'Within Striking Distance' -- NBA Labor Talks Resume Friday

(NEW YORK CITY) -- Both the NBA and its players association emerged from Thursday's negotiations very optimistic that a labor deal could be reached in the near future.

"I think we're within striking distance of getting a deal," said Billy Hunter, executive director of the NBA. "Its just a question of how receptive the NBA is and whether they want to do a deal."

NBA commissioner David Stern was a little more cautious in his optimism. "There are no guarantees that we'll get it done, but we're gonna give it one heck of a shot tomorrow," he said on Thursday.

The two groups will reconvene on Friday at 10:30 a.m. They met for seven-and-a-half hours on Thursday after a marathon 15-hour session on Wednesday.

The first two weeks of the 2011-12 NBA season have already been cancelled. If a deal is not completed soon, more will be in danger. The season was to start November 1.

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