Miami - Cavaliers guard Ricky Davis has heard so many taunts and so much lewd language directed his way that he can't wait until he receives the next verbal barrage.

"I like when fans talk about me," said Davis. "You must be doing something right when they're talking. Sometimes you may want to say something back, but not to the point where you want to curse them out. I find it very amusing how some fans can come up with some of that stuff."

Unfortunately, not everyone shares Davis' attitude.

Last week, Denver Nuggets coach Dan Issel was walking off the court after a loss in Charlotte when a fan yelled something at the coach.

Issel responded with expletives and an ethnic insult. He was suspended without pay for four games and will lose about $112,000. He's scheduled to return tomorrow.

The NBA doesn't have a written policy on how players or coaches should react to hecklers, but the league has made it clear in several cases that it won't tolerate a player or coach taking matters into his own hands.

"When the heckler gets personal, that's when you have to draw the line," said Cavs associate coach Chuck Person. "They shouldn't be allowed to say any and everything to a player. If a fan gets overly abusive and is using vulgar language, that fan should be escorted out."

Until that happens, players and coaches have to sit back and take whatever fans deliver. It's not always easy to hold back when a fan chooses to put a player or coach at the end of their vocal wrath.

Cavs guard Bryant Stith played under Issel in Denver.

"My sources told me that the incident went a bit overboard but that doesn't excuse what was said, and everyone involved regrets what happened," Stith said. "I'd like to see certain constraints on what fans can say but that's nothing we can control. No matter what a fan says, you have to be bigger and ignore the vicious taunts."

Cavs assistant coach Keith Smart learned firsthand about hecklers when he was a head coach for Fort Wayne in the CBA.

"I try to block that stuff out," Smart said. "Sometimes you hear it and sometimes it can be a personal attack, but for me, I try to block it out. If they say it, so be it because they don't know me. Sometimes it will get under your skin, especially during the battle of a game."

Cavs coach John Lucas, an assistant under Issel for the past three seasons, said the fan who uses bad language and makes personal attacks has a mission.

"I learned when I had my drug problem that people will try to get a rise out of you," Lucas said. "For a lot of people, it makes their night when that happens. The best thing is to not make someone's night."

There are some hecklers, however, who can make a memorable night for everyone involved. One of the most popular hecklers was Robin Ficker, a former season-ticket holder in Washington. Ficker and those like him remain popular.

"I find most hecklers amusing," Stith said. "The gentleman in Washington and a guy in Detroit were great. They talked about me but they rotated their joking fury so I was only the butt of their jokes for 30 to 45 seconds. They gave us something to talk about on the plane ride home."

Practice:

The Cavs had a short practice yesterday. Lucas held a team meeting at midcourt.

One of the issues was Chris Mihm's shooting.

"[He's] got to shoot better," said Lucas. Mihm is 12-of-41 from the field in his last 132 minutes.

"It wasn't a threat," said Lucas. "I just told him that he has to play better."

Lucas also said Lamond Murray and Wes Person must remain consistent. Murray was 3-of-14 from the field on Wednesday; Person was 2-of-7.

"We don't have a chance unless Wes and Lamond play well every night, and I expect that," Lucas said. "They have to play well offensively and defensively. I know people are making adjustments but we have to keep searching and searching for something to help them."