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First round of NBA playoffs to be best-of-7
By CHRIS SHERIDAN, AP Basketball Writer
February 8, 2003

ATLANTA (AP) -- The first round of the NBA playoffs will switch from 
best-of-5 to best-of-7 this season under a tentative deal between the 
players' union and the league, The Associated Press learned Saturday.

The union and a handful of owners reached the agreement in talks during 
All-Star weekend. The sides also agreed to meet this summer to begin 
discussing an extension of the collective bargaining agreement that 
will expire after the 2003-04 or 2004-05 season.

The switch to a best-of-7 format was expected to be announced Saturday 
night at commissioner David Stern's annual All-Star news conference.

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  A source within the league with knowledge of the agreement, speaking 
on condition of anonymity, outlined the terms of the deal to the AP:

-- The playoff pool, to be divided among players on teams that qualify 
for the postseason, will rise by $750,000 to $8.75 million this season. 
It will go to $8.875 million in 2003-04 and $9 million in 2004-05. 

-- Veterans with at least four years of experience will not be required 
to report for the first three days of training camp next season, and 
the first five days of training camp in the two subsequent seasons. 

-- Teams will be prohibited from holding two-a-day practices after the 
10th day of training camp. 

Previous talks between the league and the union failed to produce an 
agreement on expanding the first round of the playoffs, which have been 
best-of-5 since 1984.

The change means that all four rounds of the NBA playoffs now will be 
best-of-7.

The agreement still must be approved by the 29 NBA owners, but that is 
considered a formality.

Owners also must decide by Dec. 15 whether to exercise an option in the 
collective bargaining agreement that would extend it through the 
2004-05 season.