Tipping off a new NBA season, there may be no greater thrill for the hoops fan than to be prepared with the lowdown on the hottest storylines, names and trends. Certainly, you don't want to be caught spouting last year's conventional wisdom at the water cooler this season.
Study the 2001-2002 NBA season "What's Hot, What's Not" List below, then fire up the DirecTV, climb aboard your favorite barstool, sidle into a debate among co-workers, or -- as always the tradition of the Page 2 "What's Hot, What's Not" List -- impress your significant other:
Oh, before we start, let's get one thing out of the way: This season, there is one über-Hot - always Hot, never Not Hot -- and that's Michael Jordan. It's too easy to cite MJ on our list; therefore, you won't find him in here. With that caveat out of the way, here we go:
| Page 2's Hot 'n' Not list for NBA season |
| Category |
|
Hot |
|
Not |
| Second-wind vet |
|
Hakeem Olajuwon |
|
Patrick Ewing |
| PG-turned-coach |
|
Mo Cheeks |
|
Doc Rivers |
| What-are-you-thinking? acquisition |
|
Derrick Coleman |
|
(It's always Derrick Coleman) |
| Contract joke |
|
Todd MacCulloch |
|
Calvin Booth |
| Prep worth props |
|
Rashard Lewis |
|
Tyson Chandler |
| Is it a contract year? |
|
Al Harrington |
|
Alvin Williams |
| Trade bait |
|
Gary Payton |
|
Mike Miller |
| Arena music |
|
Britney |
|
Beyonce |
| On-court fashion trend |
|
Low-tops |
|
Headbands |
| Skill for wannabe 10-day contractors |
|
Zone-buster jumpshooting |
|
Highlight-reel dunking |
| NYC-bred rookie PG |
|
Speedy Claxton |
|
Omar Cook |
| NBA factory |
|
AAU |
|
ACC |
| Michigan State growth stock |
|
Zach Randolph |
|
Mateen Cleaves |
| Violation |
|
Defensive three seconds |
|
Illegal D |
| 76ers tenuous grasp |
|
Health |
|
Chemistry |
| Role player |
|
Burly backup C |
|
Speedy little PG |
| Laughingstock strategist |
|
Pat Riley |
|
Elgin Baylor |
| Nearest Laker competition |
|
Eastern Conference All-Stars |
|
San Antonio Spurs |
| NBA Finals MVP candidate |
|
Mitch Richmond |
|
Rick Fox |
| Needs more pub |
|
Andre Miller |
|
Shane Battier |
| Owner |
|
Abe Pollin |
|
Jerry Reinsdorf |
| Friend-wowing fantasy-draft pick |
|
Quentin Richardson |
|
Eddie Robinson |
| Nickname inspiration |
|
Alliteration |
|
[First initial][hyphen][First syllable, last name] |
| Goal of defensive-specialist offseason acquisition |
|
Stop Kobe |
|
Stop Allen Iverson |
| Soothing team presence |
|
Dan Majerle |
|
Tim Hardaway |
| Foreign King |
|
Hedo Turkoglu |
|
Peja Stojakovic |
| Frustrated star |
|
Steve Francis |
|
Stephon Marbury |
| Sweatband on ... |
|
Elbow |
|
Bicep |
| Hair style |
|
Bald-head Renaissance |
|
Cornrows |
| Requisite scoring punch |
|
Terrific troika |
|
Dynamic duo |
| Fun to watch |
|
Memphis |
|
Sacramento |
| Passing fancy |
|
Jamal Tinsley |
|
Jason Williams |
| Air or Heirs? |
|
Air |
|
Heirs |
(Just couldn't help that last one.)
Dan Shanoff is a regular contributor to Page 2.
