ESPN.com - What's hot for NBA 2003-04

ESPN.com: Page 2

Monday, October 27, 2003
What's hot for NBA 2003-04

By Dan Shanoff
Page 2 columnist

Let's say you're caught at the water cooler, on the barstool or during a first date, and the subject of the new NBA season comes up. You must have an opinion on at least two subjects:

(1) LeBron James:
Just say: "This kid can't possibly live up to his own, horribly mismanaged expectations."

(2) Kobe Bryant:
Just say: "I'm not talking about it until there's actually something to talk about."

Otherwise: Use the list below to ensure that you present the trendiest angle possible to co-workers, buddies and the all-important "significant others":

WHAT'S HOT, WHAT'S NOT IN THE NBA
Category	Hot	Not Hot
Controversy	Kobe catcalls	Star non-calls
"What?? No call??"-type scorer	Paul Pierce	Yao Ming
Break-out All-Star	Gilbert Arenas	Tim Thomas
Hardware lock	Alonzo: Improved	LeBron: Rookie
Arena distraction	Free giveaways	"Jiggle Cam"
Hot (even though they stink)	Cavs	Clippers
Impact acquisition	Antoine Walker	Raef Lafrentz
Prep-to-pro worth props	Eddy Curry	Tyson Chandler
Is it a contract year?	Kenyon Martin	Antonio McDyess
Trade bait	Kwame Brown	Latrell Sprewell
Arena music	Pharrell	Ashanti
Skill for wannabe 10-day-contractors	Can you play defense?	Can you play point?
NBA factory	Brazil	Argentina
Second-wind vet	Reggie Miller	Calbert Cheaney
Growth stock	Jonathan Bender	Vince Carter
Jersey	Carmelo's "Nuggets 15"	D-Mile's "Cavs 21"
Technical foul	Jawing at sensitive refs	Defensive three seconds
Early-season revelation	LeBron ain't no MJ	Heat suddenly good
Must-watch injury	Shaq's toe	Dirk's ankle
Role player	Three-point SG	Playmaking PG
Master strategist	Bill Cartwright	Randy Ayers
NBA Finals MVP candidate	Gary Payton	Chris Webber
Needs more pub	Nene	Amare Stoudemire
Owner	Abe Pollin	The Maloofs
Pat Riley	Bumbling exec	Bumbling coach
Friend-wowing fantasy-draft pick	Zach Randolph	Keith Van Horn
Nickname inspiration	Playing style	Puns or surname
Goal of offseason acquisition	Depth	Size
Soothing team presence	Robert Horry	Rasheed Wallace/font>
Foreign stud	Manu Ginobili	Peja Stojakovic
Frustrated star	Tracy McGrady	Allen Iverson
Sweatband	Double-wide on head	On bicep
Hairstyle	Back to bald	Unkempt
Requisite scoring punch	Four-headed monster	Three-headed monster
Fun to watch	Mavs	Celtics
Conventional pick for champs	Spurs	Kings
Contrarian pick for champs	Anyone from the East	Lakers

Dan Shanoff is a columnist for Page 2. His "Daily Quickie" commentary appears every weekday morning.