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Haluska has been shooting well but sounds like he's going to have to work a little more on his defense.


Shooting guard focuses on defense Early in Coach Byron Scott's first season with New Orleans, a prolific scorer was on the market, and the Hornets, winless at the time, needed scoring, prolific or otherwise. But Scott scoffed.

"He'll give you 20," he said. "But he'll give up 30."

This sentiment lingered during the seasons to come, as Scott occasionally became disenchanted with a young scorer who didn't back it up defensively.


Scott's dedication to defense is something of which Adam Haluska is well aware. The rookie can shoot. But Haluska is the first to admit that his defense must improve if he's to make the roster. So the second-round draft pick from Iowa has become a self-appointed "sponge," soaking up as much defensive knowledge as he can during camp.

"Defensively, I'm just trying to learn all the principles," Haluska said. "I really have got to bust it on the defensive end. . . . I think the biggest thing right now is trying to make that adjustment defensively. The game's a little different from college -- faster, more up-tempo."

The 6-foot-5, 210-pound guard shot splendidly in Monday's preseason game, scoring a game-high 20 points. He missed just one shot attempt, making seven, including all three 3-point attempts.

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