They are saying it's a win for the fans that they will get their Christmas day traditional blockbuster games and that all is well with the league in the NBA.
The question is, do they believe the fans will be happy and relieved the season is finally starting? Or will they be smarting from the lack of empathy from players and owners alike to the fans.
Will there be a backlash? I sure hope so, someone need to take a stand from the way the game has been brought into disrepute. When is enough, enough? Not only did it hurt fans it hurt thousands of employees across the country who rely on games being played to support their family income.
What about the stewards in the stands, the waiters in the local bars and restaurants who rely on traffic from before and after games? Will they receive compensation? Will the fans get discounts to games for the rest of the season; it's a disgrace to the members of the sport.
The degrading of the essence of the purity of the sport must have some ramifications for the league and players, the sport is driven by the fans, without season tickets, merchandise sales and TV rights that is driven up by fans watching there would be no income. Why is it that the drivers of the game suffer the most?
To proclaim that there would be Christmas cheer for the fans is nice, but perhaps the best Christmas cheer and satisfaction would come from a combined effort by the players, owners and league to sincerely apologise for bringing the game into disrepute.