USA/CAN - Nicholson tries to take game to higher level

ORLANDO (NBA) - Andrew Nicholson may not have achieved the goal of qualifying for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup with Canada this past summer, but the Orlando Magic big man did do something else.

At the FIBA Americas Championship in Caracas, Venezuela, Nicholson grew in self-belief.

The 2.06m power forward averaged 15 points per game, the second most on the team, as Canada contended but ultimately came up short of a spot in next year's big event in Spain.

While the Canadians suffered important losses at the end of the tournament to the Dominican Republic and Argentina, narrow setbacks that prevented Canada from advancing to the World Cup, Nicholson did shine offensively.

He had 29 points against the Dominicans and then 17 against Argentina.

Overall, Nicholson believes he has improved as a player.

"(Playing with the national team) just gives you more confidence and then you try to translate doing it from the summer time to now (in the NBA)," Nicholson said.

"It was good for me.

"I'm going to take every summer seriously just like I did this summer and try to become a better player each year."

That type of attitude will be just what Canada need as they look to meet the lofty expectations that so many people in international basketball have placed upon them.

The national team program is full of talent, with players who compete with leading teams in the American college game, in the NBA and Europe.

Nicholson is hoping to have a greater impact in the NBA this season.

He spent a lot of time on his conditioning in the off-season, including weight-lifting, in order to be more combative on defense and on the boards.

"Right at the end of the season," he said, "I figured there was a lot of work to get done.

"The rest of the guys were all going to be here, so I wanted to be a part of the movement.

"I'm definitely a lot stronger than last year, defensively and offensively, by holding my position and boxing out.

"It does feel a bit different boxing guys out and holding them off."

There is plenty of room for improvement in Orlando.

The Magic won an NBA-low 20 games last season and lost 62.

It's going to help them if Nicholson continues to get better.

FIBA