Frowning while biting my lip, I check the score: 7.5. Seven hours and thirty minutes into the latest meeting. While my guess is that it's a good thing the meeting is still going, my gut has long since given up on trying to predict where this roller-coaster will take us.

According to former ESPN sportswriter Chris Sheridan, an NBA spokesman came into the media room at around 5pm, informing the assembled media that "They're still meeting. That's your update." After that, it remained silent for a while, with not even the boldest or brashest of sports-writers attempting to predict the outcome.

The slow trickle of information seeping from the meeting room, other than the candid "owners and Players have decided on a 50/50 room service cost split", indicates some form of progress. However, media has also been told to brace for a long night, and not to expect a deal by the end of it. And as I'm typing this, A. Sherrod Blakely tweets about how there is "Lots of positivity that a deal will get done." ...

It has become clear that these meetings are no longer any indication of progress, with Stern's 'ultimate' deadline expiring hours ago. The main thing the press room is concerned about right now, if we're to believe twitter, is what to ask for in terms of food & drinks while awaiting meeting's end.

Perhaps it's time for a PB&J for us too?