If you take a peek at the standings, and add up your favorite team’s Wins and Losses, you’ll see that many have reached at least 41 games of the 82 game season (This was easy math for Nets fans….3 + 40). That being said, it’s time to review the most interesting story lines from the first half of the season.

5. Carmelo for MVP? This may seem like a silly question, but if you’ve been watching the NBA this year, you can’t help butnotice the dominance that Melo has put forth. He’s the second leading scorer in the league by .2 of a point, had the dunk of the year so far over Paul Millsap, and has the Nuggets in line to get the coveted number 2 seed out West. He’s upped his scoring by about 7 points a game from last year, while pulling down a solid 6 rebounds per. Many anticipated this team to struggle after doing so well last year, but they’ve done quite the contrary.

4. The Allen Iverson Retirement/Return. When Memphis signed A.I., they were hoping to boost ticket sales, as their young squad looked to get better. Well just a few games into the season, Iverson, upset with his role, retired from the game of basketball, before returning to the 76er franchise, that he once called home. Since he’s left Memphis, the Grizzlies have created themselves into a playoff contender, while my Sixers have created themselves into a shot at John Wall, Evan Turner, or Xavier Henry.

3. Blake Griffin/Greg Oden. Oden knows exactly how Blake felt as he headed into his rookie season on the bench with an injury. Oden felt even more similar to Griffin once it was realized that Blake would miss the whole season. This was all after Oden was taken out for the rest of this season after suffering another knee injury. You can’t help but feel bad for both of these two players, who many consider(ed) as locks to be All-Star caliber pro’s. There’s speculation Oden could return this season, but why risk it??

2. The Nets. What happens when you’re team starts off the season with an injury riddled roster, poor coaching, underachieveing players, and two total  fans (Shooter and Basher)? Ask the Nets, who are now facing possible massive embarrassment as they are en route to a 6 win season, that would leave them three games worse than the 1972-1972 Philadelphia 76ers who had 9 wins. They started off the season losing 18 straight games, and as we’ve reached the halfway point, it’s not looking up for the young Nets.

1. Gilbert Arenas. What happens when a three time All Star brings guns to his locker at an NBA Stadium? Ask Gilbert, who is now facing possible jail time and probation after doing the dumbest thing since the Clippers drafted Michael Olowokandi first overall. He’s been suspended indefinitely from the league, and the Wizards have now totally disassociated themselves from Arenas, in hopes that they can void his $111 million contract.

I purposely didn’t write in my Honorable Mentions in hopes that you guys could list some of your own! Let me know what I forgot!

-G