David Benoit is probably as perplexed as anyone about his strange up-and-down season. One minute he's flying in, jerking the ball out of the air and slamming it through the hoop; the next minute he's bobbling a loose ball off his hands and out of bounds. One game he's tossing three-point shots through the net with ease, the next he's being tied up and bound every time he turns around.

The second year of David Benoit is, by his own admission, tougher than the first. He made his maiden voyage on the Good Ship NBA last year and it was nearly all smooth sailing. "The second year is more difficult. You notice it a lot, especially in the way people play me," said Benoit. "I turned and faced people a lot last year. Now they won't allow it."If you're David Benoit, living up to expectations isn't an easy job. Jazz coaches publicly say he's a young player with fine potential. Privately they feel he could become one of the league's true stars. When training camp began last fall, there was much debate as to whether Benoit or veteran Tyrone Corbin should start at small forward.

In hindsight, it wasn't worth debating. Corbin, a proven player, has been remarkably consistent, Benoit has not. Nevertheless, the Jazz coaches are quick to point out that Benoit has studiously worked to improve and doesn't complain about playing time.

"Every player wants to play," said Jazz coach Jerry Sloan. "But even if you get no minutes, you've still got to work. And David's doing that. His game is still progressing."

The past two weeks have been a case study in young player insecurities. He shot 35 percent in that period, bottoming out with a couple of "oh-fer" nights from the field against the Lakers (0-5) and Seattle (0-3). In a seven-game span prior to Sunday's game against Portland, he made just three of 12 three-point attempts.

"He knows he's trying," said Sloan. "He's trying to get his game back where it was and get his confidence back. That's what he indicated to me."

Sloan's formula for restoring confidence is simple: Get the player to make something good happen, be it a rebound, a recovery, a steal, a block. Once the player begins to loosen up, his shot usually returns.

That Benoit would struggle in his second year doesn't surprise Sloan. "The second year is tough on a lot of players," the coach said. Teams have scouted the players' weaknesses and strengths by then. The rush of excitement at playing in the NBA is suddenly replaced by the realization of how much one needs to do to reach those goals.

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Benoit said he was especially frustrated at his lack of concentration in early January. "It was one of the first times I've every run up against a wall in career," said Benoit. "A big wall."

But after a talk with Sloan last Wednesday in Oakland, he said he was feeling better. Friday night against the Lakers, though, it was more of the same: four points, no rebounds and no field goals in 15 minutes. But Sunday against Portland Benoit was his old self, landing three three-pointers and totaling 11 points. "There were a lot of things I like out there," said Sloan.

Among them was the return of Benoit's outside shooting.

Benoit says if he is patient, consistency will result. And along with it will come the old arching three's and screaming slams. "There's a lot more to come," said Benoit. "There really is. I think I have stuff that hasn't even surfaced yet. It's just a matter of time."

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