days in Dayton and took a break during the Dayton Classic V between Central State and Virginia Union on Sunday, Sept. 7, to discuss topics including a nagging injury to his left shoulder, his upcoming wisdom teeth removal and his once-bright future as a quarterback.
Cont...

 

[Buckskin86]

Key to successful Miami Heat season: Better 3-point shooting from Daequan Cook, James Jones
By Chris Perkins
Special Correspondent
October 4, 2009

MIAMI - Between forward James Jones and guard Daequan Cook, the Heat should have had one of the NBA's most feared 3-point shooting combinations last season.

Instead, the Heat finished a disappointing 22nd in the 30-team league in 3-point percentage, at .357.

This season, Jones and Cook insist they're ready to feast off open 3-pointers that should be provided courtesy of guard Dwyane Wade slashing through the lane and center Jermaine O'Neal attracting attention in the paint.

"If you're a shooter, you definitely want to be in the situation we're in," Jones said.

Better 3-point shooting from Jones and Cook could be a significant part of the Heat's "improve from within" offseason credo.

Cook, who won the 3-point shooting contest during All-Star Weekend in February, struggled during the second half of the season as defenders rarely strayed. He closed the season with a .387 3-point percentage, down noticeably from the .410 he had at the All-Star break.

Jones ranked third in the league in 3-point percentage with Portland in 2007-08, but he battled wrist problems last season after preseason surgery and shot .344 on 3-pointers, significantly down from his career-best .444 of two years ago.

During the summer, Cook, the third-year guard from Ohio State, worked on shooting off the dribble so defenders can't shut him down by crowding him. He also worked on ball-handling and has been used some at point guard in training camp.

"You see a different mentality in him, which is probably due to him being a year older," O'Neal said. "He wants to be better. I think he understands."

Key to successful Miami Heat season: Better 3-point shooting from Daequan Cook, James Jones -- South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com

 

[Buckskin86]

Posted on Wednesday, 10.07.09
Daequan Cook (thumb injury) to miss Miami Heat's game vs. Orlando Magic
BY MICHAEL WALLACE
[email protected]

ORLANDO -- Heat guard Daequan Cook will miss Wednesday night's preseason game against the Orlando Magic with a right thumb injury.

Cook, Dwyane Wade's primary backup at shooting guard, jammed the thumb midway through the Heat's practice Tuesday at Amway Arena and sat out the final scrimmage of the workout.

The training staff was still treating Cook's thumb Wednesday and he did not participate in the team's morning shootaround.

``I think I just banged it,'' Cook said after Tuesday's practice. ``But I'm going to be all right though.''

Cook, who won the league's three-point shooting contest last season during All-Star weekend, is one of six swingmen on the roster battling for significant roles at shooting guard or small forward. But he had a rough outing in Monday's 87-83 loss to Detroit in the exhibition opener.

Cook was 2 of 9 from the field and missed all six of his three-point attempts in 21 minutes. He finished with six points, four rebounds, two steals and two assists.

The Heat has listed Cook as day to day, and he will be reevaluated when the team returns to Miami after the game. The Heat plays its third exhibition at home Sunday against the San Antonio Spurs.

Daequan Cook (thumb injury) to miss Miami Heat's game vs. Orlando Magic - Breaking News - MiamiHerald.com

 

[Buckskin86]

Daequan Cook: Cook hits three more treys Thursday

Daequan Cook hit 6-of-10 shots and three 3-pointers Thursday to score 15 points in a win over the Hornets.
That makes 11 threes for Cook in his last three games

Fantasy Basketball Breaking News - Rotoworld.com

 

[Buckskin86]

Posted on Saturday, 10.17.09
MIAMI HEAT NOTEBOOK
Miami Heat's Daequan Cook's ability to forget is sign of good shooter
BY MICHAEL WALLACE
[email protected]

Miami Heat guard Daequan Cook takes a shot over the San Antonio Spurs' Malik Hairston during the fourth quarter on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009 at AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami.
HECTOR GABINO / STAFF PHOTO

He simply forgot.

That terrible performance in the Heat's preseason opener two weeks ago essentially has vanished from memory.

Daequan Cook had no recollection of that 0-for-6 effort he turned in from three-point range during the Heat's Oct. 5 exhibition loss at Detroit.

It's a case of amnesia -- real or fake -- that might best reveal Cook's progress entering his third season.

``Who went 0 for 6?'' Cook asked after the Heat's first preseason win, a 97-81 victory Thursday against New Orleans. ``I went 0 for 6 in that game? Man, I didn't even realize it.''

If a shooter's best weapons are an accurate release and a bad memory, Cook is showing both these days.

Cook led the Heat in scoring for the second time in three games when he finished with 15 points off the bench against the Hornets. He averaged 16.3 points off the bench in that stretch.

After missing all six of his threes in Detroit, Cook has made 11 of 20 (55 percent) from deep in his past three games and has been a go-to option in the fourth quarter.

Last season's three-point shooting champion at All-Star Weekend, Cook credits his recent success on offense to a more versatile game.

Cook worked in the offseason to make more plays driving to the basket instead of only spotting up for jumpers.

Coach Erik Spoelstra said Cook is making strides toward becoming a multidimensional threat on offense.

``Coach trusts me with the ball now to be able to make those plays, and I've been making them,'' said Cook, who has played with a sprained right thumb. ``I had to get back on track. I'm not just a spot-up shooter now. It's been a tremendous change.''

Miami Heat's Daequan Cook's ability to forget is sign of good shooter - Basketball - MiamiHerald.com

 

[Buckskin86]

Beasley, Cook have options picked up
By Ira Winderman
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
October 21, 2009

MIAMI - Until Tuesday, the Heat did not have a single player definitively under contract for 2010-11. Now there are two.

Working in advance of the league's Oct. 31 deadline for such moves, the Heat on Tuesday picked up the 2010-11 rookie-scale options on the contracts of 2008 first-round pick Michael Beasley and 2007 first-round pick Daequan Cook.

Had the Heat failed to make such a move, each would have become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.

With both working on relatively low-cost contracts, the Heat, even with its desire to maximize its salary-cap space for 2010 free agency, decided to move forward.

Beasley, who will earn $4.6 million this season, his second in the league, is now guaranteed a $5 million salary in 2010-11.

Cook, who will earn $1.4 million this season, is now guaranteed $2.2 million for 2010-11.

"What they did this summer was terrific, the commitment they put in," coach Erik Spoelstra said after Tuesday's practice at AmericanAirlines Arena. "Daequan looks like a completely different player, and Michael has been great at two positions."

The two become the only players on the current roster locked into 2010-11 salaries.

Beasley, Cook have options picked up -- South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com

 

[Buckskin86]

Former Buckeye Daequan Cook Receives NBA Community Service
Courtesy: OhioStateBuckeyes.com
Release: 10/22/2009


NEW YORK - Miami Heat guard Daequan Cook has been named the recipient of the NBA Cares Community Assist Award for the 2009 offseason in recognition of his outstanding efforts in the community and for his ongoing philanthropic and charitable work.

Cook is being honored, in part, for the support that he provided to an Ohio family who lost their son in a tragic accident last summer. On June 13, 12-year-old DaQuan Sales had just submitted his application to attend the Daequan Cook Basketball Camp and was excited about meeting his NBA idol, Cook, when he was the victim in a fatal hit-and-run accident while riding his bicycle in Dayton, Ohio. When Cook read about the youngster's death, he reached out to the Sales family to offer his condolences and assistance. Cook, who grew up in the same neighborhood as DaQuan, provided support to DaQuan's family and friends by assisting with the funeral costs, inviting 10 of DaQuan's young friends to attend his basketball camp and contributing to the Be Safe/Wear A Helmet program at DaQuan's school, Fairview Elementary School. The program was established in memory of DaQuan to promote bicycle safety and provide all 450 students with helmets. Cook's relationship with the Sales family has continued to grow and he recently announced plans to establish a college scholarship fund in DaQuan Sales' name.

"My mother always reminded me to never forget where I came from. It's important to help those in need and when the moment presents itself--step up," Cook said regarding his relationship with the Sales family. "You always get a sign from somewhere, and I felt that this was my sign."

Former Buckeye Daequan Cook Receives NBA Community Service Award - The Ohio State Buckeyes Official Athletics Site - OhioStateBuckeyes.com

 

[Buckskin86]

Cook's offseason work honored by NBA
By Tim Reynolds, AP Sports Writer

MIAMI ? Daequan Cook is still a young guy, typically a jokester in the Miami Heat locker room and someone who adds candy to his pregame meal.
Don't be fooled. He's got a serious side as well.

The 22-year-old Cook was announced Thursday as the offseason recipient of the NBA's Community Assist Award, given partly for the way he helped the family of a 12-year-old boy -- DaQuan Sales, essentially the same pronunciation as his own first name -- who was killed this summer in a hit-and-run bicycle crash.

Sales idolized Cook; they both hailed from Dayton, Ohio. Sales had just sent his application to attend Cook's basketball camp when the crash occurred. After Cook heard of the family's plight, the 2009 NBA 3-point shootout champion helped with funeral expenses, invited 10 of DaQuan's friends to his basketball camp and was involved in a bicycle safety program at the boy's school.

"I just felt like, especially with it being something that happened back at home and how inspirational I was to the young guy, that it was important for me to give back to that family, to show them that I want to be more than a basketball player," Cook said. "I want to mean a lot to my community and it was important for me to give back to my community in such a special way."

He's the fifth different player in Heat history to win the award. Dwyane Wade and Alonzo Mourning have both won it twice, and Shaquille O'Neal and Lamar Odom each were recipients during their time in Miami.

"This organization, they always emphasize us giving back to the community," Cook said. "We feel a need to do that, to always give back to the community and the people that support us."

Cook's offseason work honored by NBA - USATODAY.com