NBA Releases 2011-12 Schedules That Will Never Happen

When the NBA released the schedules for the 2011-12 season earlier this week my immediate reaction was, "Huh?"

Pretty deep thought, I know.

Some fans have chosen to look at this in a positive light: The league is just going on like it's business as usual just in case they resolve the CBA issues and the season starts on time.

The only problem is THAT THIS ISN'T BUSINESS AS USUAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (I like to use all caps and exclamation points for emphasis)

When was the last trade that happened? What about a free agent? How's summer league going?

The people who were excited for the schedule release are probably the same people who thought it was a good sign that the NBA decided to put the players back on the website after expunging them to signal the start of the lockout at midnight on July 1.

And that would be a good sign if it weren't an even worse sign that the league pretended like they didn't have any players in the first place.

The release of the schedules is nothing more than an attack on the fans. They're saying "Look, see...there's going to be a season. Buy your season ticket packages now!" The audacity of it is incredible.

I feel like Charlie Brown with the NBA playing the role of Lucy and the schedule as the football. I could go running at it but we all know that Lucy pulls the ball away at the last second every time. So I'm not running. Unfortunately some of you aren't smart enough and will be lying flat on your back come November.

I could really care less who the league has picked to start the season on November 1, or who they're pretending is going to play on Christmas day.

What? The Cleveland Cavaliers are hosting the Miami Heat on November 18 on ESPN!?

Not going to happen.

And you want to know why? Because the league is spending its time coming up with a fictitious schedule instead of trying to resolve the labor dispute. There have been no negotiations since the lockout started.

There is a meeting that is going to take place this Friday. Which would be encouraging except that according to ESPN "the meeting won't include commissioner David Stern, union executive director Billy Hunter, or players or owners." Evidently it's just going to be ball boys and cheerleaders.

The next actual meeting isn't going to happen until some time in August. What are they doing with their month off?

There has been no new news about the lockout since it started...which is probably because nothing is happening!

If they really wanted to release a fake schedule they at least could have had some fun with it. Thrown in a couple Harlem Globetrotters games, or maybe a matchup featuring the Lakers against Manchester United.

Grantland.com's Bill Simmons tweeted Thursday, "They should have had the Celtics play Hickory High & the Pittsburgh Pisces."

Wouldn't that have been a lot more fun?

I know it seems like I'm being very pessimistic about the lockout. Well, it's probably because I am very pessimistic about it.

There just doesn't seem to be any urgency or real effort on either side. And if you believe what the pundits are saying about how far apart both sides are then they should be getting together trying to work it out!

I love the NBA and I'm going to be pissed if a bunch of whiny selfish millionaires steal the game from the people who pay for it.

Dear Mr. Stern and Mr. Hunter,

Stop giving us fake schedules and get a deal done! All we want is basketball. Is that so much to ask for?

You can follow me on Twitter @ClevelandFlack