It can be difficult to get an accurate read on the state of collective bargaining between the NBA and players union, particularly if one pays attention to the post-meeting rhetoric coming from both sides.  

After seven hours of negotiation on Monday, David Stern said the sides remain "very, very apart on all issues" as he cancelled two weeks of regular season games.  

Yet during an interview on WFAN on Wednesday, Billy Hunter indicated that an agreement between the owners and players had been nearing completion.

"We thought we could live with the deal we were close to making," Hunter said.