Give-and-Go: Greivis Vasquez
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
By: Jim Eichenhofer, Hornets.com
This is the third 2011-12 edition of Give-and-Go, a periodic Hornets.com feature with Hornets players. In this installment, New Orleans guard Greivis Vasquez directly answers Twitter questions sent to www.twitter.com/Jim_Eichenhofer. We caught up with the second-year NBA guard after a recent team practice at the Alario Center.
From @MDUB87: How are you settling into the city? Do you enjoy New Orleans, and the Hornets in general?Vasquez: The city has been great. I already love it. The only thing is, I havent been able to do too much away from basketball because weve been playing so many games and Im trying to get rest whenever I can. But I like the city, I like the people here and I love the Hornets. I still havent been to Bourbon Street at all. I heard a lot of stories about it, but I want to see how it is and walk around when we have a day off. But the season has been so hectic, its been hard to even think of doing anything with free time other than resting.
From @mynameisteo: Hello from Venezuela. What do you think is the biggest challenge you faced in coming to a new team?Vasquez: The biggest challenge was adjusting to a different city and different teammates. But its been a smooth transition for me. This is a young team and a lot of these guys know each other, or played against each other in college. So we have a bit of a bond. But Im grateful and blessed to be here. Unfortunately weve been losing games, but were going to be a good team.
From @CP3nBrees: Have you become Gustavo Ayons best friend on the team and translator?Vasquez: We are really close friends. We spend a good amount of time together. Im always trying to help him, but hes always trying to help me too. We have a good connection. Im helping him to adjust, but I think hes doing just fine. Hes a great professional basketball player, but also a great person.
From @ferescalona13: Regards from Venezuela. What are you doing to improve your field goal percentage?Vasquez: Ive been doing a lot of extra work, including coming to the gym at nighttime to get some extra shots up. But more than that, Ive got to be mentally tough and make the shots I usually make. It will come with time. Right now Im going through a tough time, so Ive got to keep fighting.
From @stormsurgephoto: Whats an appropriate cheer from your home country the fans could use for when you do something awesome?Vasquez: [smiles] Well, Id have to figure that out, because I dont know which one I would use off the top of my head, but I definitely would like to use one from my country. Maybe they could use something from a salsa singer from Venezuela named Oscar DLeon. He is a famous singer I really like.
From @chaunceymcall: How did you feel when fellow Maryland Terrapins alum, Vernon Davis, made the game-winning touchdown catch for the 49ers against the Saints in the NFL playoffs?Vasquez: I was really happy for him. Hes a great football player and a great friend of mine, too. I am glad he is doing well and that his team did well and had a chance to go to the Super Bowl. I think he deserved that because he works hard. Not only that, but hes a great guy and person off the field.
You didnt actually see the play live, right? Didnt it happen a few minutes before the Hornets game in Memphis tipped off that same night?Vasquez: Yes, youre right. I watched it on the ESPN highlights later that night.
From @BrucE_LIK_MElan: Why do you wear number 21?Vasquez: Its because of a big-time player back home in Venezuela. His name is Diego Guevara, who played in college at UNC-Charlotte. He has always been my favorite point guard. I look up to him, so ever since I saw him wearing 21, Ive worn it. He was one of my heroes, and now he is actually a great friend. Hes always tried to help me out and advise me whenever Ive needed it.