Gimme 10! Player Profile – David West

Wild Wild West of New Orleans

Xavier University is an interesting school. It is a proud Jesuit (Catholic) school in a Protestant city that thinks its a town. Most of the student-body embodies the Jesuit educational philosophy and tries to live Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam (“For the Greater Glory of God” in Latin). Then, cross-town rival Cincinnati comes over to play a friendly game of hoops and all hell breaks loose. Have you ever seen a city divided by rage?

David West plays with his the rage of his alma mater during rivalry week night in and night out. It is a thing to behold.  At 6′9″ he can get his shot pretty much when and where he wants it, but he likes to earn his buckets around the basket. He rebounds with fury and can defend the likes of Dirk Nowitzki and Tim Duncan. And by the by, he is not the best player on his team.

When we watch Chris Paul play, there really is not much to critique. He is the total point guard package. Therefore, if NOLA is to take the next step to being an elite team (which we think they will), some one else has got to step up. Our money is on the undersized guy from the small school that liked to smack the big schools in the mouth.

Over the course of the 07-08 season, West was as consistent as he was good. But in the playoffs, his up and down play  may have cost the Hornets a shot at sending the Spurs home early. Do not get us wrong, when he was on, he was on, but we suspect that Mr. West may simply forget to turn it off this season. With New Orlean’s talented group of starters and the addition of James “I Win Championships” Posey, we expect the wild West wind to blow far into the playoffs this season.

~ by Tizzo on October 8, 2008.