[Buckskin86]

Jent is behind James' jumper
By Chris Beaven
CantonRep.com staff writer
Posted May 02, 2009

No one ever questioned LeBron James? ability to score. He averaged 20 points a game as a rookie and was at 31 a game by his third season with the Cavs.

What has been a work in progress, though, has been his ability to shoot the basketball. Through his own hard work and some coaching from Chris Jent, James is seeing vast improvement in that part of his game.

?Shooting is a very delicate thing,? Jent said. ?It?s a tough thing. It?s a confidence, slash, ego thing. To allow someone to help you with that, you really got to let your guard down.?

Jent has gained James? trust during the past three seasons as a Cavs assistant coach.

?After the first year, that summer was when we really got to work,? said Jent, an outstanding shooter at Ohio State who played 10 years of pro ball, including two seasons in the NBA.

James told Jent he wanted to improve his shooting. Jent?s message was simple: ?Well, you?ve got to work at it.?

That has resulted in James taking thousands of shots in practices and offseason workouts.

?He?s worked hard to change a lot of things on his shot,? Jent said. ?His balance, his form. All last summer was all form shooting.

?Things have changed. He shoots the ball very differently. I think he distributes his weight much better now. And that?s allowed him to be better off the dribble.?

James shot a career-best 48.9 percent from the floor this season. He made a career-high 132 3-pointers. Take away his 1-for-19 start this season shooting the 3 and James would?ve shot a career-best 35.9 percent from beyond the arc.

?Becoming a great shooter is (about) shooting the same shot,? Jent said. ?It?s allowing yourself and (having) the confidence in your own shooting ability to no matter what, make or miss, the next shot you take, you take the same shot.?

Jent is behind James' jumper - Canton, OH - CantonRep.com