West averaged 20.6 points and 8.9 rebounds as the Hornets won a franchise-record 56 games and their first division title last season. This season, Coach Byron Scott expects West to average 20-21 points and 10-11 rebounds per game.

"We talked this summer a few times, and he knows I expect big things from him," Scott said. "But the biggest thing is probably at the other end of the floor, we have to improve in some areas. I told him, "There's nothing on the offensive end that you can't do.

"He's got the total package when you talk about a power forward. He's got range on his jump shot, he's got the mid-range game, he's got the post-up game, he can beat people off the dribble. It's just a matter of us as a team, and David as well, getting better at the defensive end."

West said he spent much of his summer studying film of former NBA big men such as Hakeem Olajuwon, Charles Barkley, and Karl Malone.

"I'll be blunt, I was just trying to steal some stuff," West said with a smile. "They can't use it anymore.

"I just wanted to be a student and hopefully apply some of the things that I was able to pick up. The more familiar you are with the game and the different situations that you can be in, the better. I just became a better student of the game, hoping to be sharper in the mind once the season gets here.

Scott said he probably didn't lean on West as a defender as much as he should have last season.

"I think the thing that I did -- that was a disservice to David last year -- was sticking him on guys that were lesser offensive players, so to speak, and putting (center) Tyson (Chandler) on the tougher guy," Scott said. "I think David loves a challenge.

"When we got to the Dallas (first-round playoff) series, we all kind of just said, "(Forget) it. David, you guard Dirk (Nowitzki)." And he did a heck of a job. I think he loves those types of challenges. We're going to give him that challenge a lot this season, and I think it's going to make him become a better defensive player. And, hopefully, that translates into us becoming a better defensive team."

Point guard Chris Paul, who also was a first-time All-Star last season, knows what his first option is.

"I expect just a little bit more confidence out of 'D-West'," Paul said. "I'm going to ride with him all day long. I'll pass it to him any time. I expect him to be that same player, and even more dominant."