NBA players and owners met earlier this week to resume discussions and the now 148-day lockout. The two sides are demonstrating a renewed sense of urgency to get a deal done in time for Christmas day games, traditionally a big exhibition for the league. A new CBA cannot be negotiated until the union, which disbanded earlier in the month, is reformed. According to league commissioner, David Stern, the league needs about 3o days between a new CBA and when games can be played. The talks are now focused on settling lawsuits– the players’ antitrust lawsuit against the league, and the league’s pre-emptive suit to prove the lockout was legal– rather than a disagreements about the percentage of BRI each side should get.