"He is shooting a career-worst 42 percent, but Antawn Jamison is still firing for the Cavaliers. In fact, coach Byron Scott is encouraging it.

In order for the Cavs to be successful — insert punchline here — Scott believes Jamison must take 15 to 20 shots a game simply because the Cavs don't have many other offensive threats.

Jamison is happy to oblige, even if the shots haven't been falling.

''Every year I give you a horrible month,'' Jamison said. ''That month has been this month.''

It has gone on a little longer than a month, although the first four games of February have been particularly awful (36 percent). Jamison's season started slowly because of knee problems and the fact he was unhappy with his role as a reserve. His numbers haven't improved as the season has dragged on. He is averaging 17.2 points, his lowest as a starter since his rookie year.

Of course, teams don't have many other options to worry about when facing the Cavs. Every team centers its defense on stopping Jamison.

''The biggest thing for me is to not seek it out and let it come to me,'' he said. ''There are points where a couple minutes go by, [opponents] might go on a 6-0, 8-0 run and I think 'I've got to do something.' I just have to be more patient.''

That doesn't mean he'll be shooting less, though. Both Jamison and Scott concede fatigue might be setting in at this point, but the All-Star break is a week away.

Scott wants to get Jamison to post up more so he has the option to shoot or go to the basket. Above all, though, he needs to keep taking the shots.

''If he gets hot, it could be one of those nights where it's going to be high 20s or low 30s,'' Scott said. ''I think a lot of his attempts have been good looks. It's just a matter of him knocking them down on a more consistent basis.''

Pistons feuding

Scott knows better than most the ramifications when a star player clashes with his coach. Scott had run-ins with Jason Kidd with the New Jersey Nets and Baron Davis with the New Orleans Hornets similar to the situation in Detroit, where Richard Hamilton and coach John Kuester aren't really speaking.

''It can have a huge impact. It starts trickling down to the players. It could destroy your team,'' Scott said of clashes between star players and coaches. ''That's a tough situation for both. 'Q' [Kuester] is a great guy. I've been around 'Rip' enough to know he's a good person. I don't understand it, but I don't try to, either.''"