http://www.nola.com/hornets/t-p/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/1089793554199110.xml West develops game in summer league Hornets forward gets to compete vs. tough foes Wednesday, July 14, 2004 By John Reid Staff writer LONG BEACH, CALIF. -- Hornets forward David West showed a willingness to battle for rebounds against taller players last season, and didn't play like a rookie. In his second season, the Hornets expect even more from him. "I've got to be more aggressive on the offensive end," West said. "Coach (Byron) Scott and I have talked, and I know that to be on the floor you've got to be able to do everything." To prepare for the upcoming season, West is playing in the Southern California Summer Pro League, along with last month's draft picks, J.R. Smith and Tim Pickett. West scored 19 points and had nine rebounds Tuesday against Golden State in a 91-87 loss. There is no Yao Ming, Paul Pierce or LeBron James in this league. But for West, the league is a needed opportunity to play extended minutes against NBA-caliber players for six games. Last season West spent most of the summer working out alone because the Hornets did not field a summer league team. "This gives him more offensive opportunities at facing the basket in the post," said Hornets director of player personnel Jeff Bower, who is coaching the summer league team. "Our goal and objective is to expose him to certain situations and give him an opportunity to handle them." A priority for Scott is seeing how West handles playing power forward and small forward. West played both positions last season, and Scott is considering using West at those positions again. With forward Jamal Mashburn's status unclear as he continues to recover from knee problems, West could be counted on to contribute much more. He could be competing with George Lynch for the starting small forward position if Mashburn begins the season on injured reserve or is traded. West, the 18th pick in the 2003 draft, averaged 13.1 minutes and 3.8 points in 71 games. But among Hornets' players who played in 60 games or more, West took the fewest shots -- 228. In comparison, Lynch, known mostly for his defensive play, took 375 shots in 78 games and averaged 4.8 points. Often West, when covered in the post, preferred passing to a teammate to taking a shot. In the summer league competition, West hasn't limited himself. He has shown more assertiveness and a variety of post moves when the lane becomes crowded. "I've been working since the end of the season trying to drop the ball more in the basket, because I've got to make shots whether I'm open or not," West said. Monday night against the Memphis Grizzlies, West drove the basket with two defenders in front of him. West was called for an offensive foul, but after the game, Scott told West that he had made an excellent move to score, and the that official made a bad call. West scored 10 points and had seven rebounds in 30 minutes. "I think just his experience going into his second year is going to help David," Scott said. "He really didn't get a chance to play a whole lot as a rookie. But David is very versatile and is a smart player who can pass. I see him getting better as he plays with more confidence." . . . . . . . John Reid can be reached at [email protected] or (504) 826-3405. --

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