EbolaVirus

I know there have been a lot of threads about how bad the NBA east is. Well, here is another one. As of today, Indiana, Detroit, and New Jersey are the only teams in the east with winning records. The west has 10 teams that are above .500. Does anybody believe the east will soon catch up?

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djtestudo

Just the fact that those eastern teams will be drafting lower will help them a lot.

These things run in cycles. A decade from now we'll be asking the same questions about the West.

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lyxo

but see, when jordan was still around, they were god and the west couldnt do anything about it

give lebron and the cavs a few years and they'll mature into a delightful team. they have everything they need, except a three point threat (needs to be filled at the SF position)

Jesus Malverde

Yeah I definitely agree that there is a cycle. Look at the NFL as another example: the NFC used to dominate, but in the past five or six years the AFC has become the competitive conference, with much tougher and stronger divisions.

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dragon2fire

As a pacers fan i must point out that the pacers are playing some great ball. no the east is not good this year but they are growing. They do need to give some coaches a chance

Nimbletoe

They better hope that the game they played today against the pistons is not a sign of things to come. 61 points... ouch.


Of course, I certainly hope it is a sign =)

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Bigt6909

Couldn't agree more with ya. I also remember when Shaq was in the east, also during the Jordan era, as soon as he switched to the west, they started becoming more competitive... I think Shaq caused a pretty big sway in the strength of the east and west.

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Nimbletoe

Shaq is a big part of it, yes. But it was also the drafting of many big men that all went to the west, and all the stars of the east got old and retired. Duncan for the spurs, Garnette for the T-Wolves, Nowitzki for the Mavs, etc etc. Not to mention people like Malone, Payton, Kobe, Peja, etc.

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joemc37

The east is weak, no doubt about that, but..... I think that the 2 top teams ( Pacers and Pistons ) have a good shot at the title. Espicially the Pistons. No one can seem to score on them and with Rasheed they have been 13-5. Big Ben will be holding a championship ring this year.

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dragon2fire

hahahah you know if they had control of home court i would be worried quite worried about detorit but they do not



the pacers are a different team at home and a much different team in the playoffs

backwash

the east has no chance, and its going to stay that way for a while. being from philly, i have a very bleak and sad couple of years ahead of me. Stupid Iverson

dragon2fire

i am not saying the east will pull it off this season but its a hell of a lot closer then you think

Bigt6909

Honestly, I think that Detriot will be in the Finals this year... they are a force now and I dont know if anyone can beat them. I mean the other night they spanked Indy, not just a little, but damn they put it to them. They are a different team with Rasheed.

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grumpyolddude

It's gonna come down to who is healthy.
In Detroit, both Wallaces have been having back problems and Billups rolled his ankle against Orlando (Chauncey's injury during last years playoffs guaranteed New Jersey's win).
Over in Indy, O'Neal has been hurting.

I hope everyone gets better. They should meet in the Conference finals and put on a great show! If anyone except LA comes out of the West, look for an Eastern Conference world champ!

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Zoom

The laker/spurs era will be over soon. The pacers are getting stronger every year. They and detrioit have legitimate shots at some rings this year. Though a west team WILL win this year the shift of power is happening at a snail's rate. The east will be back to dominance in 3-4 years or less. MARK me woids!

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SAM821

....(cough).... miami heat....(cough cough!..)

Mojo_PeiPei

Miami lacks a bench or inside presence, but Jones, Odom, and Wade are a pretty sweet trio.

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asudevil83

i dont know about that....many great players left the east to join the west just for the fact that the west has a much more enjoyable climate year round.

the way the west became so strong was because they pretty much stole the great players away from the east, not because of the draft.

the only way i see the east gaining some of the strength it had back is if players decide that the west is too strong. i could see players leaving the teams that arent quite in contention (the 5-8 seeds) and looking for a cheap way to get into the finals by joining a decent eastern team.

SAM821

Now wait a minute... Yes miami does lack a center, but they have a pretty damn good bench.. Rafer Alston may win the NBA 6th man of the Year and Rasual Butler and Udonis Haslem are VERY solid bench players (both are averaging about 7 ppg).. so i think miami has a pretty strong bench...

There ONLY real weakness (along with most teams in the East) is the Lack of size... We are a mismatch with teams like Detroit or Indiana, But we can take on teams like New Jersey or Milwakee. So really, next year if miami can keep the team they have and find a DAMN CENTER, cause i dont think poor Brian Grant has much left playing that position, then you are looking at a Top East team....

am i right?? Just my opinion

asudevil83

i also had this pointed out to me a couple days ago.....look all the teams bound for the lottery. the west has two decent, .500 or better teams headed to the lottery. looking at the east now....you'll have FOUR .500 and lower teams headed to the playoffs that wont be participating in the lottery.

coupled with the fact that the easts four teams are much weaker than the west's two, it looks liek we have a bit of a problem.

SAM821

all the height belongs to the west... thats the problem. Its like this; When the East had Alonzo Mourning and Patrick Ewing, and the West had Shaq and David Robinson and Hakeem Olajuwon, things were pretty even, the teams could compete with each other, but since then, The west just loaded up with height to keep up with the Lakers, and the Spurs... Now you got all the height out in the west... and the East was left with speed. Unfortunately Height is an advantage (usually) over speed...