NBA Lockout Could End On Sunday

Business as usual could be back on Monday
Early Wednesday morning we predicted that the sides were too close for their not to be a NBA season. That whatever money the players were now holding out for would be lost within a few short weeks of no paychecks. Yesterday ESPN's Larry Coon (yes, unfortunately his real name) kindly broke down the numbers.
The players are holding out for an additional $120 million in 2011-12, but holding out costs them $82.4 million per week. They would lose everything they stand to gain this season in less than two weeks. On Monday the league is expected to announce the cancellation of the first two weeks of the season, which will cost the players $164.8 million.

Over a six year agreement, the players would burn through the $796 million in a little under 10 weeks. If they continue to hold out for 53 percent, and the owners hold firm at 50 percent, the players will reach the break-even point around December 16th. If the sides settle for 53 percent past that date, then the players would have been better off by taking the owners’ offer of 50 percent before games were cancelled.
Of course the owners are in the same boat and whatever couple percentage points they're holding out for will also be quickly lost with lost games and lost revenue. One could easily argue they've already lost a decent amount of revenue with fans pissed at them over this lockout and taking their viewing talents to the NFL. But as soon as the first regular season game is cancelled, that's when the fit will really hit the shan and NBA owners will have done permanent damage to it's brand.

So unless the owners and players are complete and utter idiots this should all be straightened out on Sunday and we'll be back to business as usual on Monday.