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Some blurbs I found on Jarrett Jack recently:
Then there's Jarrett Jack, the most versatile player of the three. He's arguably the best defensive player among them, the strongest and, in some ways, the most steady. But he's hit a wall in March -- he's shooting 26 percent from the field this month -- after thriving in February. He may have the most to prove among the three.
Jack gets his second start awhile back:
Jack gets seconds start of season at point guard
Rookie Jarrett Jack got his second start of the year at point guard Wednesday, sharing the backcourt with Steve Blake.
But while Blake may be the Blazers' regular starting point guard, McMillan said he wanted to see how Jack played the position as a starter. Jack is the only Blazer to see action in all 70 games this season, but didn't start his first game until March 14, a 95-66 loss at Chicago.
McMillan said he has been impressed with Jack's work ethic and recent performances. Jack scored 20 points in 21 minutes last week against Phoenix, and had 16 Sunday against the Los Angeles Clippers.
"I think he's been, really working hard in the last week or so . . . really trying to fight through this struggle we've been going through," McMillan said. "During the Phoenix game he really scrapped and showed that he's not going to give in to what's going on."
Some interesting Q&A:
Rookie Jarrett Jack is the only Blazers player who has appeared in every game this season. He took a 20-second timeout after practice at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.
Now that you're a professional drawing a healthy paycheck, what have you been able to buy yourself that you've always wanted?
"My first car. Also, don't tell my parents, but this Christmas, I'm probably going to get them (a specific item that will remain secret), surprise them."
What kind of car did you get?
"Mercedes CLS 500, silver."
If you weren't an NBA player, what would you be doing?
"Never thought of it. But, if I had to, I'd want to do something in music, probably an A&R executive, something like that. I think I know when I hear something good or something that's different but can also be hot at the same time."
You played three seasons in the Atlantic Coast Conference for Georgia Tech. If you were general manager of the Blazers and had a chance to draft Duke's J.J. Redick, would you take him?
"What number is the pick?"
Let's say No. 4.
"Nah, I can't. I mean, J.J. is my guy. And if we were a team like Phoenix, I definitely think he would fit in to their situation. But we have a number of wing players, and we just drafted Martell. So I'd probably go for a big."
You're known for your defense. Who is the toughest player you've had to guard this season?
"Probably Carmelo Anthony or Kobe (Bryant). One of those guys. Baron Davis was tough, too. Those three. Obviously, I'm playing bigger guys because in our situation, we have small guards. Normally, I would be matched up on the point guard, but I find myself guarding a lot more wings."
Who's your pick to win the NCAA title?
"I'm gonna go with UConn or Villanova. You know, guards carry you through, and Villanova definitely has that, and UConn, they have a great coach and they've been there before, and I think they have what it takes to win."
During the preseason, Sebastian Telfair pulled a prank where he convinced you that you were starting the game, and you ran out onto the court when his name was called. Any payback?
(At this point, Telfair saunters near and says, "C'mon Jack, we gotta go.")
"Nah, he was just joking around. Yeah, he's probably one of my better friends on the team. We'll probably go hang out right now."
No secret plan in the works?
"We still got 18 games left."