NBA, players meet again
By Sports Network
|
  
|
|
NEW YORK - Representatives of the NBA and its players met for nearly two hours on Tuesday in an effort to make progress toward a new labor agreement.
"Similar proceedings today. We're not holding anybody accountable to ideas being thrown out in the room," union president Derek Fisher of the Los Angeles Lakers said.
Both sides used the word "concepts" to describe what was discussed in small groups, but didn't provide other details on if more preseason games would be canceled as the lockout continues.
"We just agreed it would be a good idea to reconvene in the morning and spend some time discussing privately some of the concepts," NBA commissioner David Stern said.
Stern said he didn't know about future discussions beyond Wednesday. Both sides will likely not meet on Thursday, the first day of the Jewish new year, although negotiations could continue Friday.
"Our labor relations committee we talk to almost on a daily basis. They stand ready to come to New York or wherever else if there's a reason to continue on Friday. The groups may expand," NBA deputy commissioner Adam Silver said.
Last Friday, the league announced its decision to postpone training camps and cancel 43 preseason games. Camps were slated to open October 3 and preseason games were scheduled to begin six days later. All exhibition games from October 9 through October 15 have been canceled.
The regular season is set to open November 1, provided there is a new collective bargaining agreement.
The NBA locked out its players on July 1 after the most recent labor deal between the two sides expired. Unlike the labor strife that caused NFL lockout, which long appeared to be solvable, the problems facing the NBA have led observers to warn about a prolonged dispute like the one that canceled the 2004-05 NHL season.
