"In a sign that a new collective bargaining agreement is taking shape--and of the league's desire to preserce a complete schedule if a deal is indeed struck

--the New York Time has learned that the league has reached out to its arean contacts in an effort to block off dates on the calendar that come after the 2011-12 regular season was previously scheduled to be over.

"League officials, anticipating a resolution, are quietly preparing for an 82-game season," writes Howard Beck. "The NBA has begun calling arenas across the league, asking them to keep dates open in late April, according to arena officials."

The sides broke talks around 10pm EDT on Thursday and will meet again Friday morning. Both the league and union gave the media cautiously optimistic assesments that indicated an agreement was within their grasp."

Via New York Times

Read more: http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/216216/NBA_Exploring_Plans_To_Extend_Season_Through_Late_April