A PAP (rhymes will "app") is not so much a stereotype as it is a player with a limited state of mind that produces a distinct style of play. They are the ones whose defense will most likely falter when a big stop is needed to win a game. They are the ones who will bypass a wide-open shot only to force a bad pass and make a turnover. They are the ones who will grab a rebound right under the hoop only to dribble it back out or fadeaway for a lower percentage shot. Are they lacking in athletic ability? Are they lacking in size? No. The fact is, PAPs are just like any other player in terms of skill (the ability to shoot and handle) and atheltic ability (jump, run). What makes them different is a mental barrier that prevents them from being aggressive on both sides of the ball.

The HBA is almost 90% Asian American with each team having at least two Asian players. The HBA PAP report estimates thatt 20% of the league are PAPs. Who are these players? And what makes them a PAP?

First, it is important to note that there are varying degrees of PAPs. There are those whose PAPness is exclusive to their defensive or offensive game while there are some whose PAPness encompasses their entire basketball repertoire. Therefore, mild PAPness is likely to exist in more players while a severe case of PAPness may afflict a rare few.

A prime place to look for a PAP is on the borderlines of HBA player classifications. The HBA breaks down its players into three tiers: 1) Superstars, 2) Midlevel, and 3) Scrubs. To identify a PAP, one would do well to look on the borderline of Superstar/Midlevel. The Gray team's "superstar" Andy Ni would fit the mold. While he is clearly the leader of his team, both statistically and in the lockeroom, his performance against other superstars as well as his lack of "clutch" performances, has earned him a PAP reputation. How valid are these claims? Records show that the Gray team is 1-6 in overtime games, an indication that the team's "superstar" is not making the shots necessary to win the games.

On the lower end of the borderline are the "scrubs" who should be "midlevel" players, but are limited by their PAPness. The White team boasts two prime candidates for this mold: John Tso and Yifu Wu. Both are very athletic and skilled athletes with great upside. In the HBA Preseason, John Tso was a projected lottery pick and immediate franchise player. Such expectations have faded after several weeks of disappointments which included a 2-point performance in Week 3 and a 16.9 overall HBAP average. Standing at 5'-10", John Tso was expected to be a frontline force for the White team, which has lost many of its games due to the lack of an inside presence. John Tso may be aggressive on defense and does boast a 5.4 rpg average, but his unwillingness to take it strong to the hoop and his reliance on low-percentage pull-up mini-jumpers have decimated his team's chances of easy scores. The offensive PAPness of John Tso has been a tragic story in this year's HBA Summer League. As for Yifu Wu, an original HBA member since 2000, the problem seems to be in a PAP mindset that forces him to pass up offensive opportunities. Do the stardom of Jeffrey Hsieh and Jeremy Doodanatuh shine too brightly on the HBA veteran? Wu seems more content in staying isolated and away from the ball movement. He has given up his post as point guard to Jeremy Doodanauth, who has been known to keep the ball himself for long periods of time. With two other skilled perimeter players on the team, Wu has lived with a little over six shots a game, a far cry from the days of past HBA seasons, when Wu was known among other players as a fearless, penetrating menace. Wu must overcome his PAPness to become a more effective contributor to the White team.

Do PAPs exist even among the top teams? In the case of the co-first place Blue team, the answer seems to be, yes. The HBA PAP report has identified two PAPs on the Blue team and the prognosis reveals that their cases are severe. In the case of HBA veteran Ken Chen, the PAPness has long been associated with his involvement with a sport that encourages a certain level of passivitiy, Ultimate Frisbee. While frisbee is intense and quick-paced by its own accounts, it lacks the physical contact among players that is common in basketball. Ken Chen showed improvements early in the summer league with his hustle after balls and his great defensive performance against Gray's Professor Ed Liu in Week 1. However, during long games, Chen has been prone to passivity and hesitancy in fighting others for jump balls or challening a player driving towards the basket. Offensively, Chen has been even worse. His reliance of a 45-degree fadeaway, a shot that has netted him a 24.5% from the field, has not only hurt his team in crucial moments, but has also created forgettable moments such as in Week 2, when he pulled down a rebound under the basket only to fade away from it and miss on the "put back." While Chen has taken a leave of absence for the last few weeks, his Blue teammates hope that he will return with a more aggressive mindset. As for the other PAP on Blue, Randy Lo is as quiet-mannered and shy on the court as he is off of it. His wiry frame and reluctance to bang bodies has created matchup problems, especially with bigger, stronger opponents who drive on him at will. His offensive PAPness has him resorting to fadeaways, although Lo has shown that he is a competent shooter from the field with a 35.7 shooting percentage. HBA analysts believe that a greater willingness to bump bodies and shoot more will improve Lo's game and move it beyond the severe PAP-level.

These are just some of the HBA's more notable PAPs. While the HBA overall is known for a tenacious defense that allows no more than 5.9 ppg to its best player and keeps each team fairly even in head-to-head points per game, the existence of these PAPs have limited some teams from performing at their full talent potential. Are PAPs bad for the HBA? That is hard to say; PAPs allow superstars to look better and also help some midlevel players inflate their stats. They are usually the ones posterized in HBA photo releases and are prime targets for blame when a team fails to win an important game.

The HBA PAP report concludes with a statement that may be a defining characteristic of the HBA: "This report concludes that PAPs essential to the makeup of the league. In a league in which a high concentration of Asian players exists, it is impossible not to find a PAP of a certain degree. While the HBA is proud to report that PAPness is not a widespread problem, it is a concern that must be addressed and made aware of, especially to the players who exhibit PAP qualities."

Do PAPs plague the HBA? Not necessarily; but they do exist, and if a team is not careful, a PAP may be its downfall.