A season of 78 games is still possible

After the failure of the meeting last Friday to end the lockout, David Stern announced the cancellation of the parties of the second half of November and publicly dismissed the possibility that it will create a 82-game schedule within months if it is we reach an agreement at some point. "It is not practical, possible or prudent to play a full season now. There will be a full season of NBA under any circumstances," the commissioner said.

Now, waiting for the NBA and the players union meet again, something that could happen in the coming days as Sports Illustrated, the New York Post notes that shuffled seriously considering a schedule with 78 games if you get an agreement before the end of this week. On 14 October, the newspaper quoted explaining that took months to work with multiple calendars potential of 74, 70, 60 and 50 games.

Just before officially canceled the second half of November and that Stern announced that it would not be possible to play 82 games and was shuffled the serious possibility of trying to fit 80 games instead of 82 in the calendar a few days lengthening the regular season in April. The problem, as reflected Stern himself was the availability of the halls and many were trying to close concerts taking advantage of the lockout.

If the NBA and the players union finally close positions, the New York Times talks about a deal at 95% , and initial new collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the season could start on December 1 rushing time because as he said himself Stern "it takes a month to start (the season) and November has already been lost."

As MARK published in September, the time to put the season in operation , according to sources with knowledge of the conduct of the negotiations would be: "Once an agreement is reached, if reached, both parties would take in drafting the new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) and sign 10 to 15 days. then immediately open free agent market and begin preseason team 4 or 5 days. The regular season would start from 10 or 14 days later ". In the last lockout, in 98-99, came to an agreement on January 6, 1999 after an ultimatum from David Stern and the first game of the season 50 games was played on February 5.