NBA Lockout and Collective Bargaining Agreement Discussion

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: NBA Lockout and Collective Bargaining Agreement Discussion

Saw this posted on another board, is this source legit?

@HowardBeckNYT On the compressed season: It will run Dec. 25-April 26. Teams will avg 3.9 games/week, up from usual 3.5/week. About 2 extra games per month

@HowardBeckNYT Every team will play at least one back-to-back-to-back set (i.e. 3 straight nights), and up to 3 back-to-back-to-back sets during season.

@HowardBeckNYT Teams will play 48 games in-conference (4 fewer than usual) and 18 games out-of-conference. Thus, not all teams will visit all cities.

@HowardBeckNYT Also, every second-round playoff series will have at least one back-to-back set, to shorten the playoff time frame.

A look at the back to back to back in 1999

http://nba-point-forward.si.com/2011/09/23/the-most-grueling-stretches-of-1998-99/

[Drewski]

Re: NBA Lockout and Collective Bargaining Agreement Discussion

Saw this posted on another board, is this source legit?

@HowardBeckNYT On the compressed season: It will run Dec. 25-April 26. Teams will avg 3.9 games/week, up from usual 3.5/week. About 2 extra games per month

@HowardBeckNYT Every team will play at least one back-to-back-to-back set (i.e. 3 straight nights), and up to 3 back-to-back-to-back sets during season.

@HowardBeckNYT Teams will play 48 games in-conference (4 fewer than usual) and 18 games out-of-conference. Thus, not all teams will visit all cities.

@HowardBeckNYT Also, every second-round playoff series will have at least one back-to-back set, to shorten the playoff time frame.

A look at the back to back to back in 1999

http://nba-point-forward.si.com/2011...es-of-1998-99/

Howard Beck is legit, and I've been reading those bullet-points a few other places.

[King_B_Mack]

Re: NBA Lockout and Collective Bargaining Agreement Discussion

Yeah it's legit. It's up on NBA.com

http://www.nba.com/2011/news/11/27/schedule/index.html

[Drewski]

Re: NBA Lockout and Collective Bargaining Agreement Discussion

Back-to Back-to Back's will be brutal, but hopefully they can give teams only one of those, two max. Hate to be the team with three b2b2b's

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: NBA Lockout and Collective Bargaining Agreement Discussion

Yeah it's legit. It's up on NBA.com

http://www.nba.com/2011/news/11/27/schedule/index.html

A back to back in the playoffs would be unfortunate IMO.

Hopefully it doesn't happen.

[23]

Re: NBA Lockout and Collective Bargaining Agreement Discussion

There is no need to do that in the playoffs since the schedule for then would be about the same dates

Would love to see the 3 games in a row though to see how they fare, only brutal parts would be having like an east coast game then west coast game then back to the east or to Toronto

[Drewski]

Re: NBA Lockout and Collective Bargaining Agreement Discussion

There is no need to do that in the playoffs since the schedule for then would be about the same dates

Would love to see the 3 games in a row though to see how they fare, only brutal parts would be having like an east coast game then west coast game then back to the east or to Toronto

I was thinking about this, I'm -hoping- that any of the teams that have to do the 3 games in a row thing at least get to do it while at home. Maybe I'm being optimistic.

Not sure I like the back to back in the playoffs, one day off isn't too much to ask for I imagine even if it's just once. Going from having too many days off between games to potential back to backs?

Season will be wild. My concern with the 3 games in a row (I wish I didnt have to type... 3 games in a row or back to back to back) is health. I dont think alot of players would do well in a regular season pulling in the b2b2b. Considering they've been in lockout mode, and not only have they been away from basketball at a professional level, but they've been away from the training staffs that keep them running as optimal as possible (I'm looking at you with a burrito in hand Blatche. Training can't fix that). Will be hard for guys who aren't even ready for a regular season to have to try and throw it down three days in a row.

Going to be alot of injuries to kick the season off.

[23]

Re: NBA Lockout and Collective Bargaining Agreement Discussion

We'll have to see...thats the part that makes it interesting

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: NBA Lockout and Collective Bargaining Agreement Discussion

@HowardBeckNYT Also, every second-round playoff series will have at least one back-to-back set, to shorten the playoff time frame

I like this and I'd assume it be for the teams that have B2B Home games since it would make more sense that way.

Hope it also means no more 3 day breaks between Games 1 and 2 in the first freaking round of the playoffs. Now that **** is ridiculous.

[Drewski]

Re: NBA Lockout and Collective Bargaining Agreement Discussion

Hope it also means no more 3 day breaks between Games 1 and 2 in the first freaking round of the playoffs. Now that **** is ridiculous.

Yeah, the huge gaps in scheduling is crazy. It became so glaring this year while the MLB playoffs were going on and they play back to backs like it's no big deal.

/scratches head

Three days between games guys? LoL.

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: NBA Lockout and Collective Bargaining Agreement Discussion

More on the Amnesty Clause:

The money does not disappear. The player must still be paid. But the provision could give a few teams some relief and put an extra jolt in the free-agent market.
Arenas could be set loose by the Orlando Magic, who owe him $62.4 million over the next three years. Rashard Lewis ($46 million, two years) could be dumped by the Washington Wizards. Brandon Roy, Baron Davis and Metta World Peace — the player formerly known as Ron Artest — could all spill into the market.
All were considered stars at one time, and each could be helpful to another team — at a more reasonable price, of course. There is, however, one minor caveat for the amnesty watchers and World Peace enthusiasts: most teams will not use the provision.
“I don’t think there will be very many at all,” said one team executive, who asked to remain anonymous while the lockout remains in effect.
At most, three to six teams will take advantage of the amnesty clause this year, the executive said — a view that was echoed by others around the league. The reasons are varied and complicated.
Some teams are so far above the cap that removing one player will not provide room to sign free agents. A few teams have such low payrolls that they would dip below the minimum-payroll requirements. At least 10 teams have no obvious candidates for amnesty.
And many teams might simply hold onto their amnesty card for a future year. According to a draft of the rule, a team can use the provision in any off-season, subject to two restrictions: the player must have been signed before July 1, 2011, and must be on the team’s current roster.
In other words, a team cannot sign or trade for a player now and apply for amnesty later. The provision is meant for past mistakes, not future cap calamities.
Because there is no deadline, teams may wait and see whether their albatrosses learn to fly again before casting them adrift. No team executive wants to admit a mistake, or to ask his owner for permission to eat a $20 million contract.
General managers are also eternal optimists — convinced that a player will rebound from a bad season or that some other general manager will trade for him despite the bloated contract and poor play.
Sometimes, they are right. Last season, Washington and Orlando swapped headaches, with the Wizards sending Arenas — who had been arrested for a gunplay incident — to the Magic for Lewis, who was simply bad. The philosophy: better to trade a player for another asset (even a flawed one) than to pay him a full salary just to disappear.
Amnesty players will go through waivers, like any other player. However, teams that make claims will also enter bids. The highest bidder will get the player and pay that amount (with the balance paid by the team that cut him).
There are some seemingly clear amnesty choices this year.
Arenas is a prime candidate because of his bad knees, his diminishing skills and his reputation for causing locker-room friction. Orlando, which is fearful of losing Dwight Howard to free agency next summer, cannot afford poor team chemistry. Cutting Arenas would not give the Magic any cap room, but it would drop them below the tax threshold, saving them millions.
Lewis is another obvious candidate, after his production plummeted last season (11.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, .433 field-goal percentage). However, waiving Lewis would leave the Wizards with just $19 million in salaries — $30 million below the minimum payroll. They would have to sign several players just to comply with the rules, no doubt creating more bad contracts in the process.
Perhaps the most enticing candidate is Roy, a Portland Trail Blazers guard. Just 27, Roy is a three-time All-Star and a dazzling scorer. But he has chronic knee problems and played just 47 games last season, his scoring average plummeting to 12.2 points. He is owed $68.3 million over the next four seasons. Paul Allen, the Blazers’ billionaire owner, can surely afford the bill, but waiving Roy will not create cap room.
For the Lakers — who view bad contracts as just another cost of winning championships — the choices are overwhelming. They could waive Mr. World Peace ($21 million, three years), Luke Walton ($11.8 million, two years) or Steve Blake ($12 million, three years). Walton seems the most logical choice because of chronic back problems. But if Walton is forced to retire, the Lakers could clear him from the books through a medical waiver and use amnesty for World Peace.
The list of amnesty candidates, as compiled by ESPN.com, reads like an encyclopedia of contractual regret, filled with players who were signed only a year ago and already seem overpriced: Al Harrington (Denver), Brendan Haywood (Dallas), Richard Jefferson (San Antonio), Josh Childress (Phoenix), Mike Miller (Miami), Johan Petro (Nets) and Travis Outlaw (Nets).
The new labor deal is packed with measures to mitigate payroll gaffes: shorter contracts, smaller raises and a new “stretch” provision that lets teams spread payments (and cap hits) over several years.
The intention is to let teams recover more quickly from their mistakes and to provide roster flexibility. But in the N.B.A., bad contracts are like the heads of a Hydra: cut one off, and two more will take its place.

[Drewski]

Re: NBA Lockout and Collective Bargaining Agreement Discussion

Very informative, thank you Pack. Best quote...

But in the N.B.A., bad contracts are like the heads of a Hydra: cut one off, and two more will take its place.

Side-note, clarified on the terms of the window teams have in regards to using their amnesty. I don't expect every team to use it right away, but there's a few guys (namely the ones mentioned) that will definitely see the axe. Kinda on the fence about what LA does about Ron Ron. They could cut him, but Barnes as the starting 3 doesn't feel all that more appealing.

[Drewski]

Re: NBA Lockout and Collective Bargaining Agreement Discussion

For those of you wanting the details of the schedule condensed in a nice little package...

2011-12 NBA Schedule Breakdown

Regular Season Start Date: December 25, 2011
Regular Season End Date: April 26, 2012
Playoffs Start Date: April 28, 2012
Last Possible Finals Date: June 26, 2012

Individual Team Schedule Breakdown

Conference Games: 48
• Play 6 teams 4 times (2 home, 2 away)
• Play 4 teams 3 times (2 home, 1 away)
• Play 4 teams 3 times (1 home, 2 away)

Non-Conference Games: 18
• Play 3 teams 2 times (1 home, 1 away)
• Play 6 teams 1 time at home
• Play 6 teams 1 time away

Back to Back to Backs: All teams with at least 1; no more than 3

Playoff Back to Backs: Possible in second round

Source: NBA.com

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: NBA Lockout and Collective Bargaining Agreement Discussion

Good article Pack

I was thinking the same thing earlier, that not many teams may even use it.

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: NBA Lockout and Collective Bargaining Agreement Discussion

Regular Season End Date: April 26, 2012
Playoffs Start Date: April 28, 2012

Would've thought they would still keep the usual 2 day break between the end of the season and start of the playoffs.