NBA 2011- 2012 Season

  Yes it does seem that there is definitely going to be an NBA basketball season. Even though I am still a bit ticked with everyone involved, well maybe with the exception of the Mavericks. The players I am at least okay but Mark Cuban... well what can you say about him that already hasn't been said. I just hope he keeps his mouth shut like he did last season! And it would be nice if they can keep Tyson Chandler and Caron Butler but there seems to be a high chance of that not happening.

 Anyway, here is what is proposed, and more than likely just waiting for the official votes, of the NBA's labor deal.

 Specifics of NBA Proposed Labor Deal 

by Andrian Wojnarowski


  The NBA and the Players Association  have begun circulating to teams,players and agents outlining some of the specifics of the proposed labor agreement that must still be ratified by the leagues owners and players.

  Among the specifics in the collective bargaining agreement:

 * Revenue split: The players will receive 49to 51 percent of basketball-related income based on revenue projections. The split is set on a base case of 50%, with players receiving 60.5% of every incremental dollar beyond the target amount.

* Maximum contract lengths: five years for Larry Bird rights players; four years for non-Bird players. * 

*Maximum salary: A player finishing his rookie contract will be eligible to receive a maximum salary equal to 30% of  the salary cap if  he signs with his prior team and meets certain performance benchmarks: first, second or third team All-NBA two times; an All-Star starter two times; or one-time MVP.

* Annual salary increase: 7.5% for Bird players; and 4.5% for non-Bird players.

 * Mid-level exception: up to $5 million starting salary with four-year maximum contract length for teams that don't exceed the luxury tax threshold by more than $4 million; teams that exceed this threshold by $4 million will be limited to using a $3 million mid-level exception with a three-year maximum contract.

 * New $2.5 million exception for teams below the salary cap to go over the cap. Those teams can't use the mid-level or bi-annual exceptions.

*No reduction in rookie scale or minimum salaries.

 * Player options are allowed for all players, similar to the previous collective bargaining agreement.

 * Extend-and-trade contract similar to the one Carmelo Anthony received prior to his trade from the Denver Nuggets to the New York Knicks last season will continue to be permitted.

 * Escrow pool: Ten percent of player salaries will be held each year.

 *  Teams now have three days to match offer sheets given to their own restricted free agents.

 * Minimum team salary increases to 85% of the salary cap in the first two years of the deal and 90% of the cap in the years thereafter.

* Each team has one amnesty clause to use on a player currently under contract. The players' salary will be removed from the team's cap.

I'll post the NBA schedule at a later time.


* Larry Bird rights players : 

  The NBA's salary cap is not set in stone - teams are allowed to exceed the payroll maximum for a variety of reasons. One of the exceptions to the cap was created to allow teams to resign their own players. The Boston Celtics were the first team to employ the exemption, exceeding the cap to re-sign Larry Bird. Since then, it has been known as the "Bird Exception". 

Players eligible to be signed under the Bird Exception are said to have "Bird rights".

No NBA Season?

  You've heard of a woman scorned? I think the NBA Players Union and owners may feel a backlash of fans scorned.  It was announced earlier today that the Player's Union have rejected the latest offer by the owners, a 50-50 split, and decided to decertify so that they can sue the owners for antitrust violations. The owners were not expecting this, they thought that if the players did not accept this latest offer they would back them into a corner and offer the players a 47% cut but the players essentially said "That's what you think and screw you". To an extent I can see things from the players perspective but they had opportunities to accept different proposals and let people get back to work. But I don't look for it to happen and I feel that there will not be a NBA basketball season this year.

  ESPN talks about players have opportunities to play overseas in Europe, like Kobe Bryant. Now that's all well and good for Kobe Bryant.What about other players that do not have the marquee name? What are they supposed to do? Now I have heard of one working in Maryland, I believe it is, selling furniture. So what about other basketball players like him who don't make the big NBA money? Jobs are hard enough to come by for regular working people, are we supposed to step aside and let out of work NBA players have our jobs? Not all of them can be like Kris Humphries and marry a Kardashian and MAYBE have a chance at spousal support, because she'll be the one making an income, to see them through this mess. YES I said it, but how many of YOU have thought it?

  Some of you may have realized that I am a Dallas Mavericks fan, mainly because of Dirk Nowitzki because of work ethic the rest of the team has followed his lead and also have a good work ethic, but now they have the possibility of not getting their championship rings, having their championship banner raised in American Airlines Center and whatever other celebration may have been planned, if there's no season. So yes I think that they're being cheated and it won't be the same if they do get their rings next year.

 This being said here is a latest article from Sporting News:

NBA Players Reject Owners' Offer, Putting Season in Further Jeopardy  

 NBA players on Monday rejected the owners' latest contract offer, their union announced Monday afternoon.

  Players Association chief Billy Hunter said the union has served a notice of disclaimer of interest to commissioner David Stern and will file an antitrust suit against the league.

 "We've arrived at the conclusion that the collective bargaining has completely broken down. We've delivered a disclaimer of interest to the league", he said. "We've negotiated in good faith for over two years," he added. " The players just felt that they've given enough."

   The disclaimer of interest that the NBPA will cease to function as a union. Instead, it will act as a trade association, a move that allows players to take legal action against the league.

  Hunter said that disclaiming interest is a more expeditious process than decertification, which requires a vote of the membership. The players represented by attorneys Jeffery Kessler and David Boies - who represented the NFL players' lawsuit against that league last summer - will file suit against the league in a matter of days.

 Union president Derrick Fisher said that the decision to take this step was  unanimous among the dozen of players, with all 30 teams represented, who were at Monday's meeting in New york. Fisher added that players have been asked not to speak about the situation since it is now a legal matter.

 The legal maneuver makes the prospect of a 2011-2012 season even more dim.

But when asked if a season was still possible, Hunter responded, "If a settlement is reached with the lawyers leading the charge anything is possible. I guess the NBA could open the doors... and let the players play."

______________________________________

 Stranger things have happened but I'll believe it when I see it

THE CHAMPIONS!!

Eat dirt LeBron! The Dallas Mavericks to be precise & Dirk Nowitzki's to be exact! Oh now tell me y'all did not expect ME to be polite about the win. Okay for the most part I will be. But first, here is the great Bill Russsell presenting Dirk Nowitzki with his MVP trophy:

  Do you think that will ever happen to LeBron? We'll see. I do feel a little sorry for Dwayne Wade because he thought he was going to get some help for when he falters at this level but, unlike Dirk who gets help when he falters, he did not. I'm still trying to figure out the whole Chris Bosh scenario because I do not see him as a star in the NBA. I mean he does seem to be a pretty good player that can help if possible but he or more likely his status as a superstar player,  in the League, is a head-scratcher. Not trying to be preachy here but there is a passage from Proverbs about pride and that is more than likely the Heats problem, especially since last summer: Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Over inflated ego, too much self importance is more than likely what made the Miami Heat shoot themselves in the foot. Even though Dwayne Wade scored 159 points, Chris Bosh scored 111 & LeBron James scored 107.

  Now for my DALLAS MAVERICKS and our MVP Dirk Nowitzki & company. Dirk scored a Finals total of 156 points, Jason Kidd had 46 points, Shawn Marion had 82 pints & JET, Jason Terry had 108. I call it 4th Quarter Magic for this is when the Mavs came alive and made heart patients worry if they would survive the games. This was done in spite of injury and illness. No excuse or woe is me I'm hurt I need to be babied. Which leads to the opinion and seemingly fact, that TEAMS win championships not individuals.

          So with that I am a very happy person.

                
         

            

The NBA Final

Okay the finals are set, as I guess everyone knows by now, between my Dallas Mavericks with Dirk Nowitzki & Company and the Miami Heat with their Three Stooges. Yes, I know I am VERY biased toward the Mavericks. Anyway, the Final start on Tuesday on ABC at 9 pm Eastern/ 8 PM Central. So here is the schedule:

The NBA Finals

Game1 Tuesday May 31 @ Miami 

Game2 Thursday June 2 @ Miami

Game3 Sunday June 5 @ Dallas

Game4 Tuesday June 7 @ Dallas

Game5* Thursday June 9 @ Dallas

Game6* Sunday June 12 @ Miami 8pm Eastern/7 Central

Game7* Tuesday June 14 @ Miami 

* Means if game is necessary

Everyone Enjoy. 

  

 

NBA PLAYOFFS: ROUND 2

Well the second round of the NBA  Playoffs started today. As is most probably known my  Celtics lost to the Miami Heat 99-90. With Ray Allen leading the way for the Boston Celtics 25 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists. Dwayne Wade led with 38 points, 1 rebound and 5 assists for Miami. To a certain extent it can be looked at that the Heat won by the skin of their teethe. As you can surmise I am not particularly fond of the Heat but  it has nothing to do with  LeBron I've just never been a fan of the team I don't hate them that calls for too much energy.


Next it is the Memphis Grizzlies and Oklahoma Thunder. Grizzlies continue their run by beating the Thunder 114-101. Zach Randolph had 34 points, 10 rebounds and 2 assists for the Grizzlies. While Kevin Durant had 33 points, 11 rebounds and 3 assists for the Thunder. Rirght now for me this is a yawn series becuse who outside of their cities really care about this series. May the best team win.

Tomorrow's games involve the Chicago Bulls vs the Atlanta Hawks in Chicago at 8pm Eastern on TNT. 
Then my Dallas Mavericks take on the L.A. Lakers starting at 10:30 Eastern in Los Angles on TNT.

SO LET THE GAMES BEGIN! HAVE FUN! 

NBA Playoff Part 2

Eastern Conference is next. My favorite players from this Conference is the entire Boston Celtics team. Pierce, Garnett, Rondo, Allen and company. This is all probably a holdover from the'80s for me but that's how it goes Any way I guess most know who is playing who but I want to do this for those who have no idea.

(1) Chicago Bulls vs (8) Indiana Pacers Saturday April16th 1pm ESPN
(2) Miami Heat vs (7)  Philadelphia 76ers Saturday April 16th 3:30pm ABC
(3) Boston Celtics vs (6) New York Knicks Sunday April 17th 7pm TNT
(4) Orlando Magic vs (5) Atlanta Hawks Saturday April 16th 7pm ESPN


 

NBA Playoffs

Well the NBA regular season finished up last night with 3 crucial games in the Western Conference. The San Antonio Spurs fell to the Phoenix Suns, 106-103: Los Angles Lakers beat the Sacramento Kings, 116-108: The Oklahoma City Thunder lost to the Milwaukee Bucks,110-106: and for me the most important game, the Dallas Mavericks won over the New Orleans Hornets, 121-89. This game was a dilemma for me, Dirk Nowitzki is one of  favorite players playing on one of my favorite teams and Chris Paul is one of my other favorite player playing for another favorite team. Well, at least in the Western Conference they're my favorite teams. With a game like last nights all I could ever wish for were for ties to be allowed, but as we all know they're not. With the Western Conference being my favorite I'm going to concentrate on them but maybe later I'll do the eastern Conference.                     
 Anyway, the rankings and match ups and the first rounds. are out: 
                                       
(1) San Antonio Spurs vs (8) Memphis Grizzlies Sunday 1pm TNT April 17th
(2) L.A. Lakers vs ( 7) N.O. Hornets Sunday 3:30 pm  ABC April 17th
(3)Dallas Mavericks vs (6) Portland Trailblazers Saturday 9:30 pm ESPN April 16th
(4)OKC Thunder vs (5) Denver Nuggets Sunday 9:30 pm  TNT April 17th

http://dirkettesreturn.proboards.com/index.cgi
http://www.nba.com/playoffs/2011/series/
http://www.nba.com/2011/playoffs/2011/04/13/schedule/index.html?cid=nba.2013