biggest disrcepancy from east and west the nba has ever seen?

I was thinking this the other day. Only Indiana and Miami would make the playoffs if they were in the West.

I actually think the Wizards will make a run and could advance to the second round of the playoffs in the East. Adding Gortat was the key for them.  They still have Otto Porter to play yet….

I was thinking this the other day. Only Indiana and Miami would make the playoffs if they were in the West.

I actually think the Wizards will make a run and could advance to the second round of the playoffs in the East. Adding Gortat was the key for them.  They still have Otto Porter to play yet….

It is really unequal, but at least the top of the conference is equal if not better than the West.  For many year in the early 2000s it was assumed that whatever team came out of the Western Conference would win the championship.

It is really unequal, but at least the top of the conference is equal if not better than the West.  For many year in the early 2000s it was assumed that whatever team came out of the Western Conference would win the championship.

 You may be right. Just checked the standings right now and you can sum up the disparity with one fact: Chicago, with the 5th best record in the East, has the same record as New Orleans which is 13th in the West. 

 You may be right. Just checked the standings right now and you can sum up the disparity with one fact: Chicago, with the 5th best record in the East, has the same record as New Orleans which is 13th in the West. 

I remember Charles Barkley or Van Gundy brought up that the NBA should put the top 16 teams in the playoffs, regardless of conference.

I remember Charles Barkley or Van Gundy brought up that the NBA should put the top 16 teams in the playoffs, regardless of conference.

 Van Gundy and he was right.

 Van Gundy and he was right.

 I’m reminded of this every time I pop in 2k14. As a Sixers fan it’s scary if you’re looking for a top pick. 

 I’m reminded of this every time I pop in 2k14. As a Sixers fan it’s scary if you’re looking for a top pick. 

 it is also weird that out of the top 4 picks 3 would be going to western conference teams if the draft was today and there was no lottery. So the west would just be getting stronger.

 it is also weird that out of the top 4 picks 3 would be going to western conference teams if the draft was today and there was no lottery. So the west would just be getting stronger.

It seems for far too long now the West has been the dominant conference, but for the last couple of years the East was starting to make a move while the West was slowing down and getting a bit older. Now all of a sudden the East is degressing again and not showing much sign of life.

I guess I just don’t see the point in having conferences, what benefit is there? It obviously does not help the league. How do you think those + .500 teams & fans feel when they get snubbed because of an inferior team getting in simply due to where they’re from?

They either need to get rid of the conferences, or find some way to even them out. The only small benefit I can see to having conferences is playing more games closer to the teams home town, which is less travel time. But when a team has private jets and endless resources I just can’t see how that’s even a serious issue.

It seems for far too long now the West has been the dominant conference, but for the last couple of years the East was starting to make a move while the West was slowing down and getting a bit older. Now all of a sudden the East is degressing again and not showing much sign of life.

I guess I just don’t see the point in having conferences, what benefit is there? It obviously does not help the league. How do you think those + .500 teams & fans feel when they get snubbed because of an inferior team getting in simply due to where they’re from?

They either need to get rid of the conferences, or find some way to even them out. The only small benefit I can see to having conferences is playing more games closer to the teams home town, which is less travel time. But when a team has private jets and endless resources I just can’t see how that’s even a serious issue.

Everyone thought that the East would be fairly competitive this year with D-Rose coming back, Brooklyn having gone to win now and the Knicks coming off their best season in over a decade.

There has always been the line of thought that play off seedings should be the top 16 teams regardless of Conference but it could create issues. I recall in the 1990’s there were rumours that the NFL might do something along these lines when an NFC team won over a dozen Superbowls in a row.

My own personal feeling is that the play offs stay as they are but I would look to perhaps realign the draft so that worse team overall is number 1 in the draft lottery then worse team in other conference is number 2 in draft lottery and so on.

That could increase a stronger teams chances of landing the top pick but if a team with say a 35-47 record could have the rub at making the play offs in one conference over a team with say a 45-37 record in the other conference then teams cannot have it both ways.

Certainly this year, teams like Miami and Indiana could have an easier run to the Conference Finals than their Western countaparts.

Everyone thought that the East would be fairly competitive this year with D-Rose coming back, Brooklyn having gone to win now and the Knicks coming off their best season in over a decade.

There has always been the line of thought that play off seedings should be the top 16 teams regardless of Conference but it could create issues. I recall in the 1990’s there were rumours that the NFL might do something along these lines when an NFC team won over a dozen Superbowls in a row.

My own personal feeling is that the play offs stay as they are but I would look to perhaps realign the draft so that worse team overall is number 1 in the draft lottery then worse team in other conference is number 2 in draft lottery and so on.

That could increase a stronger teams chances of landing the top pick but if a team with say a 35-47 record could have the rub at making the play offs in one conference over a team with say a 45-37 record in the other conference then teams cannot have it both ways.

Certainly this year, teams like Miami and Indiana could have an easier run to the Conference Finals than their Western countaparts.

here is a little zach lowe on this topic. http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-triangle/post/_/id/83569/abolish-useless-nba-divisions-step-1-of-a-radical-plan 

here is a little zach lowe on this topic. http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-triangle/post/_/id/83569/abolish-useless-nba-divisions-step-1-of-a-radical-plan 

 Pretty amazing. It’s just hard to believe only 2 teams in the East have a winning record. I love the idea of having the best teams in the playoffs, but I can see pros and cons to that system as well as the current one. As of right now a the 3rd place in the Eastern conference doesn’t even make the playoffs in the west. If that hold true then something definitely needs to be done about the current system. 

 Pretty amazing. It’s just hard to believe only 2 teams in the East have a winning record. I love the idea of having the best teams in the playoffs, but I can see pros and cons to that system as well as the current one. As of right now a the 3rd place in the Eastern conference doesn’t even make the playoffs in the west. If that hold true then something definitely needs to be done about the current system.