Setting some reps right.(Straight Shooting)

As another NBA season unfolds, we will be overwhelmed at times by prime-time reruns of acrobatic dunks and fancy passes, by breathless hype designed to reaffirm that certain players are super-duper stars. It's not always true, however. Who, then, are the bogus All-Stars, and which players are the invisible MVPs?

OVERRATED

Among the league's numerous overrated performers, Allen Iverson has the most bloated reputation. Sure, he's plenty tough and undeniably courageous, but Iverson routinely shoots too quickly, too much and too inaccurately for the 76ers to run a viable team offense. With Iverson dominating every possession, his teammates are reduced to standing around and waiting for him to give up the ball.

Kenyon Martin made his rep by scoring 35 points in Game 4 of the Nets-Lakers championship series in 2002. Too bad the final game of the sweep was little more than extended garbage time. Even so, in the flush of his own stat line, Martin accused his teammates of lacking heart. Fast forward one year to Martin's abysmal showing against the Spurs in the final round. (Was Martin any sicker than Michael Jordan was against Utah in the fifth game of the 1997 Finals?) Instead of digging deep within himself, Martin proved himself to be little more than a self-aggrandizing loudmouth who loses his voice under pressure.

Vlade Divac's resume features more flops than Chevy Chase's and more chokes than the Boston Strangler's. Put this guy down as a loser.

Vince Carter has maximum talent but minimal understanding of the game. He's a four-time All-Star and, like too many of his peers, showcases much more style than substance.

Though Wally Szczerbiak does play good positional defense, his lateral movement is awful, his handle is a joke, and he'd have trouble outrunning a fire hydrant. Face it, Szczerbiak is just another hotshot white hope.