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Jul 19

Breaking Down the New Schedule

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By mikebarrett

This is always one of those days during the summer that quenches a bit of the thirst for NBA news, and gets you thinking about the season. The season always feels closer, regardless of the situation, when you've got a schedule in front of you.

Now, the NBA schedule has been released.

Perhaps it's because we always have more time to do such things during the summer, but it always takes me a while to totally go over a new league schedule. I tend to stop on certain road trips, or tough months, and go way too deep. Because I travel with the team, certain road trips, or portions of the schedule, have a much greater impact than they would if I wasn't travelling. Yes, that includes checking our schedule around holidays, birthdays, and things like that.

The first thing that jumped out at me, when looking at this new schedule, is that I'll be home, and off, on a Halloween for the first time in what seems like forever. This isn't as significant as other holidays, but because of the late start for the Blazers this season, we're not opening the regular season until November 3rd. Last season, by comparison, we had already played FIVE regular-season games by November 3rd.

When the season does begin, we'll be opening at home, once again. It's the third-straight year we'll open the season at the Rose Garden. And, the November 3rd start is the latest start to a season since 2004-05.

Like last year, as soon as we open at home we hit the road. It's Denver on the 3rd, and then off on a three-game trip to the Clippers, Phoenix, and Denver.

Nate McMillan's teams traditionally start quickly, but this November will be a big challenge. I think it's one of the more difficult months of the schedule for the Blazers. Not only are three of the first four games away from home, but there are nine road games in all and only six at home. That includes a stretch of six of seven on the road to close the month. It also includes a four-game trip back east, that will have us playing at Indiana, Milwaukee, Charlotte, and Detroit.

The end of November is very odd. We've got a two-game road trip that has us at Dallas, and then at Atlanta. I have never seen a schedule that has us travelling clear across the country to play just two games. The Atlanta road game is always bunched with other games in the eastern time zone, and is never off on its own like this. Very strange.

December is a bit more favorable, as the month only shows five road games. They aren't easy, however. We'll play the Lakers in L.A. on December 4th, have a three game road trip to Phoenix, Memphis, and San Antonio in the middle of the month, and then play at Houston on New Year's Eve.

The obvious change to December, from past seasons, is that we are not playing on Christmas Day this year. It's the first time since the 06-07 season we'll be home for Christmas, and won't be playing. The Blazers will host Phoenix on the 23rd, and then host the Clippers on the 26th.

The first game of 2012 will have the Blazers in Oklahoma City. The thing that jumps off the page in January is the brutal six-game road trip in the middle of the month. Starting January 13th, we'll play at San Antonio, Houston, Philadelphia, New Jersey, Washington, and Chicago, before returning home on the 24th to play the Lakers. In all, January has us gone for 10 road games, and home for only five. Not an easy mohth.

February is the lightest month of the schedule, in terms of travel. The Blazers only have a couple of short two-game road trips, and play eight home games during the month. But, the last four road games of the month have us playing at New Orleans, Dallas, Utah, and Denver. The All-Star Break falls between those last two road games. The Blazers play at Utah on the 22nd, and then are off until the 29th, when they'll play at Denver.

You might want to hide your eyes when looking at the month of March. I'm starting to pack my bags as we speak. Not only is March packed with 17 games (tied for the most in that month in franchise history), it features a brutal seven-game, 13-day trip. We haven't had a trip like that since the 07-08 season, and that was also a seven-game game trip. Last season our longest road trip was four games. That trip will see us visit Minnesota, Boston, Toronto, Cleveland, New York, Orlando, and Miami. We'll have to pack a winter coat for Canada, and then the bathing suit for Florida. That's a little odd. Also, the month starts with a home game, but it's a home game against the Miami Heat, as they make their lone Portland appearence on March 1st.

The good news (other than March ending) is that April is pretty favorable to the Blazers. There will be six home games, and only three road games. In fact, after that monster seven-game trip in March, 11 of Portland's final 16 games are at home. Four of the last five games of the regular season are at the Rose Garden. That stretch goes Houston, Golden State, Dallas, at Sacramento, and Utah to close things out on April 18th. That's also the latest end to a regular season since 06-07.

Each season you end up playing four teams in your conference only three times (everyone else you play four times). The west teams the Blazers only get three times this season are Dallas (one home, two road), the Lakers (one home, two road), Golden State (two home, one road), and New Orleans (two home, one road).

The other major thing we look at when the schedule is released is the number of times you're asked to play on back-to-back nights. We spend a lot of time talking about the difficulty of these situations, even though the Blazers were 13-9 last season on the second night of back to backs. There were 22 back-to-back sets last season, and this schedule shows 18. So, that's a positive. The quality of opponents you face in back to backs is an entirely different factor, as is the travel between the two games. I'm not going quite that deep today.

After going through the process of breaking down the entire schedule, you always end up asking yourself the same basic question- is this a good schedule? Is it more favorable than schedules in recent years? Is it decidedly tougher? I'll take your input on that, of course. It's always so difficult to answer that question in the middle of the summer.

At first glance, this schedule seems a little tougher to me. I guess that's because it doesn't flow as smoothly as the schedules have in recent years.  There are a ton of peaks and valleys, if you know what I mean. There are brutal stretches, followed by more favorable periods. The fact that there's a six-game trip, and a seven-game trip, makes this very different than schedules we've had in recent years. But, you just don't know at this point how you're going to be playing during given times of the year. Timing is that X factor, along with injuries (both to your team and opponents) makes everything so unknown.

I can't even imagine how difficult it is for the league's schedule makers to put together the season for all 30 teams. Everyone has complaints about their schedule, and I can't remember ever being thrilled with every part of it. That's just the way it is.

The biggest positive is that it's out, and you can now fill your day (or days) combing over every part of the schedule. Different 11-game ticket packages are on-sale now, Lakers Pack, Heat Pack, Playoff Pack and Weekend Pack (more info). There are better places to view the entire schedule, but I've listed it in quick-and-dirty fashion below.

Let me know what you think.

November-
3    Denver
4    @Clippers
6    @Phoenix
9    @Denver
10   San Antonio
12   Detroit
14   Philadelphia
16   Chicago
18   @Indiana
19   @Milwaukee
21   @Charlotte
23   @Detroit
25   Utah
28   @Dallas
30   @Atlanta

December-
2     Indiana
4     @Lakers
5     Minnesota
8     Boston
12   Sacramento
14   Toronto
16   @Phoenix
18   @Memphis
19   @San Antonio
23   Phoenix
26   Clippers
29   New York
31   @Houston

January-
3     @Oklahoma City
4     @Minnesota
6     Memphis
8     Cleveland
11   Orlando
13   @San Antonio
14   @Houston
16   @Philadelphia
18   @New Jersey
20   @Washington
21   @Chicago
24   Lakers
25   @Golden State
27   Phoenix
28   @Utah

February-
1     Charlotte
2     @Sacramento
4     Denver
6     Oklahoma City
8     Houston
10   @New Orleans
11   @Dallas
14   Washington
16   Clippers
18   Atlanta
21   San Antonio
22   @Utah
29   @Denver

March-
1     Miami
3     Minnesota
5     New Orleans
7     @Minnesota
9     @Boston
11   @Toronto
13   @Cleveland
14   @New York
16   @Orlando
18   @Miami
20   Milwaukee
22   Memphis
23   @Lakers
25   Golden State
27   Oklahoma City
29   New Orleans
30   @Clippers

April-
1     Sacramento
4     New Jersey
6     @Oklahoma City
7     @Memphis
9     Houston
11   Golden State
13   Dallas
15   @Sacramento
18   Utah

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37 Comments

Well, can't comment much about the schedule because I don't think half of these games will even be played. But I do like that my Birthday, March 27th, is a home game. Haven't had one of those in AGES, so I'll be looking for that one, and since it's against Choklahoma City, it should be fun. Ironic since we played them on my birthday this year, but we were on the road.

Only thing on my mind with the Blazers is getting past the 2nd round. After 3 failures and let-downs in a row, it's hard to give a crap about the regular season.

by Herr on 7/19/2011 10:30 AM
The best news is I get to hear from Mike:

I don't fret about the schedule. I am like Nate, just look at the next game on the calander.

I presume they will not re-zone this year because of the problems starting the league on time.

If we are late starting, does the schedule change accordingly---The first game of the season will still be with Denver?

Great to hear from you Mike.
I haven't watched court-side yet because my computer won't keep up with live streaming all the time.

by Hg on 7/19/2011 10:30 AM
I can't imagine trying to do the schedule without everybody complaining. If everyone complains I suspect it's a fair schedule. If they start the season late do they try to make up some of the games? I don't see how they could.

by Ancientone on 7/19/2011 10:55 AM
The one thing not mentioned in late January is the insane amount of back to backs in a row. Jan 20th (away) - 21st (away), 2 days off, 24 (home) - 25 (away), 1 off, 27 (home) - 28 (away) , 2 off, Feb. 1 (home) - 2 (away). The home/away part of it seems crappy too.

by PingTrowaLi on 7/19/2011 10:59 AM
We're playing Utah on my birthday - in Utah! That's cruel. I think that the schedule looks ok but we don't even know for sure who the players will be and that makes all the difference in the world.
Was at the Clyde Drexler store in Houston airport. I <3 Clyde. I know...off topic.

by kaemicha on 7/19/2011 11:47 AM
a) The schedule doesn't matter because it's unlikely to get played. If a significant portion of the season is lost, I'm assuming the schedule will be completely re-done (for the sake of balance)? What happened last time?

b) That said, this schedule stinks. 6- and 7-game road trips!?!? Still 18 back-to-backs (isn't that still way more than average?). If anything, shouldn't the Blazers get some help from the NBA schedule makers given that: i) they have to travel more air miles than any other team, and ii) making matters worse, the NBA has us in a stupid division (geographically we should be with California teams - not OKC & Minn!!!).

3) Only 10 home Fri/Sat games this season, versus 13 last season. Only one top-notch weekend game (Dallas at end of season). And only one visit from the Lakers. Not good news for season ticket holders.

Hopefully the schedule will get completely re-made after we inevitably lose part of the season.

by marshdom on 7/19/2011 11:51 AM
hey MB! i'm not really sure how you had this out so quickly, but huge props for that. i just watched Just Casey with Mike Rice who ran this down, and i'm glad to see you did as well.

assuming we have a full-length regular season (everyone just go with me on that for this comment!), i agree that this schedule doesn't flow quite like as in the past couple of years.

we do have just 18 back-to-backs, so that's an improvement. the curious thing, however, is that none of those B-to-B's come with two home games; they're all either splits or road-road games. i'm not too concerned about the B-to-B's anyway. we knew there were going to be some on the schedule and there they are. we've done a pretty good job on those the last two seasons, so we just need to take care of business once again. i might add that after reviewing the lakers' schedule, they actually have 17, rather than the palty 12 (or something like that) they had last year. they schedule makers seem to be catching us up.

despite that seven-game trip in march, i'm actually looking forward to the last couple months of the regular season. in march and april combined, we have just three B-to-B's, in addition to those last 11 of 16 at home. that sets the stage for a strong playoff run.

it's always a treat to see the team play on christmas day since it's always on television. however, i think it will be nice to have the actual holiday off (as well as christmas eve). though halloween isn't perhaps the most important holiday (btw, don't tell that to my 3-1/2 year old sister!), that can always be a fun night to have off work (or school) i would imagine.

the important thing to note is that we were going to have to play these teams, for the most part, the same number of times regardless of the layout. if we are a contender, we're going to have to deal with the hills and valleys of any schedule which were to come out. we just happen to have this one in our hot little hands now.

~ Kassandra

by Kassandra on 7/19/2011 1:35 PM
@marshdom: i don't think the schedule status is quite as bleak as you indicate. sure, there could be a shortened season or none at all. on the other hand, there are still are over two months in which things could change.

i've been keeping an eye on the nfl lockout and its negotiations. they've almost ironed out all the particulars and could start training camp as early as next week. a couple of months ago, the nfl owners and players were as far apart as the nba owners and players. two months later, football is about to resume. it's not that far a stretch of the imagination that the nba could as well. it's certainly not "inevitable" that it won't.

~ Kassandra

by Kassandra on 7/19/2011 12:06 PM
I don't know why the NBA and all of the teams are showing their schedules when they are in the midst of a Lockout. That doesn't make sense to me, especially since I have read the some of the players on these teams are going overseas to play while the Lockout persists. And if they do, how are the teams in the NBA going to have enough players to fill their roster if that happens, and it is looking more and more like a definite possibility? The answer is that they won't. This Lockout is going to last as long as it takes for the owners and the player's union to come to terms that both sides can live with and agree to, but as things stand right now, I don't see that happening. There is the definite possibility that there won't be a season, in which case, posting a schedule is meaningless and is a waste of time.

by BrainLL1 on 7/19/2011 12:25 PM
Kassandra - I will respectfully disagree. I don't think the NFL situation was ever as far apart as the NBA. I think most observers expected the NFL situation would come together quickly (as it appears to be) once the season got closer. I do not sense there is any such optimism with the NBA. Who knows if it will be weeks, months, or most/all of the season lost; but sure seems like putting out a schedule is kinda nutty. And I gotta think they'd have to completely re-do the schedule if very much of the season is lost at all.

by marshdom on 7/19/2011 12:31 PM
@marshdom: we know from past experience that if even part of the season is lost, then the schedule would be redone. there, you would be correct.

i'm not sure who you're citing as the source of "most observers," but things looked just as bleak for the nfl two months ago; it's well known fact that the nfl owners and players were just about exactly as far apart as the nba is today. i don't know if you're trying to be pessimistic, but anything can happen. the real progress for the nfl came when it really got a sense of urgency, started meeting every day and ironed out the biggest issues. that sense of urgency came as the season got nearer. imo, if the nba adopts that sense of urgency over the next ... say, two-and-a-half months, a resolution can be reached and this schedule will stand.

regardless, this is the schedule we have, so this is the schedule which is of interest to me, rather than speculation on a half seasons worth of game on an abbreviated sort of schedule.

~ Kassandra

by Kassandra on 7/19/2011 1:34 PM
Hi, Mike, nice to hear from you again! I thought maybe the league had nixed employee blogs due to the lockout.

I agree with the comment about 7- and 8-game road trips. Those are killers! I feel 5 should be the maximum. Even then you're talking about at least a week on the road. Hard to believe this is required by arena scheduling conflicts.

As to why release a schedule while the lockout is still in effect: (a) there may be a reason owners think it's advantageous to their bargaining position; or (b) they want to keep fans interested and not lose interest during the lockout; or (c) both of the above.
--
don

by dgpdx on 7/19/2011 12:54 PM
Kassandra - I agree with everything you say ("anything can happen"), except that the NFL was just as far apart. Probably tough to prove anything. As for sources, I am going off of: a) national media, and b) the fact that NBA finances are not in as good of shape as NFL and more complicated (NFL has one national TV contract with evenly shared revenue - makes for much easier competitive balance).

by marshdom on 7/19/2011 12:56 PM
@marshdom: doesn't the nfl have four national tv contracts; fox, cbs, espn and nbc? perhaps they're all tied into one, but there still four networks to consider. regardless, the national media i heard was not painting an attractive picture of the nfl and it's players (several players are still bickering about the commissioner). anyway, like i said, since this is the schedule we have, this is the particular schecule i plan to discuss here.

@Don: i know what you mean about arena scheduling conflicts. what exactly going on for those two weeks at the RG where we need to play seven straight games on the road? initially i thought it might be the high school playoffs, but those are earlier i think. perhaps we're getting a couple of rounds of march madness locally. point is, i don't see how it's necessary to have such long road trips either.

~ Kassandra

by Kassandra on 7/19/2011 1:33 PM
Kassandra - Go to ESPN, The Sporting News, SI.com or any of those media outlets and search for comparisons between the NFL and the NBA labor situation. Miles and miles apart in differences. The biggest issue with the NFL was the revenue sharing and lately the rookie wage scale. The NBA's economic model is broken, to say the least. Not even close in revenue obtained than what the NFL makes. The owners are looking for around 2 billion dollars in money back from the players and the players have offered up 500 million. That's a long ways apart. The owners also want a decrease in the BRI that the players receive. After looking at this schedule I am hoping for a lost season. The 6 and 7 game road trips are ridiculous. It almost seems like the schedule was put out knowing the league would be cancelling games. No talks have been scheduled or completed between the players and the league since the lockout began. Why? The owners are digging in for a long and protracted lock out. Remember that 6 or 7 owners are also NHL owners and they have been through this before. They have no problem locking out for an entire season. The NFL stood to lose a whole lot more should they lose games. They would have lost around 2 million dollars just with lost pre-season games. The NBA would not even come close to losing that much. So, you can't really compare to the two labor situations. They really are not even close. One thing that I would be interested in is just what NBA owners are NOT in favor of this lockout? Would be interesting to find that out.

by EricS on 7/19/2011 2:18 PM
@Eric: i'm not going to get into a deep-seeded discussion on the comparisons, as that's not the purpose of this particular blog. suffice to say, i have looked into the comparisons. of course the labor circumstances are different, but that was not my original point. at this relative time prior to the season, the two leagues are as far apart as each other in distance from their perspective sides. the distance is to what i was referring, and relative to the two leagues being this far apart during their respective process, i have no indication from any news agency nor fan that anything to the contrary is fact. according to what your statements, you're hoping for a lost season and it's unfortunate that any fan would say that. you also have to keep in mind the coin of my original statement. i didn't say a resolution was going to happen; i said it could happen. neither one of us can predict the future any more than the other, so i'm sticking with that. as i said, this really isn't the tone of this particular blog, so i plan to comment on the merits of this schedule rather than speculate on whether there will be a different kind of season, or as you hope, no season at all.

~ Kassandra

by Kassandra on 7/19/2011 3:00 PM
I wanted Denver first and we get Christmas off...... Great.

by mbmurr1 on 7/19/2011 5:22 PM
As said in my first post, the schedule is what it is and we have 42 and 42. The long road trips can build our need for being a better road team, as documented that we need; therefore let's use it as a challenge and improve. It is good training and the best way to overcome our poor road record.

As far as the lock-out goes, I agree with my dear friend Kassandra, although I am bias, she usually does lots of research and is on the money. I am somewhat of an optimistic nut anyway. It really doesn't matter how far apart they are in negotiations, as soon as both sides wants to get down to terms they can come together in a day. I know this, from being on the picket line a few times in my life. When everything looks bleak and no body is giving, that is when things start happening. Both sides need to compromise as to not make the other one look bad, then it will flow again.

by Hg on 7/19/2011 8:20 PM
You mean 41 and 41. One difference between the NBA and NFL is that the NBA started negotiations during the season when the NFL waited until after. Although the NBA wont continue discussion until August, I do think it will be resolved before the season. The players going overseas are signing contracts allowing the contracts to be terminated when the NBA season starts. Those contracts cant legally exist otherwise it will conflict with the NBA contracts already signed. It will be great to see them in action especially since their playing style will be slightly different than last season. Unfortunately since Im in NC the only game they will play out here is on Nov 21. If the lockout gets in the way of the regular season then Im screwed.

by Lukey on 7/20/2011 6:01 AM
SOrry. technical difficulties

by Lukey on 7/20/2011 6:02 AM
Kassandra - Appreciate your honesty in your posts. You are obviously a very well educated and passionate fan. I honestly do not want there to be any lost games, especially as a long time (1970) fan and current season ticket holder. But, with this potentially grueling road schedule and some banged up players, Portland is one of those few teams that will actually benefit from lost games....according to insiders. But, once again, I agree with you Kassandra that the intent of this blog is based on the schedule, so with that I have to say that I am not looking forward to the 6 and 7 game road trips. I am also a little disappointed that we only get Dallas and LA once at home. But, I guess we alternate those double home games every year.

by EricS on 7/20/2011 9:21 AM
@Lukey:

you are right 41-41.

It is my understanding as long as the lock-out continues the players don't get paid, therefore there is no contract until the lock-out is over. I am confused on the matter, but that is the way I interpreted it

by Hg on 7/20/2011 10:16 AM
Hg - You are right about players not getting paid during a lock-out. They also don't receive health insurance benefits or payments into their pension plans. The problem with playing oversees is that if they should get injured, that could potentially void their contract with the NBA once the lock-out is over. Some players may not want to take that chance.

by EricS on 7/20/2011 12:10 PM
Hi Mike,
The right side of the screen is blocked when reading your column. Don't know if this is my computer or your blog. If it's your blog, please change the set up if possible. I'd like to read ALL of your column!!!

by natsthecat on 7/20/2011 3:32 PM
just realized of note: no game on my birthday. that's just fine since we suffered a drumming at home to atlanta on febraury 27 last season. also, no game scheduled on my dormie's (Julianne) birthday either. i suppose she and i will just have to celebrate those days the old-fashioned way!

Hg: you're correct; you are biased! but you're also correct on the reading up and researching part as well. things can happen overnight or things could linger. at this point, we just don't know.

Lukey: i'm in pre-law, but only entering my sophomore year at stanford. i would be curious to see how enforceable a contract may be when it deals with a contract from another country. i haven't gone as far to research that, but i think that if players are not being paid nor insured by the league, then they may be able to do what they wish elsewhere. that's more likely in the tone of what is written on the books of law rather than the players' contracts, however.

@Eric: and i appreciate your comment there. i just basically wanted to show that anything is possible during the summer. thank you for clarifying your position on wanting or not wanting the lost season. the six and seven-game road trips are harsh; i know san antonio had an extended road trip last year of something around seven or even as many as nine games (don't recall off the top of my head). someone should look into how many other teams (and which ones) have such a task on their own schedules.

~ Kassandra

by Kassandra on 7/20/2011 3:35 PM
Kassandra: I read what I posted and noticed that I did a poor job explaining my thoughts. I agree with you completely. From what I heard so far, since there is a lockout the contracts are temporarily inactive. Because it is temporary the overseas contracts contain clauses allowing the overseas contracts to terminate when the nba season starts again. BTW- good luck with your pre-law.

by Lukey on 7/20/2011 6:30 PM
I hope the NBA contract with the players is reached soon after 8-1-11. I love my Blazers and want to see them on the court. I love spirited debates. Yes! I think everyone knows that if the NBA and Players want to get something done they can, and can in a hurry. Not only will the owners be the losers if they don't start the season on time, but the fans lose even more. Money wise the owners will lose money from TV contracts, and many fans will lose faith in their teams and disconnect from them. Many of these team are in cities that give them big tax cuts and other little benefits to go along with incentives. Owners need to meet with one another and iron out an agreement that they won't over pay for a player. No one twist their wrist when it comes to player contracts. It is because of the owners and their greed to have more then they can afford!

by civilhold on 7/21/2011 12:27 AM
Kassandra: I am only bias because I trust your input and know much research was done. OK, maybe I am bias because I like you also.

San Antonio has extended road trip each year because of a Rodeo using there arena. Another team, maybe Chicago has a circus that last a while or something like that.

It was said somewhere, that I read that the Rose Garden may get the march madness tournament, so that may be the reason for the extended road trip. So far as I know that is just rumors though.

by Hg on 7/21/2011 12:54 AM
Hg: i just looked it up. the second and third rounds of march madness are scheduled at the RG for march 15 and 17. so okay, that's two days the blazers can't play there ... now what about the other 11?! that certainly can't be the reason for such an extended road trip; seems like a couple of days would have done the trick. now that you mention the rodeo in san antonio, i recall it being mentioned last year. thanks for the reminder.

Lukey: thanks. i'm not sure how all the contracts relate to one another (if they even do). i suppose some players want to play and are gun-shy about waiting for a compromise on a new cba. i know of only two so far who have signed with other clubs.

~ Kassandra

by Kassandra on 7/21/2011 8:36 AM
Kassandra: I am sure you are right about all contract are not related, and all Euroleague franchises can't afford the insurance, plus there is not enough jobs for all the BB players that are out of work. Many franchises from over seas that can afford the price has already zeroed in on the players they want. There are many NBA players that can live on last month salary.(I know that sounds kookie, but remember many NBA players file bankruptcy by the time they are 40). There is also many that gets advertisement fees, and of course some are like you said is gun-shy.

This does bring up a question. If in fact, the contract are null doing lock-out, why does the time element go on? As in Greg's case, he has a one year qualifying offer, but if the lock-out goes for the whole season, he would not be able to collect a nickel on his contract and he would be an unrestricted free agent, because the Blazers are not allowed to offer him a multi-year contract before hand. BOTOH, would Patty still be able to participate in the training camp for a position on the team? Would Armon's contract be expiring and we could offer that spot to Patty if he is more qualifying for the team, in which I think he is? I know I only said I had one question, but I fib sometimes.

by Hg on 7/21/2011 12:02 PM
@Hg: the answer to all of those questions is simple - i don't know! i presume that by the time a new cba is established, any part of the season (perhaps the entire season) lost would have provisions establishing the criteria for your questions. for example, it wouldn't surprise me that if the entire season is lost, then the current contract status would be applied to the first season which occurs after the lockout is over. the issue with answering those questions is that those answers are dependent on the new cba.

~ Kassandra

by Kassandra on 7/21/2011 12:19 PM
Miss Kassandra:

Got it. thanks millions my friend

by Hg on 7/21/2011 4:30 PM
I did read on ESPN that contracts, especially expiring contract, would not extend into another year in the event a season is lost. They explained that a contract is set for a specified amount of time and can not be extended due to a work stoppage. So, in the example of Oden, a lost season would make him an unrestricted free agent and he would not collect on the QO he was given this year.....per the explanation that I read.

by EricS on 7/21/2011 10:09 PM
Ah, job security for lawyers.

by Ancientone on 7/21/2011 9:24 PM
Hi Gang.......Hey MB can you post the Euroleague schedule as well ?I get the feeling thats where most of the NBA players will be this year.I just don't see the two sides being quite as close as the NFL. JOMO. People are talking mid season.....I wish I could be that optimistic.
I wonder if some channel is going to be smart. and pick up those games

by DowntownVinnie on 8/5/2011 7:18 AM
Hi Gang.......Hey MB can you post the Euroleague schedule as well ?I get the feeling thats where most of the NBA players will be this year.I just don't see the two sides being quite as close as the NFL. JOMO. People are talking mid season.....I wish I could be that optimistic.
I wonder if some channel is going to be smart. and pick up those games

by DowntownVinnie on 8/5/2011 7:18 AM
Sorry double Doh:)

by DowntownVinnie on 8/5/2011 7:19 AM