Quincy Pondexter sees himself developing into a player like Shane Battier or Bruce Bowen, one who puts a priority on containing the other team's top scorer.

"I want to stay focused on the details of what our team needs me to do — whether it's guarding a Kobe (Bryant) and don't let him catch it in certain spots or the same against Kevin Durant," Pondexter said. "I just want to be that player that's really solid defensively on the perimeter, similar to Shane Battier and how he guards people. He's not really getting many steals but he's always there bugging people. You know, like a Bruce Bowen."

Lionel Hollins said Pondexter possesses attributes that make for a good utility player.

"Utility players are guys that go out and do whatever is necessary. He'll do that," Hollins said. "We just need him to be consistent guarding people. It may be shooting guards. It may be small forwards. He's got to be ready to defend. He's a bigger guy and we need that."

Pondexter spent the offseason working to improve his outside shot.

"My reputation was being a complete non-shooter. But I've done so many things to work on my game to play at this level," said Pondexter, who shot 67 percent from the floor in last year’s playoffs. "I'm shooting it better because of the repetition. I'm one of the hardest-working people in the gym. I'm not going to tweet about it. But I'm in the gym more than anyone else."