NBA lockout update: Around the Web

By Chris Sheridan

Let’s have a look around the Web for the latest lockout news on the 101st day of the NBA’s work stoppage:

_ Brian Mahoney of The Associated Press in New York: “(Billy) Hunter reiterated that 53 percent was the players’ number. And if they were planning to reconsider the 50-50 offer, that didn’t seem to be the case in the letter that he and union president Derek Fisher of the Lakers sent Wednesday to players and obtained by The Associated Press and other media outlets. ‘Reducing our share of BRI by 7 points to 50 (percent)—a level we have not received since the early 1990’s—is simply not a fair split. We refused to back down,’ they wrote. ‘As we have done since the beginning, we again indicated a willingness to compromise, and asked the owners to do the same. They refused.’ The question is whether it’s offered again. Stern and Silver were both careful to point out that the 50-50 concept wasn’t a formal proposal, an important distinction in the language of bargaining. So Stern was asked if that meant the owners were officially back at the 53-47 split in their favor. ‘Back schmack,’ he said. ‘You know, we’re not … we’re ready to meet and discuss any subject anyone wants to talk about. We’d like not to lose the first two weeks of the season, but it doesn’t look good.’ “

_ Chris Tomasson of Fox Sports, quoting Rasual Butler at the FIU charity game: “”First of all, you can’t go from 57 to 50 (percent). It’s a process. It’s a give-and-take thing. We can’t be the side that keeps coming to the table that is going to negotiate and (the owners are) sitting on their hands and we’re negotiating.  . . . They give us a great platform to play the game, but at the end of the day we’re still the product, and we want to play basketball and do it at a high level and protect the game for the future generation.”

_ Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel: “In addition to (LeBron) James, (Dwyane) Wade and (Chris) Bosh, the Heat were represented at Saturday’s game by free-agent point guard Mario Chalmers, with former Heat player Dorell Wright also among those participating. Heat forward Udonis Haslem, still working his way back from last season’s foot injury, coached James’ team. Floyd Mayweather watched the second half courtside, amid a mix of cheers and jeers. Center Eddy Curry, a Heat free-agent target, was a no-show, leaving unanswered questions about his conditioning. Wesley Matthews and Lou Williams also were removed from the rosters, with Harden and Tristan Thompson added. While the tickets, priced at $100 and $50, for Saturday’s game sold out within two hours Monday, the secondary market fizzled with the announcement of Saturday’s telecast in South Florida and streaming of the event on the web, with few re-sales exceeding more than twice face value.” Winderman later added on Twitter: ” Balls used in game were NBA regulation, stamped “New York Knicks.” Wonder how they got there?”

Tom Haberstroh of ESPN.com’s Heat Index:  “In one moment — like when (Carmelo) Anthony drained a game-tying 3-pointer at the end of regulation — you couldn’t help but think: “Wow, what a game!” But that feeling of exuberance was soon squashed by another thought: “Man, am I going to miss this, or what?”  … There was a great moment when LeBron tried to gain position on Wade on the block. LeBron backed into Wade with every ounce of his 6-foot-9 frame. It was an onslaught of power that would obliterate any normal human being but Wade would not budge. Not an inch. As this battle for position continued, the crowd’s cheers grew louder and louder and everyone gradually rose to their feet to see who would win. LeBron finally got the ball, spun baseline past Wade and soared toward the rim. (Amare) Stoudemire helped from the weakside and blocked his shot — but wait, a foul was called. Sure, it seemed like an anticlimactic finish to the play, but it was almost like everyone could feel LeBron trying to overpower his Heat teammate. And Wade wouldn’t let LeBron get the best of him.”

Frank Isola of the New York Daily News, from Miami: “‘He’s been great down here,” Isiah Thomas said of Stoudemire. “He shows up, works hard every day. He’s even eating in the cafeteria with (the students), sitting in class with them for two hours. He’s about education himself and continuing his knowledge and his thirst for knowledge. I told (Stoudemire) the other day, the biggest thing he’s done for these kids down here is not spending two hours on the gym floor talking about jumpers and layups. He spent two hours in the classroom with them, then came back and spent another two hours in the classroom with them. He’s into learning more and being a true renaissance man.” Stoudemire, wearing new designer goggles, was at times overpowering Saturday night. He delighted the crowd with a vicious dunk over Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant. But he also looked fatigued, which isn’t surprising considering the long layoff.