Lunchbox Links

by RaptorsHQ - Defensive Stance on Apr 27, 2011 12:00 PM EDT in Daily Links

Check out the list of early entrants to the 2011 NBA draft.

Sports Illustrated put together a hilarious seperated at birth feature involving NBA playoff participants.

Former Raptor Quincy Douby is killing it in China. (via SLAM)

Bill Simmons breaking down the NBA's small-market woes with a little help from the Maloofs.

The NBA players union has enough votes to decertify.

The Toronto Star's Doug Smith had a hand in naming Ron Artest winner of the NBA's 2010-11 Citizenship Award.

David Hill of Negative Dunkalectics profiles professional gambler and advanced stats guru Haralabos Voulgaris.

TrueHoop introduces the LeBron shoulder.

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So ESPN and Other Source Are Confiming

that Judge Nelson’s ruling may (will) impact the ongoing NBA contract negotiations especially since the NBA Players Associations now has enough votes for decertification.

How about that.

The NFL of course will appeal to the Circuit Court.

You can bet that the NBA front office, owners and players are watching this very closely to see where it goes.

by Buddahfan on Apr 27, 2011 1:17 PM EDT reply actions

i am still not sure that the ruling has to apply to the NBA as well as their financial picture is very different than the NFL’s. Of course I am no legal expert but I think the NBA can argue things very differently than the NFL can.

by McGateway on Apr 27, 2011 1:23 PM EDT up reply actions

It’s more a factor of US anti-trust law than the financial solvency of the respective leagues. Put very simply, the argument goes as follows (as I understand it at least): if the league locks out the players, and the union decertifies, the league by virtue of its monopoly is preventing NBA players (now freelance labour for all intents and purposes) from plying their trade and their ability to earn a living. Which, the players will argue is an unfair labour/business practice. By the league decertifying, it ceases to be a labour dispute and becomes an unfair labour/business practice.

by MAS11 on Apr 27, 2011 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions

It sounds like the monopoly aspect is the key to the player’s argument. There is nothing stopping the players or some other group of owners from setting up their own league (other than the fact the players would probably make a lot less money and would be exposed to more financial risk).

Anyway, I know nothing about the case, but if this is something that expedites the path towards a new CBA then great.

by DW19 on Apr 27, 2011 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions

I think the problem with this argument though falls on the fact that the NBA is not the only place the players can play. For example, they can go overseas to play during a lockout while the NFL players have no where else they can play.

by McGateway on Apr 27, 2011 2:13 PM EDT up reply actions

What? They can't play for the Lingerie Football League? LOL

http://www.torontosun.com/2011/04/26/introducing-torontos-lingerie-football-club

by MAS11 on Apr 27, 2011 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Here, here DW19. Anything to prevent a prolonged lockout is good news in my books

by MAS11 on Apr 27, 2011 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Don't Kid Yourself

The NFL Players Association may be decertified but make no mistake about the fact that it still exists for all practical purposes.

No doubt that the attorneys in the lawsuit have strong ties to the NFL players union. For practical purposes the union is no more decertified then they were one week ago,

So what happens now if the case is not resolved in time for the NFL 2011-2012 season?

Yes those that had contracts when the CBA ended could theoretically play in 2011-12. However, what about free agents and the rookies? They have no contract. They have no union. They have no insurance.

It seems to me that this is still a sticky mess with a lot of things yet to resolved before we see a 2011-12 NFL season.

by Buddahfan on Apr 27, 2011 4:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Player collusion?

If the player’s union de-certifies but continues to act as a de-facto union is that some form of “reverse collusion” or just plain old regular collusion?

by DW19 on Apr 27, 2011 5:29 PM EDT up reply actions

I think the main issue is that the Owners could still shut the league down bu they would have to pay the players not to play as opposed to making them sweat it out for awhile without money.

by McGateway on Apr 27, 2011 8:18 PM EDT up reply actions