Spirit of '99: 2011 Lockout Discussion

That was true when the league was still watchable. 6'6" is about a PF here. Centers average about 6'8".

Does someone still get the ball out of the basket via ladder after each made shot?

Not anymore. We use long broomsticks now.

Not anymore. We use long broomsticks now.

I am pretty sure most of the players now can grab it.

In a move that's sure to make the union happy with him, Ray Allen has spoken out on the lockout and called it embarrassing.

Meanwhile, Kevin Durant is also mulling the possibility of playing overseas if the lockout isn't resolved.

On a slightly more positive note for the union, Josh Childress warns his fellow players against playing overseas.

"No, I wouldn't," [Childress] says. "And I don't know why guys would. I understand that guys really want to play. But you sometimes have to look at what you have and treat this as a business. The only way I could see it making sense is if you're a player from a particular country going back. But for an American player with a good-sized guaranteed deal here, I can't see why you'd do it."

In a move that's sure to make the union happy with him, Ray Allen has spoken out on the lockout and called it embarrassing.

Ray Allen always knows the right words to say.

Which leads us to ponder the question, which is more embarrassing: celebrity Twitter gaffes or millionaires and billionaires squabbling over money? Tough call.

On a slightly more positive note for the union, Josh Childress warns his fellow players against playing overseas.

Well Billy Hunter says go and have fun.

"This lockout is intended to economically pressure our players to agree to an unfavorable collective bargaining agreement," Hunter wrote. "It is important for the owners to understand that there may be significant consequences to their decision to put their own players in these difficult economic circumstances.

"If the owners will not give our players a forum in which to play basketball here in the United States, they risk losing the greatest players in the world to the international basketball federations that are more than willing to employ them."...

...Hunter's memo recommends that a player and his agent secure coverage guarding against "any injury or unforeseen circumstances."

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/67673 ... mo-players

Fair enough then. Still, not enough jobs to go around.

Someone from a forum I forgot commented that the players still lose in playing overseas. The owners want a new CBA wherein the players play for less money, which is basically what the players are doing going overseas - playing for less money. That makes the owners demands attainable and reasonable since the players themselves can and are willing to do it if they have to.

Good point.

Is anyone actually arguing that the players can't live on fewer millions of dollars?

The union and the players themselves, I guess.

On a slightly more positive note for the union, Josh Childress warns his fellow players against playing overseas.

"No, I wouldn't," [Childress] says. "And I don't know why guys would. I understand that guys really want to play. But you sometimes have to look at what you have and treat this as a business. The only way I could see it making sense is if you're a player from a particular country going back. But for an American player with a good-sized guaranteed deal here, I can't see why you'd do it."

Says the guy who came to the Suns from overseas, signed a $6m/yr contract saying he was a 3 point specialist and then made like one three pointer all season, while still collecting his $$$$$$$$$$$$$$

saying he was a 3 point specialist

Proof or ban.

The union and the players themselves, I guess.

Doubt they are. Merely that the arrangement they're being asked to take is unfairly balanced. Which stays true regardless of how much they earn overseas in the interim.

Says the guy who came to the Suns from overseas, signed a $6m/yr contract saying he was a 3 point specialist and then made like one three pointer all season, while still collecting his $$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Well, yeah. He speaks from experience having gone overseas and being someone with a handsome contract with years left on it.

Doubt they are. Merely that the arrangement they're being asked to take is unfairly balanced. Which stays true regardless of how much they earn overseas in the interim.

Kind of amounts to the same thing really, they don't think it's fair to accept less than what they're getting now or give too much back. Fair enough too, they have to look out for their interests just as the owners do and both sides are entitled to share fairly in all the revenue that's being generated.

In any case, Bill Simmons has already solved the lockout, now everyone else has to sign on the dotted line.

Interesting article.

Since its heyday as a 23-team league in the mid-1980s, the NBA has steadily expanded -- to 25 (Charlotte Hornets, Miami Heat), to 27 (Orlando Magic, Minnesota Timberwolves), to 29 (Toronto Raptors, Vancouver Grizzlies), and finally to 30 (Charlotte Bobcats). Of the seven most recently added teams, two (Vancouver and Charlotte) no longer occupy the cities they expanded to and only the Heat and Raptors are considered money-makers for the league. (The Magic have been successful on the court, twice advancing to the NBA Finals, but according to Forbes Magazine lost $23.1 million in 2009-10, their final season in the old Amway Arena before moving last season to the new, $480 million, city-owned and financed Amway Center.)

The Hornets are in New Orleans, where they may not survive, and the Grizzlies are in Memphis, where they have wallowed near the bottom of league gate-receipts tables -- though last season's run to the Western Conference semifinals could provide a spark, if not a cure-all.

Link here

Lol at only two profitable teams being the Raptors and the Heat, out of 7 new teams. The Heat, understandable, but the Raptors? Lolz. I feel sorry for Torontonians as a fellow Canadian. Their owner gets a pretty good living out of fans' frustration from everywhere. Jays, Rapts, Argos, Leafs, FC... did I miss any? Look at all these teams fighting to get out from very bottom of the standing. Fans are loyal but this idiot owner needs to start caring or at least make one team respectable.

As for Vancouver, I think NBA franchise could do much better here now. Vancouver has been growing in both economy and population at steady pace and Canadian currency is much stronger than before. I mean Winnipeg is stealing a hockey team from Atlanta. Considering how Winnipeg is only a village compared to Vancouver and Atlanta, I think we should be a fine market for the NBA franchise as long as there's no riot.

I know it's not a good comparison but I went to Vancouver Whitecaps game one day($24/ticket price). I was surprised how many fans were there to cheer for the team. I mean the Whitecaps are last in the standing with 2-10-8 record with no hopes/signs of getting better. I mean Whitecaps got fanz?

Agree, IIRC the owners are teacher's Pension investors that's why theyre always mediocre despite the strong fan base (just all about money, nvm winning)

The more I think about it, the more I think there does need to be some contraction. New Orleans Hornets have to go. Really they should've been OKC Hornets, but hey, Stern & league wouldn't let Shinn move them

Anaheim is solid location for a bball team I think. Minnesota don't need to be there, I think even Vancouver is better location for pro team than Minneapolis. Bobcats should've never been started up.

Anyways, at the very least do everybody a favour & cut the Hornets loose.

Well then, this could get a bit more interesting

If NBA stars are serious about playing overseas, basketball's governing body says they will be welcomed.

Just as long as they promise to leave once the lockout ends.

FIBA announced Friday it would clear NBA players under contract to play in its leagues during the work stoppage, provided the deals they sign come with opt-out clauses.

In a ruling that paves the way for players to earn a paycheck, FIBA agreed with NBA and players' association officials that players are free to sign anywhere but do so at their own risk of injury.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/68156 ... s-own-risk

[/video]Can NBA players handle this?

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It will be interesting to see how many players end up pursuing that option now that they've been given clearance, it's not like they'll all be able to do it and some probably won't want to take the risk of injury. Sounds like we could be seeing some big names spending some time overseas though.

Meanwhile, the next round of negotiations is scheduled for Monday. Here's hoping some progress can be made.