Baseball plays series so even with conferences spread out across nation, travel isn't as a big deal. NFL has a week generally to travel. The NBA's problem is that ownership in East generally sucks and soft cap allows bad management to wreck a team for a long time. I think Toronto and potentially Philly getting good management, the problem may become less severe in the future.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>On <a href="https://twitter.com/SiriusXMNBA">@SiriusXMNBA</a>, NBA deputy commissioner Adam Silver said competition committee will look at whether divisions have outlived usefulness.</p>— Jeff Zillgitt (@JeffZillgitt) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffZillgitt/statuses/410143510109880320">December 9, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>NBA commish David Stern sounds less concerned about divisions & more concerned about good team in West missing playoffs/getting lottery pick</p>— Jeff Zillgitt (@JeffZillgitt) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffZillgitt/statuses/410145162120429568">December 9, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>NBA deputy commish Adam Silver on <a href="https://twitter.com/SiriusXMNBA">@SiriusXMNBA</a> said 2011 CBA is far from perfect, but beginning to work w/more parity & player sharing.</p>— Jeff Zillgitt (@JeffZillgitt) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffZillgitt/statuses/410146139569401858">December 9, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
That came to a screeching halt last night or probably before. Overall, your East love has to stop. Perhaps some fans will unfairly use this as a knock against your Pacers, but most should agree that the Pacers are a legit top 5 team and serious contender. Being from the East and having an easier path to the championship doesn't diminish that; it didn't for Miami. The empirical evidence is already ITT. I posted it early over the last 15 years, and it's especially true over the last 8...too many damn mistakes and bad luck by Eastern GMs have given their good teams a competitive advantage. That's okay...just enjoy it bc the Pacers have earned it by building a great team from average draft positioning. Don't let the haters make you into an East defender. You can still pile on the East and legitimately prop up the Pacers.
Two teams in the west are one win away from making the Western Conference a 13 team of .500 and over record! The east then with one loss from the Hawks would have only 2 teams with a record of .500 and over!
The difference between the 1st and the 13th seed in the West is 7.5 games. The difference between the 1st and the 3rd seed in the East is 8 games.
The top 8 teams in the West have 20 or more wins. The East's top 8 have 2. I don't remember a time when it literally was only 2 teams in a Conference that are by themselves in playing level. The only good that has come out of this is that tickets for Rockets against most of these teams are super cheap. 10 dollars to see them play the Bucks or the 76'ers. :grin:
11 game difference between the 2nd and 3rd seeds in the East the 9th seed team in the West (Minnesota) would be the 3rd seed in the East MINNESOTA would the the THIRD SEED
The best seed in the West would be third in the East. West is overrated! The lack of real competition in the East doesn't apply to Pacers and Heat. Heat would probably sweet teams like Warriors, Mavericks, Suns, etc. anyway. They aren't physical at all and are less of a challenge than a team like the Bulls
you play teams from your conference more often than teams from the other conference. in other words, the pacers and heat get to feast off the lowly eastern teams more than any western conference team. the pacers and the heat are both in the east and only have 5 or 6 less losses than us. what's impressive is OKC only has 1 more loss than the heat and they play many more western conference teams.
Actually that is not true for heat.They have been playing down to competition. Their only loss during their recent streak came at the hands of almighty jazz. They have dominated west especially playoff teams.They have by far the best record against west 18-4.Miami feasts on soft opponents and even though west is stacked with great teams they aren't known for their toughness. Thirdly interestingly enough miami has a better record against playoff teams than lottery teams. They are 19-5 against +%.500 teams and only 24-9 against other teams. On the other hand everything you said is true about pacers They are 15-8 against +%.500 and and 16-7 against west.
Both teams play better vs the west than the east. I've already mentioned that stats show the "West toughness" doesn't apply to them, especially since most west teams are so run-happy One argument is that they would get more "tired and tested" if they played west teams more frequent, but I don't buy it. I would say they play down to their competition too often, especially the Heat. Losses to the Jazz, Kings, Knicks, Nets 2x, Wizards, 76ers, etc. These are mostly all lottery teams. Facts show they would beat better teams "Only 5 or 6" fewer losses is a big chunk. At this rate, by season's end it would be around 8-10. There is HUGE difference between a 60-65 win team and one who wins 51-55 games Not saying the West isn't better overall. Rather I'm pointing out that a team like the Heat would still sweep teams like Suns, Mavs, Warriors and maybe even the Blazers. What it would do is make the 2nd round a bit more challenging
I don't think anyone would argue that Miami isn't a great team no matter what conference they're in. The same goes for the Pacers, even though they don't do as well vs the West as Miami (Pacers are 29-6 vs East and 17-7 vs the West). There is a clear top 7 group in the NBA, the top 5 of the West and the top 2 of the East. Toronto, Chicago, and Washington are playing better as of late, but they're still 11-12, 10-13, and 9-14 vs the West respectively, so they belong a rung below GS, Dal, Mem, Pho, and on the same level as Minny. So that gives the West 5 Top teams, 4 good teams, and 1 okay team. And the East has 2 top teams, 0 good teams, and 3 okay teams.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Jerry West said "This is the weakest I've ever seen the league." My buddy said NBA is beginning to pay price for AAU.</p>— Matt Steinmetz (@MMS_Steinmetz) <a href="https://twitter.com/MMS_Steinmetz/statuses/441636105717170176">March 6, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
