Anyone who was tempted to take the optimistic approach to the NBA lockout, well, you lost.
It’s done. The first two weeks of the NBA season, that is – all games through Nov. 14 – after the NBA gave it the axe following an interminable negotiating session on Monday in Manhattan that ended in the same manner as every other session: without a deal.
I’m going to skip the details on why for the moment, in part because that’s not important right now and because there’s always more that comes out later from those who are far closer to the negotiations than myself once they’ve had a chance to debrief their sources.
The main point here is there are five games gone from the Wizards schedule. Non-existent. Not there. Just check the website. You won’t see the following contests: Nov. 2 vs. New Jersey; Nov.4 vs. Orlando; Nov. 6 at Miami; Nov. 11 at Orlando; and Nov. 13 vs. Chicago.
In its cancellation announcement, the NBA said refunds plus interest are available to season-ticket holders for all preseason and regular season games that are cancelled.
“I just want to play the game I love and get back on the court,” Wizards forward Andray Blatche told me. “But I stand 100 percent behind the National Basketball Players Association.”
What’s next? As the schedule currently reads, the Wizards now begin the year at the Los Angeles Lakers on Nov. 15 in the first of a four-game road trip that also has them visit Sacramento, Golden State and Denver. A tough start. The first home game won’t be until at least Nov. 22, when Washington is scheduled to host Boston.
That assumes that it does start. Everyone involved with the NBA learned tonight that there are no guarantees.
