Rival Report: Kings.com’s Andrew Nicholson
By: Jim Eichenhofer, Hornets.com

October 29, 2009

Throughout the 2009-10 regular season, Hornets.com will be interviewing writers from other NBA websites to obtain unique insights on the Hornets’ opposition, prior to home games at the New Orleans Arena.

With the Hornets hosting the Sacramento Kings at 7 p.m. Friday, we caught up with Kings.com writer Andrew Nicholson.

Fourth-overall pick Tyreke Evans will be the boost to the frontcourt for the Kings this season, who are coming off a dismal 17-win season last year.

Hornets.com: One of the most exciting aspects of the 2009 offseason for the Kings was the selection of point guard Tyreke Evans with the fourth overall selection. Many analysts believe he is a top Rookie of the Year candidate. What have you seen from Evans in summer and preseason that has led observers to say he has potential to be an NBA star?
Nicholson: Tyreke Evans is a dynamic offensive and defensive player. Coach Paul Westphal has said players of his approach and ability as a rookie are rare and he holds the respect of his veteran teammates, as if he is one himself.

Evans has the size and strength to score in the post, while also possessing a tremendous ability to score in traffic in the paint. He plays with great poise. His playmaking and mid-range game really make it difficult to guard him, which opens up great opportunity for his teammates, especially the team’s leading scorer, Kevin Martin. Defensively, ‘Reke Havoc, as he is commonly called by fans, uses his length and athleticism to pick opposing pockets and block shots. Evans is relentless on both sides of the ball. Standing 6-foot-6, Evans and Martin, 6-foot-7, could be the tallest starting backcourt in the NBA.

Hornets.com: Another major change in the summer was the hiring of new head coach Paul Westphal, who most notably led Phoenix to the NBA Finals in 1993 as the Suns’ coach. What impact do you expect Westphal will have on the Kings in terms of style of play and their development?
Nicholson: Coach Westphal has been fully embraced by the players, and as second-year forward Jason Thompson recently blogged, players are buying into his system and understanding their roles. Westphal and his coaching staff have emphasized teaching throughout training camp, while instilling the offensive and defensive framework of his systems. With the focus on teaching, there has already been visible growth and it will only continue, as the Kings hold the NBA’s youngest roster. As the team has shown in preseason, it plays a moderate tempo with the ability to grind it out or play uptempo. Westphal characterizes himself as a pragmatic coach.

Hornets.com: Based on the youthfulness and relative inexperience of the roster, the Kings have acknowledged that they are in rebuilding mode. What are some of the primary team objectives they will try to achieve this season?
Nicholson: Coach Westphal’s primary objective this season, simply put, is to see daily improvement. Three specific areas the team would like to improve are defense, rebounding and ball movement.

Kings big men (L-R) Spencer Hawes and Jason Thompson have been hard at work improving all areas of their game this offseason.

Hornets.com: The Kings are building partly around recent lottery picks such as Spencer Hawes (2007) and Jason Thompson (2008). What are some of the aspects of the game those players are working on to continue to improve individually?
Nicholson: Along with adding muscle and enhancing their conditioning, both players worked extensively on all aspects of their games during the offseason. The effects of their offseason workouts have shown as Thompson notched a 20-20, points and rebounds, effort against the Warriors, while Hawes tallied 18 points (2-of-4 from three-point range), nine rebounds and one block against the Lakers. Thompson said two specific areas he worked on were his left hand and range on his jumper.

Hornets.com: Within the past year, usage of social networking media has become widespread in the NBA. Who are the Kings’ most entertaining and active players using Twitter or other platforms?
Nicholson: Jason Thompson (@jtthekid), Donté Greene (@dontegreene), Sean May (@BigMay42), Francisco Garcia (@Cisco32) and Jon Brockman (@MrJonBrockman) are all active on Twitter. Garcia was the first athlete to tweet in Spanish. Tyreke Evans’ trainer, LaMont Peterson (@TyrekesTrainer), also gives fans behind-the-scenes scoops on the Kings rookie. Between JT, DG, Sean and Brock, the four young players have a great time keeping fans entertained and informed daily, while also engaging with their followers.

Hornets.com: What’s one thing we might be surprised to know about the Kings?
Nicholson: Speaking of Twitter, the Kings (@sacramentokings) were the first NBA team to tweet – January 19, 2007. Another first, rookie Omri Casspi is the first Israeli player to play in the NBA. Despite the weight of an entire nation on his shoulders, Casspi has progressed well during training camp and been a difference maker in the team’s final preseason games. He, like his teammates, is poised to do whatever it takes to help the team improve this season.