2011–12 NBA season

The NBA 2011/12 season was the 66th season of the National Basketball Association. The regular season began on December 25, 2011 and ended as scheduled on 26 April 2012. Thereupon follow the NBA Playoffs on April 28, 2012, which ended on 22 June, with the last game of the NBA Finals in 2012.

Lockout

On 1 July 2011, the 2005, between club owners and the players' union expired at the NBPA ended collective bargaining agreement. Both parties could not agree on a new contract,. Among the most important points here strike included the sharing of revenue between players and owners, the players have so far received 57 percent of revenue. Furthermore, the owners wanted to enforce a hard cap mentioned fixed salary cap instead of the current soft caps.

The negotiations came to nothing. This led to the fourth lockout in the history of the NBA, and after the 1998/99 season for the second time the number of season games had to be reduced. After a large number of failed rounds of negotiations, the season was already nearing the cancellation. On 25 November, players union and representatives of the owners agreed to a new contract. After voting on both sides of the new contract was approved on December 8, so that the lockout after 161 days officially ended. The season started on December 25 with three games against the New York Knicks Boston Celtics, Dallas Mavericks against the Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers against the Chicago Bulls.

The new collective agreement has a term of ten years, both parties have a right of termination after six years. Players earn in the first year, only 51.15 percent of the revenues from the distribution of the second season will depend on the development of revenue. The luxury tax for exceeding the salary caps increases from the 2012/13 season for high or regular crossings to more to achieve more discipline in complying with the salary cap. In addition, teams can benefit from fewer exceptions to the obligation of players across the border. Overall, the player salaries in the course of a career is growing on average more slowly than before.

Due to the lockout, the season was shortened from 82 to 66 games. It was reduced mainly due to the number of matches against teams of the other Conference. Furthermore, the schedule has been streamlined so that teams have to play on two consecutive days and up to three times on three successive days often.

Important change clubs

Before the season starts

• Chris Paul changes in exchange for Chris Kaman and Eric Gordon of the New Orleans Hornets to the Los Angeles Clippers. Previously, the Los Angeles Lakers had already agreed with the Hornets and the Houston Rockets to commit Chris Paul as part of future transfers. This agreement was vetoed by the NBA, which was until June 2012 the owner of the Hornets from December 2010.

Milestones of the season

• On 6 February of 2012, Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers 5:08 left in the second quarter in the game against the Philadelphia 76ers his points 23 and 24 After the successful throw he pushed Shaquille O'Neal in the NBA All-Time scoring list from fifth place.

• Paul Pierce of the Boston Celtics ousted on February 7, 2012 after a successfully transformed three- point shot against the Charlotte Bobcats Larry Bird third in the Boston All Time Scoring list. Bird reached 21 791 points. Only John Havlicek is with 26 395 before Pierce.

• The Charlotte Bobcats finished the season with a victory score of 10.6%. This was the worst record an NBA team of all time.

All-Star Game

The All-Star Game took place on 26 February 2012 as part of the All-Star Weekend at the Amway Center in Orlando instead.

End figures

W = Wins, L = Losses, PCT = percentage share of victory, P = behind Division leaders

The winner of a division is on of the decisive play-off seedings guaranteed at least fourth place, even if more than three teams have a higher number of wins achieved.

Honors

• Most Valuable Player: LeBron James, Miami Heat
• Defensive Player of the Year: Tyson Chandler, New York Knicks
• Rookie of the Year: Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers
• Sixth Man of the Year: James Harden, Oklahoma City Thunder
• Most Improved Player: Ryan Anderson, Orlando Magic
• Coach of the Year: Gregg Popovich, San Antonio Spurs
• All- NBA First Team: F - LeBron James, Miami Heat
• F - Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder
• C - Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
• G - Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
• G - Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers

• F - Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves
• F - Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers
• C - Andrew Bynum, Los Angeles Lakers
• G - Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs
• G - Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder

• F - Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks
• F - Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks
• C - Tyson Chandler, New York Knicks
• G - Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat
• G - Rajon Rondo, Boston Celtics

• F - LeBron James, Miami Heat
• F - Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City Thunder
• C - Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
• G - Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers
• G - Tony Allen, Memphis Grizzlies

• F - Kevin Garnett, Boston Celtics
• F - Luol Deng, Chicago Bulls
• C - Tyson Chandler, New York Knicks
• G - Rajon Rondo, Boston Celtics
• G - Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers

• Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers
• Ricky Rubio, Minnesota Timberwolves
• Kenneth Faried, Denver Nuggets
• Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors
• Iman Shumpert (*), New York Knicks
• Kawhi Leonard (* ), San Antonio Spurs
• Brandon Knight ( *), Detroit Pistons

(* ) = Equal scores

• NBA All- Rookie Second Team: Chandler Parsons Houston Rockets
• Isaiah Thomas, Sacramento Kings
• Marshon Brooks, New Jersey Nets
• Derrick Williams ( *), Minnesota Timberwolves
• Tristan Thompson ( *), Cleveland Cavaliers

(* ) = Equal scores

Play-offs

All play-off rounds will be played in best- of-seven - mode.