After months of optimism surrounding a potential new collective bargaining agreement that would allow the NBA and the players union to avoid another work stoppage, the momentum has slowed a bit as a critical date approaches.Both sides have until 11:59 p.m. on Thursday to opt out of the current deal. If that were to happen, they would have until the end of June to negotiate a new contract. Neither the owners nor the players believe it will get to that point, with both sides seeking a deal to ensure the league keeps enjoying skyrocketing revenue and rising television ratings.Were working tirelessly, union president Chris Paul said this weekend.Many of the major parts of the deal have been addressed, including keeping the basketball-related income split the same as it is in the current agreement. There was a belief in early November that an accord could be struck by Thanksgiving, but the complex negotiations have carried on well into December.There remain a few issues for the sides to settle before a deal can be voted on, and the owners overseeing the leagues side of the negotiations planned to meet on Monday for a progress report. If the two sides do not agree to a deal by the deadline, they could implement an extension to give them extra time.While union vice president Carmelo Anthony told ESPN that he was skeptical that a deal would get done by Thursday, there remained a healthy amount of optimism from both sides of the negotiating table that a deal will eventually be reached.We still got a few days, union vice president LeBron James told reporters in Cleveland on Saturday. Obviously, our game right now is the best its ever been, from where it is right here domestically to all the way around the world, so hopefully both sides come to an agreement.---GRIZZLIES ROLLINGWhen Mike Conley was diagnosed with a back injury that was expected to keep him out at least six weeks, the consensus was that the Memphis Grizzlies would have a difficult time remaining in the Western Conference playoff picture. But Grit `n Grind has always been much more than just a catchy slogan for the Grizzlies, who have once again refused to give in when misfortune strikes.Memphis (17-8) has won six straight since Conley went down, climbing to fifth place in the West, just a half-game behind Houston and the Los Angeles Clippers. First-year coach David Fizdale has inserted little-known Troy Williams into the starting lineup for Conley, while veterans Tony Allen, Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph have all stepped up their games to pick up the slack.The Grizzlies are also missing free agent prize Chandler Parsons (knee) and veteran Vince Carter (hip), but they thumped the Golden State Warriors on Saturday by 29 points, the first time they won a game by more than five points during this streak.---THE WEEK AHEADA look at some games to watch this week:Memphis at Cleveland, Tuesday: The red-hot Grizzlies face the rolling Cavs in a home-and-home back-to-back starting at Quicken Loans Arena on Tuesday night.Minnesota at Chicago, Tuesday: Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau coaches in Chicago for the first time since he was fired by the Bulls in an acrimonious split two years ago.New York at Denver, Saturday: Its been six and half years since the trade, but its always worth watching when Carmelo Anthony returns to face the Nuggets.Oklahoma City at Portland, Tuesday: The human triple-double against Damian Lillard? Sign us up.---STAT LINE OF THE WEEKKlay Thompson, Golden State Warriors: 60 points, 21-33 FG, 8-14 3s, 29 minutes. The Splash Brother may be the most explosive player on Golden States star-studded roster, and proved it with an incredible scoring binge in just three quarters of work. Had coach Steve Kerr played him in the fourth quarter, Kobe Bryants 81 points were certainly in jeopardy.---This story has been corrected to show CBA deadline is Thursday. Vapormax 95 Pas Cher . But Bourque, who has missed three games with a lower-body injury, wont be in the lineup when the Habs travel to Buffalo to take on the Sabres on Wednesday. Vapormax 2019 Femme Pas Cher . Kuznetsov, who was selected by the Capitals in the first round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, has been playing for his hometown team Chelyabinsk Traktor of the KHL. http://www.vapormaxpaschersoldes.fr/vente-air-vapormax-flyknit/vapormax-flyknit-utility.html . "Four now," Carl Gunnarsson told the Leaf Report proudly following a 5-2 victory over New York on Tuesday night, the clubs fifth straight at home. Vapormax Flyknit 2 Femme Pas Cher . -- Jonathan Drouin gave Halifax the boost it needed to edge host Sherbrooke Phoenix 3-2 in a shootout in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. Destockage Nike Vapormax . Still, Brewers manager Ron Roenicke thought taking him out before the fifth inning was an unusual move. "Im looking up at the board and hes got two hits given up and one run, and Im taking him out after the fourth inning," Roenicke said. Smart three-year-old Flying Artie is being backed like the good thing of good things to land the cash in the Group 3 Blue Sapphire Stakes at Caulfield today.UBET installed the classy colt as the $2.40 race favourite on Monday, before punters stepped in and smashed him into his current quote, $1.70.Hes been hammered at every turn, said UBET spokesperson Nick Curry, adding relentless would be the best way to sum up the interest this horse.We havent seen him at the races in four months, but he has form aaround Star Turn, Extreme Choice, Capitalist and Yankee Rose and the plunge suggests hes come back in winning shape.ddddddddddddHes the best backed runner around the country with UBET today.Outside of the incredibly popular Mick Price runner, Kens Dream and Derryn have also been well found at $5.50 and $7.00 respectively.Odds for the entire Caulfield card can be found here. ' ' '