Philadelphia 76ers coach Doug Collins still optimistic about the NBA Lockout
The NBA lockout is the cusp of engulfing the whole season. Games through 15th December have already been cancelled by the NBA commissioner and the way things are going, with the union decertification and anti-trust lawsuits
by the player, the chances of saving the next NBA season are fading by the day.
Under these circumstances, the entire 2011-2012 seasons is at jeopardy and there is no valid reason to be hopeful.
However, there is one man in NBA, who is still optimistic that a settlement between the NBA owners and players will be made soon does not buy to the concept that the whole season will go down to drain as a result of the ongoing
lockout.
That one man is Philadelphia 76ers veteran head coach Doug Collins.
Despite of all negative developments that have occurred in the last week, the 60-year-old coach strongly believes that there will be NBA basketball soon;
“I think somewhere along the line we are all going to understand the importance of playing. I think it is going to get done. Sometimes it seems like when things are at their toughest moments, cooler heads prevail. These are all
very intelligent people so I do think there is going to be NBA basketball.”
Collins is not just stating his optimism through words, in fact his actions speaks louder. With the lockout not showing any sign of subsiding, it’s an ideal time for Doug to make a 5,000 miles trip and celebrate the Thanksgiving
Day with his family. However his undying optimism is making him stay as he doesn’t want to be far when the lockout is lifted.
The owners and players still have 40 days left to resolve the labour dispute on the negotiation table and may be Collins is hopeful that both the parties will make a deal in that span. However, the chances of that happening are
very slim. The NBA owners have been very rigid in their stance throughout the negotiation phase and considering David Stern’s statements after the players union filed for decertification, they seem h**l bent to stick to their guns.
The players meanwhile believe that they have already made enough concession and it is now the owners turn to make a reasonable offer.
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