Game on? NBA owners, players shake on deal
Finally, it appears to be over.
NBA players and owners reached a hand-shake deal to end the lockout around 3 a.m. on Saturday. If the National Basketball Players Association votes to ratify the deal — a formality at this point — the season will begin on Christmas Day. The Heat is expected to begin the season against the Mavericks in Dallas’ American Airlines Center, site of Miami’s epic collapse in last season’s NBA Finals.
“I must be dreaming … ,” tweeted Heat owner Mickey Arison around 6:30 a.m. on Saturday.
Most people were dreaming, literally, when NBA commissioner David Stern and NBPA executive director Billy Hunter emerged to announce the news that the season is likely saved. Key figures of the negotiations process met for 15 hours between Friday and Saturday to hammer out the deal.
Looks like we will get a 66 game NBA season this year. This may drastically affect who makes it to the finals.