The players have more than signaled they'll go along with a 50-50 BRI split --a $3 billion concession over 10 years-- as long as they get some tweaks on system issues, like the luxury tax and MLE.  Their lawyer has apologized to David Stern for his "plantation" remarks. And the owners have moved off their ultimatum at least for now, agreeing to meet one more time in New York this afternoon.

So what could go wrong as the two sides go into what could be overtime in the championship series?  A lot, but as long as they're talking, and they are, hope springs eternal.  Adrian Wojnarowski tweets "owners have green-lit Stern to make minor concessions in system. Players, however, want more than minor changes."

• Sources: Stern authorized to tweak offer - Adrian Wojnarowski - Yahoo! Sports
• NBA lockout -- Owners, players meeting on labor, sources say - Chris Broussard, Marc Stein & Ric Bucher - ESPN
• Teams' value rises as owners' split grows - Larry Coon - ESPN
  
• N.B.A. Talks Resume Toward Possible Breakthrough - Howard Beck - New York Times
  
• Optimistic notes as deadline approaches - Henry Abbott - ESPN
• NBA labor talks resume under threat of commissioner's "by the close of business on Wednesday" deadline - Chris Sheridan - Sheridan Hoops
• NBA Labor Buzz: Latest Updates - Matt Moore - CBS Sports