CHICAGO — NBA commissioner David Stern said both the league and the players’ association are motivated to come to terms on a new labor agreement and avoid the NFL’s “chaotic” labor situation.
“We continue to do everything humanly possible to come to an agreement,” Stern said Wednesday before presenting Chicago’s Derrick Rose with the league MVP award. “Litigation is not the perfect alternative to coming to an understanding.”
The NBA’s collective bargaining agreement expires June 30. Last week owners presented players with their latest proposal, but players association representatives said it’s not substantially different than an earlier proposal that they found unacceptable.
NFL owners locked out players when their labor deal expired in March. A judge later forced the league to open for business, but another court decision reversed that order.
“Both we and the union agree that it’s better to negotiate than litigate,” NBA deputy commissioner Adam Silver said.
As Rose goes
After Rose didn’t attempt a free throw in the Hawks’ 103-95 victory in Game 1, Hawks coach Larry Drew said he expected things to change in Game 2 on Wednesday night. “We have to anticipate that he is going to get to the free-throw line, and we have got to play through it [no matter] what the situation is,” Drew said before the game.
Security measures
The Hawks are encouraging spectators to arrive early for Games 3 and 4 at Philips Arena because all spectators will be screened via wand metal detectors in addition to the standard bag search. Game 3 is 7 p.m. Friday, and Game 4 is 8 p.m. Sunday. Doors will open 90 minutes before game time.
Etc.
Hawks forward Josh Smith appeared to be more mobile in Game 1. He sprained his right knee in February and looked to be slowed in the final weeks of the season and in the first round. “Each and every day it gets better, it gets a little stronger,” he said. ... Stern mentioned the Hawks while going down a list of positives for the league. “Finally Atlanta wins a playoff game and a series, and here they are,” he said. ... TNT said Game 1 of the series averaged an 8.0 household rating in metro Atlanta. The three regular-season Hawks games on TNT averaged a 2.6 rating, and Game 4 of the series against Orlando, the only game shown on TNT, averaged a 6.2 rating. ... The NBA announced that Game 5 of the Hawks-Bulls series will start at 8 p.m. Tuesday in Chicago.
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