DaytonDailyNews.com

This whole season has been like a swift elbow to the head for the Miami Heat.

"It's been real tough," rookie Daequan Cook said. "This is a learning process right now."

The Dunbar High School graduate and former Ohio State guard, who was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers in June 2007 and then traded to the Miami Heat, joined a team one year removed from an NBA title.

Miami has the NBA's worst record (13-61) and barely resembles the preseason roster. The Heat lost Alonzo Mourning, Dwayne Wade, Udonis Haslem and Dorell Wright to season-ending injuries. Jason Williams and Shawn Marion have missed time due to nagging ailments.

Shaquille O'Neal was traded to Phoenix, then Shaq ripped Miami coach Pat Riley. The current roster is sprinkled with 10-day contract and Development League players.

Cook has had his own challenges. After a good start, he's gone through a long slump, a trip to the Development League and missed two games due to a March 26 concussion — after an elbow to the head.

"I'm taking some medicine right now, but I still have a headache every morning when I get up," Cook said recently. "I'm doing a lot better."

Cook has played better lately. He hopes to be part of a retooled rotation next year and — except for the losing — likes the NBA life.

"You've always got somebody watching you," Cook said. "There's great players. It's fun. Outside of basketball, it's always about having fun and getting a chance to interact with other players."

Cook's NBA learning curve

Daequan Cook has played in 51 of the Miami Heat's 74 games with 12 starts. His 8.3 scoring average is 11th among rookies (just behind former Ohio State teammate Mike Conley Jr.). Cook's played 1,178 minutes compared to 770 in 39 games at OSU.

His career-high was 21 points March 10 against the Los Angeles Clippers. By month, Cook averaged 10.1 in November, 8.2 in December, 5.8 in January, 2.8 in February and 11.8 in March. In his last three games, he is averaging 15.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists while shooting 40 percent from the field.

Cook's stats with eight games remaining:

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