The NBA season is halfway over, and it's been a first half full of storylines. Check out the top 10 stories of the season that made us go "ooh" and "ah" and "oh, that was pretty ugly."
1. The Grapple in the AppleThe Denver Nuggets and New York Knicks throw down in an embarrassing late-game brawl at New York City's Madison Square Garden on Dec. 16. While it is not as awful a scene as the fight in Detroit with the Indiana Pacers -- with players in the stands -- it makes major headlines. NBA commissioner
David Stern slaps Nuggets forward
Carmelo Anthony, the NBA's leading scorer, with a 15-game suspension after he punches little-used Knicks guard
Mardy Collins. Several other players are suspended as well. Debate rages about whether Nuggets Coach
George Karl ran up the score to get back at Knicks Coach
Isiah Thomas for firing his friend,
Larry Brown. Thomas is also criticized for warning Anthony late in the game that he could get hurt if he tried to score. Anthony apologizes publicly, twice, before his return against Memphis on Jan. 22. With the suspension hanging over him, Anthony is not named to the All-Star team, not even as a reserve, despite leading the league in scoring. He later gets his first All-Star berth as a replacement.
2. A.I. to the Mile HighSeven-time NBA all-star
Allen Iverson is told to stay home by the Philadelphia 76ers in early December. Rumors abound about where he might end up. Eventually A.I. is acquired by the Nuggets along with forward
Ivan McFarlin (who was waived) in exchange for guard
Andre Miller, forward
Joe Smith and two first-round picks. Acquiring Iverson is probably the biggest trade in Nuggets history. But it breaks the hearts of 'Sixers fans who have come to love A.I., after watching him play 11 seasons in a Philadelphia uniform. Nuggets tickets and Iverson jerseys are selling at a rapid pace. Due to Anthony's suspension, Iverson and Anthony don't share the court together until late January.
3. Back to Old Balls
For some odd reason, the NBA agreed to change to a new Spalding basketball at the beginning of the season. The majority of the players, including a very vocal
Shaquille O'Neal, say immediately that they hate the new ball when they begin using it during training camp. The players complain that it is too slick when wet and that it wears down quickly. The NBA initially tries to stay strong, insisting that they will stick with the new ball. Eventually, however, they relent and bring the old, familiar Spalding basketball back January 1.
4. Say Hello to Agent Zero Gilbert Arenas entered this NBA season with a chip on his shoulder after being released from USA Basketball's senior men's World Championship team. Since then, he has torched the league, ranking second in scoring behind Anthony, going for 60 against the Los Angeles Lakers on Dec. 17, and scoring over 50 three times. The 2001 second round pick also earned his third NBA All-Star berth and was voted in as a starter for the first time. The eccentric guard is now trying to acquire as many of the tossed old basketballs as possible as collector’s items and his birthday bash at a D.C. nightclub was attended by
Halle Berry and
Diddy .
5. Boston MassacreThe
Celtics are a proud NBA franchise with 16 championships. But these days not so much. The C's are on the verge of another record having lost a franchise-record 18th straight game through Sunday. (please update). The
Utah Jazz
also lost 18 straight in 1982 and seven teams have lost 19 games in a row. The NBA record is 24 straight losses by the
Cleveland Cavaliers , a streak that spanned the end of the 1981-82 season and start of the 1982-83 season. The late
Red Auerbach must be rolling in his grave.
6. Cold Heat The road to a repeat has been a rocky one for the Miami Heat. On Jan. 3, coach Pat Riley announced that he would take an indefinite leave of absence from coaching due to ongoing "hip and knee problems"and would be replaced by assistant coach Ron Rothstein. Riley is expected back after the All-Star break. NBA all-star center O'Neal returned to action Jan. 24, after missing the previous 35 games following knee surgery. Forwards James Posey and Antoine Walker were suspended so they could get in better shape. The Heat will have to fight to have a winning record and make the playoffs. The good news is Dwyane Wade is still playing in superstar fashion.
7. Oww Yao!On Dec. 23, 2006, the Houston Rockets all-star center
Yao Ming was lost for at least six weeks due to a broken leg. The 7-6, 310-pound center is expected to start on-court workouts during NBA All-Star weekend and it's uncertain when he will return. Yao was having the best season of his NBA career averaging 25.9 points, 9.4 rebounds and 2.4 blocks. But even without Yao, the Rockets have continued to win.
8. Suns Very HotThe Suns own the NBA's best record and are the league’s highest scoring team. Phoenix has been aided by the return of center Amare Stoudemire. The Suns' coaching staff was tapped to lead a Western All-Stars squad that includes Suns' players Stoudemire,
Steve Nash and
Shaun Marion. Nash, however, won't be playing in the All-Star game due to an injury to his right shoulder.
9. High Price of GasolIt was revealed in mid-January that Memphis big man
Pau Gasol wanted out. Chicago was rumored to be the most-likely destination for Gasol. The Grizzlies are on order to lower salaries, and the 2006 NBA All-Star is making $12.3 million this season and has four years and $63 million remaining on his contract. Whether it's before the Feb. 22 trade deadline or some time this summer, expect the man from Catalunya to be in a different uniform next season.
10. Viva Las Vegas!The NBA All-Star Game will be going to Las Vegas on Sunday. While Vegas doesn't have an NBA team now, don't be surprised if the New Orleans-Oklahoma City Hornets, the Portland Trail Blazers, the Milwaukee Bucks or the Orlando Magic moves there. Las Vegas mayor Oscar Goodman wants to build an arena across the street from city hall. But don't be surprised if some multi-billionaire tries to beat Goodman to the punch by moving a team to The Strip.
