ESPN.com - What's hot, not for the All-Star Game

ESPN.com: Page 2

Wednesday, February 5, 2003
Updated: February 7, 8:37 AM ET
What's hot, not for the All-Star Game

By Dan Shanoff
Page 2 columnist

Beyond the dunks (it's a weak field, anyway) ... beyond the 3-point frenzy (oh, great: Antoine Walker) ... beyond the three-on-three exhibition (forget celebrity participant Ashton Kutcher -- where's his honey, Brittany Murphy?) ... beyond the Mariah Carey halftime spectacular ... NBA All-Star Weekend wouldn't be the same without a look at What's Hot and What's Not in the league at midseason.

Check out this list, and have some interesting talking points when you aren't judging the slam-dunk contest (or Mariah's performance):

"What's Hot, What's Not List" in the NBA
Category	Hot	Not
Halftime entertainment	Revitalized Mariah Carey (MJ tribute)	Overexposed Ja Rule (Jam Session performer)
Dunk-contest favorite	Richard Jefferson	Jason Richardson
3-on-3 celeb game	Brittany Murphy sightings	Frankie Muniz sightings
Three-point contest favorite	Peja Repeat	Antoine Walker
All-Star on-court fashion	Throwback jerseys	Special shoes
All-Star off-court fashion	Throwback jerseys II	Designer suits
Rookie Challenge player to watch	Manu Ginobili	Tyson Chandler
Pre-NBA seasoning	Eastern Europe	Southeastern U.S.
Scouts' favorite 2003 NBA No. 1 overall draft pick	Euro teen Darko Milicic	LeBron "High Maintenance" James
Kings lineup	Sans Webber	With Webber
Second-wind vet	Jimmy Jackson	Popeye Jones
What were you thinking? acquisition	Keith Van Horn	NBDL guys
Contract joke	Gary Payton	Clippers free agents
Draft camp, schmaft camp	Amare Stoudemire	Mike Dunleavy Jr.
Prep worth props	Kwame Brown	Baby Bulls
Is it a contract year, Donald Sterling?	Elton Brand	Michael Olowokandi
Trade bait	Jalen Rose	Latrell Sprewell
Arena music	Clipse	Snoop
Skill for wannabe 10-day contracts	Passing (see Rafer Alston)	Know where the Hawks are playing
NYC-bred rookie PG	H.S. Jr. Sebastian Telfair	Non-impact Speedy Claxton
Duke growth stock	Carlos Boozer	Jay Williams
Jersey	ABA retro	'03 editions
Violation	Picking fights	Criticizing refs
Lakers tenuous grasp	Playoff spot	Chemistry
Role player	Shot blocking big man	Three-point shooter
Laughingstock strategist	Jim Paxson	Joe Dumars
Nearest Kings competition	Indianapolis	L.A.
NBA Finals MVP candidate	Bobby Jackson	Kobe Bryant
Needs more pub	Steve Francis	Ron Artest
Friend-wowing fantasy-draft pick-up	Jimmy Jackson	Austin Croshere
Goal of midseason acquisition	Score	Play D
Soothing team presence	Larry Hughes	Ron Artest
"Pau"-man's Gasol	Andre Kirilenko	Drew Gooden
Frustrated star	Gary Payton	Nick Van Exel
Hair style	Tight	Grown out
Requisite scoring punch	Can create own jump shot	Can hit mid-range jumper
Fun to watch	Pacers	Clippers
Air or Heirs	Still Air	Still Heirs
The writer told you so	Yao is the truth	Tskitishvili is the truth
Bold second-half picks	Wizards get to Finals	Lakers return to Finals

Dan Shanoff is a columnist for Page 2. His "Daily Quickie" commentary appears every weekday morning and his "What's Hot, What's Not" trend-spotting list appears Thursdays.