NBA - which conference is stronger

[Mudcat]

I get so caught up in my numbers I don't always notice the big picture.

My sense is the West is stronger at this point ???

What do you think?

[onthewhat]

West has been stronger past 10 years at least

[Mudcat]

I would really be interested in more thoughts on this if anyone has some.

[ryanspeer2001]

I'm not a big NBA guy and if I told you I followed it like a hawk I'd be a liar.

Bottom line is the West has been a power house for the last decade, dare I say since the Bulls/Jordan era ended. With the exception of usually the best team or two in each conference if you were to pair up sets of games based on conference rank a #3-10 team would almost always rollover an East team of similar conference standing.

I don't know why there is such a disparity but it is a clear one.

[iceminers26]

West has better offense

East has better defense

Defense wins championships

Therefore, the east is better

[Deuce]

East is the new West.

Boston
Orlando
Cleveland
Hotlanta


LA
LA
LA
Denver


Phoenix

Houston

[feltball]

East's top teams are better. West better top to bottom.

[tltaylor89]

West has the better teams

[smitch124]

The overall record of the Western conference has been well over .500 for some time now. Also, take a look at the disparity in what record it takes to make the playoffs in each league the last half dozen years.

[Mudcat]

The overall record of the Western conference has been well over .500 for some time now. Also, take a look at the disparity in what record it takes to make the playoffs in each league the last half dozen years.

That's the kind of thinking that has led to my general vibe that the west is stronger. Not as much stronger as they were some years back. I think the gap has closed. But I think the edge is still there.

I'm not sure about the idea that the top teams in the east are better than the tops in the west. Apart from the obvious fact that the defending champion is a west team, I wonder if the top eastern teams strength is exaggerated by the weaker overall schedule.

[pavyracer]

East is better this year.

[KiDBaZkiT]

Both have teams that are ahead of the rest in thier respective conferences (in no specific order)

East West
1Orlando 1LA
2Atlanta 2Denver
3Cleveland 3Phoenix
4Boston 4Dallas

[Rowdy Rolex]

West has been better but that's shifted to the East this season imo, at least amongst top teams.

...but the east has the nets and knicks

I like the west more for some reason, even though I live in the east and haven't really ever been west... all I watch are western conference teams it seems

[maseda17]

The balance has certainly shifted. If you took the 8 playoff teams from each conference I like the West, but if you took the top 4 I like the east. Top to bottom I still skew it in the west's favor but the gap is narrowed.

[Wheell]

West will have more wins overall. West has the best team. West is more likely to win the title. West is currently better overall.

[mdemps9190]

yeah I think that the East has more solid teams, but the enitre west is better than the east, since east has the shitshows that are the Knickerbockers and Nets. Although West has T wolves...

[hate2bet]

west cuz atlantic divison is very weak

[hockey216]

the west has more teams that are good.

but the east top teams are better.

I am still not convinced on phoenix, that run and gun shit doesnt win championships..

But quality is better than quantity.

East has better defense.

[Mudcat]

I think I am getting the picture. I wonder what the stats are for head-to-head east/west match-ups this year ATS.

Hmm, you know who could answer that question if he wanted to put a few minutes effort into checking his spreadsheet?

Me.