News About NBA Playoffs 2011

What once might have become a valuable collectible was now collected by everybody. Demand and prices inevitably fell, and we were all left wondering what was the point. Used to be kids collected trading cards to have NBA images, images of their heroes. In a way the collectible culture had washed away much of the fun in having a pocket sized MLB photo in a fog of value speculation. It was not the youthful enjoyment of sports motivating any more it was the monetary pull of big business sports and everyone was going to enjoy a piece of it. I began buying glossies of my favorite athletes. A great baseball image that could simply be framed and hung above my bar had a lot more value to me than a pile of trading cards filed away in an attic.

They combine great baseball and NBA images with eye popping graphics that are really great for around the house, especially in the kid's rooms. I was immediately immersed in the close up action of these shots which give the illusion of moving when you move. These are "collector's items" in a sense of course and I value them very much. But with these there is no distracting monetary prospecting. There is just sports and my sense of being a fan of them. When done right, suicides can help with explosiveness, foot work, endurance, and speed. To start, line up on the baseline, and explode towards the free throw line. As you approach, chop your feet to prepare for the turn, then explode back the opposite direction. Continue this by going to the half court line, then the opposite free throw line, and finally the opposite baseline. Recover for at least 90 seconds, then line back up and do it again!

The leader will begin by shuffling in a direction, and the follower must mirror the motion as fast as possible. The objective is to remain directly in front of your partner the entire time by shuffling just as fast and changing direction just as fast. From my experience, the players that take initiative and work to improve their game outside of practice generally get much more playing time, and also see dramatic changes in athleticism. Magic Johnson made an even bigger name for himself when playing in his first NBA Finals in 1980, the conclusion of his first season in the professional league, and leading his team to victory after having to play every position on the court during game six after an injury that took star player Kareem Abdul Jabbar out of the game, scoring 42 points contributing to his teams win during his first championship.

The Origin of Basketball

When I was in high school though, my vertical was terrible. It was around the mid 20s and it was a huge detriment to my game especially as I was already small at 5'8! After being overlooked by my coach, again, for the state school tournament, I decided I would not just go and watch everyone else play; I would dedicate myself to increasing my vertical and prove my coach wrong about dropping me.Seriously, that was quite a monatomic summer, but in the end it was worth it! I learned so much from what I saw and what they told me and I want to tell you a few tips here.

In a good basketball jump training routine, it is crucial to develop as many fast twitch muscle fibres as possible. This gives you increased jumping potential as you have more explosive power in your legs. To do this, you'll want to perform leg exercises such as squats and dead lifts, with low reps and heavy weight.If you are mainly using your legs to jump higher then it makes sense to build up and strengthen the muscles in your legs, in particular your fast twitch muscle fibres which gives you more explosion. To do this, you need to lift heavy weight and perform high intense workouts.You should perform plyometric exercises a few times a week on the days you are not strength training. Remember that repetition is a great way to increase you vertical because your muscle builds up memory thus moves more efficiently and easily.

He would subsequently move on to YMCA Training School in Springfield, Massachusetts and in 1891, the game of basketball began.
Given the cold Massachusetts winters, Naismith needed to find a recreational activity that could be played indoors and he preferred a sport that would develop skill and one that was not exclusively relying on strength. The first game was played with two peach baskets for goals and a soccer ball.Naismith was able to see his beloved sport of basketball, gain acceptance in numerous countries through the YMCA since 1893. As well, the sport of basketball was brought forth at the Berlin Olympics in 1936. As we speak, the game of basketball has become a very popular professional sport.

Basketball moves

Dribbling just refers to when an individual is moving while bouncing the ball constantly at the same time. The wraparound is another basketball move in which the person with the ball (ball handler) is bouncing the ball with one hand and dribbles it behind his/her back to switch it to his/her other hand. This move is mostly used when an opponent (defender) moves in to take the ball from the ball handler.
Another basketball move is the spin move in which the ball handler rotates his/her body to stand between the defender and the ball instead of facing the defender. This move can be done while the ball handler is dribbling or while playing in a post position. However, the sudden turn can leave the ball handler a little confused but if done correctly it can successfully throw off the defender.
A crossover dribble is a move in which the ball handler changes the pace at which he/she dribbles the ball to puzzle the defender. If the defender is traveling in one direction and the ball handler does a crossover, it is hard for the defender to change directions so swiftly and in some situations the defender might even fall down which is called an ankle breaker.
Another move is the behind the back dribble where the ball handler bounces the ball behind his/her back and changes it to the other hand. This move is different from the wraparound as the ball is not intended to go around the body as it is in the wraparound move. This move is most handy if your teammate is unavailable, to move closer to the hoop with minimum space between yourself and the defender, or to outrun the defender.
In a 2 person basketball game there are some moves that are used which are not frequently used in a game between 2 full teams as there is more space to run around and fewer defenders to think about. One of these is a give and go move where the ball handler passes the ball to his/her teammate and immediately goes to an open area to get the ball. This move is usually used to take the ball closer to the hoop while being able to move quickly to another position.
One more 2 player move is a back door play in which a player gets behind the defense, receives the ball and gets an easy score. This move is often pulled off when the defenders are focused on the ball handler and are not paying attention to the other player or the open space behind them.

Selecting The Right Basketball Shoes

With so many brands and styles, how do you go about choosing a pair of basketball shoes? Many elements come into play, such as the kind of feet you have, your style of play and your budget for shoes. Aside from this, it's always good to pick a pair of shoes that you like the looks of. The following are some of the most important things to keep in mind when you shop for basketball shoes.
It's good to start off with an idea of how much you want to spend, as basketball shoes vary quite a bit in price. Keep in mind that basketball shoes, even the best ones, have to be replaced regularly if you play all the time. For this reason, if you don't have a large budget, you should probably be looking at reasonably priced ones. The most expensive basketball shoes are around two hundred dollars, but you can still get a well made pair for fifty. You really don't want to buy a pair of bargain sneakers for ten dollars to play basketball in. The game is simply too grueling for low end shoes. If you do some shopping, however, you don't have to spend a fortune either, as well made shoes can be found on sale.
It almost goes without saying that comfort is a major factor when it comes to basketball shoes, but it's worth stressing because it really is that important. Be sure that you are selecting the perfect shoe size, which may not be universal across all brands. For example, if you wear a 12 in one brand, you may wear an inch more or less with another brand.
You may want to try on a 10 1/2 or 11 1/2 as well, if the size 11 feels a little too loose or tight. The feet will get slightly bigger when they get overheated, so you need to ensure that your feet can move around in there.
If you're going to invest in a pair of quality basketball sneakers, you should do everything you can to take good care of them. The best way to prolong their life is to only wear them when you play basketball. Basketball is hard enough on your shoes, so you should not wear them out faster by using them for other purposes. When you're not wearing them, your shoes should be kept in a dry spot that's well ventilated. Locations that tend to be damp, such as basements, are not ideal places to keep shoes. You'll be able to preserve your basketball shoes longer if you think of them as part of your playing gear rather than as just another pair of shoes to run around in.
In closing, basketball shoes can help you remain light on your feet and you can do it for a longer period of time. Basketball shoes that are poorly made, that don't fit, or that are worn in can leave you open to getting hurt badly. You should now understand how important the right shoe is to the game of basketball, and also how to go about finding one. The ideal shoe is going to feel good and it's going to let you move how you want in order to play the game at your best.

Rumors Drown Truth on N.B.A.’s Proposal

Hours after the N.B.A. delivered its final collective bargaining proposal to the players union, the rumors and the rhetoric began to flow.

The deal would let teams send players to the development league and cut their pay.

Teams that used certain salary cap exceptions would lose the right to re-sign their own players.

These and other concerns filled Twitter timelines on Friday, a day after labor talks concluded. They turned out to be unfounded, speculative or simply false.

The D-League is not mentioned anywhere in the seven-page proposal that was delivered to the union on Friday — a copy of which was obtained by The New York Times.

Nor are there any measures that could curtail “Bird” rights. While some provisions might crimp the N.B.A.’s middle class, others could boost it.

In the absence of official documentation — neither the league nor the union released the proposal publicly — the rumors have prevailed. “The revised proposal is worse than the last offer,” Nazr Mohammed, a 13-year veteran, wrote Saturday on Twitter.

That sentiment was echoed by several agents and players. But a review of the N.B.A.’s previous proposal and the revised offer does not support the claim. In many areas, the league improved its offer, albeit modestly.

For instance, the league is now proposing a higher midlevel exception for luxury-tax-paying teams — $3 million for three seasons, and available every year. The league had been proposing a $2.5 million exception for two seasons, and available every other year.

The league also increased the annual raises for “Bird” players. And, at the union’s suggestion, the N.B.A. agreed that the 10-year labor deal could be terminated by either side after the sixth year, instead of the seventh.

Two provisions could conceivably hurt players in the middle of the league’s salary structure. The league wants to ban luxury-tax-paying teams from using the full midlevel exception ($5 million) and from making sign-and-trade deals. To partly compensate, the league last week created a new exception, worth $2.5 million, for up to two seasons, for teams that are just below the cap. In the past, teams with cap room were not permitted to use any exceptions, even after they surpassed the cap in a given off-season.

The league also proposed raising the minimum team salary to 90 percent of the salary cap by the 2013-14 season, which should increase spending by the more frugal franchises.

One of the N.B.A.’s new demands does leap out: a call for a 12 percent reduction in rookie and minimum-scale contracts, cutting them to 2007-8 levels.

That provision was not listed in the prior proposal, which was sent to the union Nov. 6.

The ban on luxury-tax-paying teams using midlevel exceptions and sign-and-trade deals — a major concern to agents — may have a minimal effect. Since 2005, only four players have been acquired by luxury-tax-paying teams through sign-and-trade deals. Taxpaying teams used the full midlevel exception only nine times in that period.

Moreover, because the N.B.A. guarantees the players a set percentage of revenues — 50 percent, about $2 billion a year — any shortfall in total salaries has to be made up to the players.

The speculation about teams losing “Bird” rights seems to be based on a misreading of one particular provision governing teams that move into the luxury tax. The simple explanation is that if a team is going to cross the tax threshold using multiple exceptions, it has to sign its “Bird” player first.

As for the D-League, the N.B.A. does want to grant teams the right to send any player with up to five years experience to its minor league. However, that provision is not contained in the proposal that is now up for union approval. Rather, it is one of 30 to 40 secondary items that have yet to be negotiated. Those items are typically discussed after the main framework of a deal is approved.

By any measure, the proposed deal would be a major win for the owners. The players are being asked to take a $280 million pay cut, with shorter contracts, lower raises and tighter restrictions on the top-spending teams. But league officials insist that the deal is not nearly as bad as the rumor mill suggests.

“It’s of grave concern to the league that there is an enormous amount of misinformation concerning our proposal, both on Twitter and in the more traditional media,” Adam Silver, the deputy commissioner, said Saturday night. “We believe that if the players are fully informed as to what is and is not in our proposal, they will agree that its terms are beneficial to them and represent a fair compromise.”

Ed Macauley, Basketball Hall of Famer, Dies at 83

Erectile dysfunction Macauley had been voted the actual nationwide university golf ball participant from the 12 months within 1949 and also the best participant within the D. W. The. ’s very first All-Star Online game within 1951. The actual second-highest-paid participant within the D. W. The. within the earlier 1950s, he or she created the actual all-star group within 7 associated with their 10 professional months.

However possibly he or she created their finest effect on golf ball background when you are exchanged through the Birkenstock boston Boston celtics within 1956 in the elevation associated with their forces for any guy that hadn't however performed just one online game within the D. W. The.: Expenses Russell.


Russell continued in order to revolutionize the overall game as you associated with it's the majority of dominating facilities as well as guide the actual Boston celtics in order to 11 category titles. However Macauley’s brand new group, the actual Street. Louis Hawks, additionally obtained it's money’s really worth: the actual Hawks dropped towards the Boston celtics within the finals the following 12 months, after that received everything inside a rematch within 1958.

Macauley, that passed away upon Wednesday from 83 inside a Street. Louis pension house, had been the slim 6-foot-8-inch middle as well as ahead recognized with regard to their connect chance as well as deft moving. Within the last online game from the ’58 tournament, he or she obtained just two factors however jokingly required credit score for that triumph, directed away how the border had been 1 stage. (The actual Hawks, that received within 6 video games, had been assisted through the truth that Russell experienced the sprained ankle joint which held him or her from 2 video games. )#)

Macauley’s laid-back method had been frequently thought to become the main reason he or she obtained the actual nickname Simple Erectile dysfunction. The actual title really stemmed through their sophomore 12 months from St . Louis College, exactly where he or she had been the celebrity upon it's golf ball group. Hired chief for any online game, he or she brought the actual group in the cellar locker space.


“But no one adopted me personally after i went lower the actual courtroom as well as created the layup, ” he or she stated within 2003. “Then We noticed individuals yell, ‘Take this simple, Erectile dysfunction. ’ We didn’t recognize this, however they had been actively playing the actual nationwide anthem. ”

Macauley continued to train the actual Hawks through 1958 in order to 1960, producing the 89-48 report, whilst additionally helping since the club’s vice leader. Within 1960, from grow older thirty-two, he or she had been inducted to the Golf ball Corridor associated with Popularity, as well as he or she nevertheless retains the actual report for that most youthful participant to become accepted.

Recently Macauley experienced Alzheimer’s illness, their boy Frank stated. Their spouse, the actual previous Jacqueline Combs, passed away within Might.

Along with their boy Frank, Macauley is actually made it through their kids, Jane Ann Shortal, Perry Williams as well as Meg Fruit; an additional boy, Paul; as well as seventeen grandchildren.

Ed Charles Macauley was created within Street. Louis upon 03 twenty two, 1928. Inside fourteen days, he or she had been too large with regard to their bassinet. Their mom organized with regard to him or her in order to by pass 3rd quality to help ease the actual self-consciousness regarding their elevation. He or she didn't perform golf ball like a senior high school freshman due to a turmoil having a inputting course he or she required. However like a older he or she had been employed through Kentucky, Birkenstock boston University yet others, selecting Street. Louis.

Within university he or she instantly came nationwide interest. “At nineteen, he or she appears like a good overgrown church young man, ” Period journal stated.

Within 1948, Street. Louis conquered Ny College in order to earn the actual Nationwide Invitational Event, after that regarded as the actual nationwide tournament. The brand new You are able to Publish documented which “the most detrimental blizzard from the season” strike D. B. Ough. as “a 6-8 stringbean called Erectile dysfunction Macauley. ” He or she obtained twenty-four factors inside a 41-24 triumph.

Macauley had been drawn up through the battling Street. Louis Bombers, that experienced remained running a business simply for the opportunity associated with obtaining him or her, Existence journal documented. He'd a great first year 12 months, however the Bombers collapsed anyhow. The brand new You are able to Knicks attempted to purchase the actual Bomber business with regard to $50, 000 to obtain him or her, however the D. W. The. vetoed the offer. Macauley wound up likely to Birkenstock boston inside a unique write. He or she, Frank Cousy as well as Expenses Sharman offered existence towards the battling business.

Within 1956 the actual Hawks searched for to make use of their own Absolutely no. 1 write option, Russell, in the College associated with Bay area, inside a industry with regard to Macauley as well as High cliff Hagan, who was simply within the army as well as continued to become a Corridor associated with Famer. The actual Boston celtics proprietor Walt Dark brown balked in the beginning. However Macauley informed him or her he'd really encouraged the opportunity to go back to their indigenous Street. Louis in order to take care of the handicapped boy.

Dark brown authored Macauley, stating: “What what this means is for that Birkenstock boston Boston celtics, Lord just understands. You've noticed me personally state often which so long as I've Erectile dysfunction Macauley, I've the ballclub. Nicely, right now We don’t possess Erectile dysfunction Macauley. This is actually the toughest notice We actually attempted to create. ”

Macauley performed 3 months within Street. Louis. Their profession typical had been seventeen. 5 factors within 641 regular-season video games as well as 13. 8 within playoff video games.

Their slim construct didn't reduce their protective expertise. Within successful the actual Michael. Sixth is v. G. trophy within the all-star online game, he or she kept the actual 7-foot celebrity George Mikan from the Minneapolis Lakers in order to 4-for-17 capturing. Mikan’s $20, 000 income had been alone which surpassed Macauley’s $17, 500.

Macauley grew to become the tv commentator as well as overseer within Street. Louis, as well as dedicated themself in order to leads to such as guidance criminals as well as battling abortion. He or she grew to become the deacon within the Roman Catholic Chapel, as well as authored the guide how to provide a great sermon. Their guidance: “Preach because Christ preached. ”.

The Hardening of Easy Dave

David Stern was not always fully sold on going the distance as the entrepreneurial shepherd of professional basketball, as the commissioner of the N.B.A.

In the ascendant days of Magic, Larry and Michael — not coincidently the prime of Stern’s career — the telephone would ring a couple of times each year and someone would pose a question that began: Would you consider? But the feelers, while flattering, were never too tempting. Stern, the son of a New York delicatessen owner, could not pull himself away from a sport that felt all-encompassing, increasingly consuming.

To explain its hold on him, Stern in a recent interview recalled the title of a book that his predecessor, Larry O’Brien, had written about his time as a strategist for the Democratic Party: “No Final Victories.” For Stern, who originally aspired to a long career in law and had a keen interest in politics, basketball became the best of all competitive, and occasionally cutthroat, worlds.

“The beauty of the business is that there has always been something else to do, and there will be when I’m no longer commissioner,” he said. “I’m comfortable with the notion that the time will come to step away. But there are a few more things to be done before that.”

The first of which is to somehow keep his career-defining sculpture from being scarred beyond recognition.

The league’s second in-season lockout in 13 years has created a chasm between management and labor and produced resentments within the warring sides themselves. Given the chaotic nature of the negotiations, Stern’s ultimatum to the players to accept management’s current offer by late Wednesday afternoon or face a more punitive deal carries a real risk. His move could save the season, or set loose the forces of chaos that will wreck it.

In effect, the outcome of the lockout could actually represent Stern’s final victory — at least as some owners will see it. Or in the event of a lost season, his most devastating defeat — and who knows what after that.

Either way, at 69, a time in life more conducive to embarking on a path to patriarchal disengagement, Stern has become more publicly embroiled and embattled than ever. One can almost imagine him on the roof of the league’s Fifth Avenue headquarters, commissioner-turned-Kong, swatting at attackers from all sides — including his back.

Is Stern a menace to the players? Is he misunderstood? Is the problem more with the new environment he inhabits?

“Ownership has changed, the players have changed, the media has changed — the whole landscape has changed,” said Jerry Colangelo, the former Phoenix Suns owner and a longtime Stern ally. “And in the past five to seven years, I’ve also seen some changes in David. He is a survivor and a competitor, but put it this way: some of the stuff has worn on him.”

However hardened and hardheaded, Stern’s pain over having the N.B.A. shut down in the wake of its most compelling season in years has been obvious to those who have known him a long time. They are not fooled by the combative persona, the lawyer prosecuting his case in pursuit of a more balanced and profitable league.

N.B.A. Owners Give Players 4 Days to Accept Final Offerance

A perilous four-month standoff between N.B.A. players and owners has been reduced to a four-day window, with an ultimatum that might destroy the 2011-12 season.

Negotiations on a new labor deal failed again Saturday night, this time with specific consequences: The players have until Wednesday afternoon to accept the league’s final offer, or be dealt a significantly worse alternative.

They are almost certain to reject both proposals, throwing the league into turmoil.

“Right now, we’ve been given the ultimatum,” the president of the players union, Derek Fisher, said in a news conference early Sunday morning. “And our answer is: that’s not acceptable to us.”

The next move made by the players might be the one they have dutifully avoided since the lockout began — dissolving their union. A powerful group of agents and players are clamoring for such an action, which would shift the battle to the courts and perhaps buy them the leverage they need. But it could take months to execute, leaving little hope for salvaging the season.

The league’s fate should be clearer by the close of business Wednesday. That was the deadline given to the union by Commissioner David Stern to accept the owners’ offer: effectively, a 50-50 split of revenues and a package of harsh restrictions on team spending and free agency.

If the union balks, Stern said, the owners will withdraw it and instead offer the players a 47 percent share, combined with a so-called “flex-cap” system that, in practice, imposes a hard cap on payrolls.

“We hope that this juxtaposition will cause the union to assess its position and accept the deal,” Stern said.

Union leaders seem unlikely to reconsider. “But hope springs eternal,” Stern said, “and we would love to see the union accept the proposal that is now on the table.”

This latest negotiating session, the 21st of the lockout, lasted for eight and a half hours, ending around 1:30 a.m. Sunday. Under the guidance of George Cohen, a federal mediator, the parties actually narrowed the gap on some crucial items before the talks collapsed.

The players — who had vowed not to accept less than 52.5 percent of league revenues — proposed a 51 percent share, with 1 percent devoted to aid retired players. That moved them within 1 percent of the league’s longstanding proposal.

On Saturday, the owners proposed a “band” that would pay the players 49 to 51 percent, depending on revenue growth. But the union said it amounted to a 50 percent offer, because the threshold for growth was so high that the share would never get to 51. Jeff Kessler, the union’s outside counsel and chief negotiator, called the 49 to 51 band “a fraud.”

Yet it was ultimately the mechanics of a new system, not the revenue split, that killed the talks.

The league’s standing proposal would eliminate spending options for teams that pay the luxury tax, by banning them from sign-and-trade deals and the use of the midlevel exception. At Cohen’s suggestion, the league proposed a “mini-midlevel” that would start at $2.5 million — half the value of the full midlevel — and would be limited to two-year deals.

The N.B.A.’s proposal also called for an additional penalty — a so-called “repeater tax” — on teams that exceed the tax threshold three times in a five-year span. The union is open to the concept, but not at the steep rates proposed by the league.

The net effect of the N.B.A.’s proposal, the union said, would be to eliminate the highest-spending teams from acquiring top talent — thus devastating the free-agent market.

Union officials have been willing to compromise on the revenue split pending some degree of compromise from owners in other areas.

“The big story here is they want it all,” Kessler said, growing more agitated with every sentence.

He said the repeater-tax provision, as proposed, would amount to a hard salary cap, something the union has opposed for decades.

High-Tension N.B.A. Talks Resume, but They’re Between Union Officials

The union’s executive board is holding its first in-person meeting since labor talks collapsed last Friday, and its first since reports of a rift in leadership began circulating.

If there are political or philosophical gaps between Derek Fisher, the union’s elected president, and Billy Hunter, its longtime executive director, they will try to close them, in full view of the union’s staff members and the eight other players on the board.

From there, union leaders hope to turn their focus back to their collective bargaining strategy, and toward re-engaging the N.B.A. at the bargaining table. There is hope that talks could resume Friday or Saturday.

But first, the union must address an internecine battle that for five days has overshadowed the lockout itself and threatened to derail the bargaining process. Fisher and Hunter are said to be at odds, and one published report said Fisher was trying to cut a secret deal with the N.B.A.

Fisher and Hunter have spent the week issuing statements and letters affirming their unity, while trying to calm a 430-person constituency that is antsy over the imminent loss of paychecks.

The damage-control efforts have supplanted any attempt to break the 125-day stalemate with the league, which has already canceled a month of games. That is why players, agents and even N.B.A. officials are eager to see what message emerges from the union Thursday.

“I think there will be a lot of clarity coming out of the meeting on Thursday,” said one person aligned with the players, who has communicated with both league and union officials this week. The first agenda item, the person said, is “to hash out the Derek Fisher situation.”

Two people with ties to the union said the issue was mostly resolved in a Tuesday conference call involving Fisher, Hunter and the board. But one person said it was important for everyone to speak face to face before the matter is put behind them.

The controversy began Saturday, when FoxSports.com, citing an anonymous source, reported that Fisher was trying to broker a deal with Commissioner David Stern without the union’s knowledge. According to the report, Fisher “promised” the union would agree to the N.B.A.’s proposed 50-50 split of revenues. Hunter has vowed not to accept less than 52.5 percent, a stance that contributed to the breakdown in talks last week.

Fisher reaffirmed his loyalty to the union in a letter to players. He also issued a statement decrying the FoxSports.com article — which accused him of making deals for personal gain — as “disgusting, defamatory and a flat-out lie.” Hunter restated his support for Fisher in a letter to players.

Although a fractured union might seem advantageous to the N.B.A., league officials privately are alarmed; there is little hope for a labor deal if union leaders have conflicting agendas.

Until now, the relationship between Hunter and Fisher has generally been solid, according to people who have worked with them. But there are some tensions.

According to a person with ties to both men, Fisher believes that a 50-50 deal should at least be considered, if it would salvage more of the season. Hunter is more adamant about holding firm, believing the long-term gain justifies the short-term losses.

In general, Fisher has assumed a far more hands-on role than the typical player-president — issuing memos, scheduling meetings and becoming the union’s primary face and voice during the lockout. Hunter, who does not relish the role of spokesman, has welcomed and even encouraged Fisher to take the lead at news conferences.

But Hunter has sometimes bristled at Fisher’s assertiveness in setting the agenda — sometimes without Hunter’s input — according to people who have worked with them.

“It just created a little sore spot,” one person said.

The picture is also muddled at the bargaining table, where Jeffrey Kessler, the union’s outside counsel, serves as the lead negotiator. According to people involved in the talks, Kessler does 80 percent of the speaking, while Hunter, who has a reputation for not being detail-oriented, takes a secondary role.

One person involved on the N.B.A.’s side said the negotiations had been difficult, in part, because it was unclear who was in charge of the union.

The intensity, stress and protracted nature of the labor talks have inflamed nerves and heightened everyone’s concern about the outcome. The union has already made huge concessions, and no one wants to be blamed for a bad deal.

The stakes are higher for Hunter, who earns $2.5 million a year as executive director, than for Fisher, whose role is temporary. This is also probably Hunter’s last labor deal; he turns 69 on Saturday.

While union leaders try to repair the cracks, antsy players are sending out warning flares on Twitter.

“Take the 51% man and let’s play,” Glen Davis, the Boston Celtics forward, wrote Wednesday.

Cleveland’s Samardo Samuels wrote last Friday that a 50-50 deal would be fine. “It’s church money away,” Samuels wrote.

Impatience is the most prominent theme, however. As Terrence Williams, a Houston Rockets guard, wrote on Wednesday, “Hey @TheNBPA Let’s play BALL enough with the stare off.”

Union President Fisher Assures N.B.A.’s Players That He Will Stay the Course

In the face of collapsed negotiations, canceled games and unsourced reports of fractures in his union, Derek Fisher moved to reassure N.B.A. players on Monday with a letter that reaffirmed his loyalty to them and his commitment to “the best deal possible.”

The letter was a response to a report by FoxSports.com, published Saturday, that alleged that Fisher, the union’s president, had attempted to cut a deal with Commissioner David Stern without the support of other union leaders. The report cited an anonymous source.

In his letter — a copy of which was obtained by The New York Times — Fisher labeled the report false and absurd.

“But before these reports go any further, let me say on the record to each of you, my loyalty has and always will be with the players,” Fisher wrote. “Anyone that questions that or doubts that does not know me, my history, and what I stand for.”

He added, “How dare anyone call that into question.”

According to the FoxSports.com story, Fisher told Stern he could get the players to approve a 50-50 split of league revenue, as proposed by the league. The union has been seeking 52.5 percent, and the executive director Billy Hunter has insisted that it will not go lower. According to the report, Hunter and an unnamed player from the union’s executive committee confronted Fisher on Friday morning and persuaded him to hold firm at that figure.

Talks collapsed that afternoon, with the N.B.A. and the union still 2.5 percentage points apart. The league canceled two more weeks of games, wiping out the rest of the November.

Fisher addressed the report directly, saying: “There have been no side agreements, no side negotiations or anything close. We are united in serving you and presenting the best options and getting everyone back to work.”

He added, “The attempt by ‘sources’ to divide us will be unsuccessful.”

For his part, Hunter denied any rift with Fisher, telling SportsBusiness Journal, “My relationship with Derek is very good. There was no confrontation."

The season was supposed to start Tuesday night. No new bargaining sessions have been scheduled. However, the parties are discussing the possibility of bringing back George Cohen, a federal mediator who worked with them in mid-October, according to people briefed on the matter.