[Idunkonyou]

Bottom line is you can only play one team in the playoffs from both sides so does it really matter? From 2004-2007 I'd say no since it has been east winning the title, then west, then east again, then west again. East's turn this year.

[HKF]

This was not your original point though. So why even say "bottom line?"

[unluckyseventeen]

From top to bottom, yes, they are about equal with Minnesota and Seattle losing plenty of games.

But I'd still take Phoenix, San Antonio, Utah, Houston, and Dallas over the top teams in the East. Houston is better than their record suggests.

[IceMan23and3]

Originally Posted by Benedict_Boozer

What's the head to head record between the conferences?

I think everyone agrees that there are only 3 elite teams in the East (Boston, Detroit, and Orlando)
They're a combined 14-7 (with Orlando going 7-3, Detroit going 3-4, and Boston going 3-0 against the west)

Now if you look at the West elite (Spurs, Suns, and Jazz)
Spurs 5-0 against the east
Suns 8-1 against the east
Jazz 6-3 against the east

There are still more quality teams in the west than the east. Therefore stronger. I'm not knocking the east elite, just pointing out that the east as a whole is weaker than the west as a whole. If they were better, they would hand the West elite more losses.

[streetballa]

The east has definitely improved this year, the west is still better though.

[Diable]

A few teams in the East have improved,but most of the Eastern Conference teams have either gotten worse or they've stayed the same.Boston,Orlando,Atlanta and Detroit have improved to one extent or another,but if you look at the whole picture a lot of the Eastern Conference teams are worse or about the same.Big picture it looks like it will take less wins to make the playoffs in the East this year than it did last year.

[The lone wolf]

Just FYI - Overall the east west record is 47-53 so far. That's a 3 game difference over 100 games

[The lone wolf]

Originally Posted by Diable

Big picture it looks like it will take less wins to make the playoffs in the East this year than it did last year.

This does not necessarily mean east is weaker - it is also a by-product of the east bottom feeders being stronger than the ones in the west. The bottom of the west will worse than that of the east and it would automatically make the top of the west have a better record than the top of the east

[southeasy]

toronto can compete with any team out west including san antonio, dallas & phx.

we'll see here comin up.. we were built to match up with the spurs.

[chairman5]

Originally Posted by IceMan23and3

I think everyone agrees that there are only 3 elite teams in the East (Boston, Detroit, and Orlando)
They're a combined 14-7 (with Orlando going 7-3, Detroit going 3-4, and Boston going 3-0 against the west)

Now if you look at the West elite (Spurs, Suns, and Jazz)
Spurs 5-0 against the east
Suns 8-1 against the east
Jazz 6-3 against the east

There are still more quality teams in the west than the east. Therefore stronger. I'm not knocking the east elite, just pointing out that the east as a whole is weaker than the west as a whole. If they were better, they would hand the West elite more losses.

you cant consider neither of those 3 East teams Elite yet, they are very good, elite should be used carefully

Detroit has yet to prove they can make it back into the Finals, they were crumbled by the one man show call the Cavaliers which shows they couldn't even beat a team that got swept by the Spurs

Boston is a great team no doubt but who knows if they are deep enough to be as strong come april/may, have not proven anything and they know it

Neither is Orlando, they are not proven yet, the record so far is great, does not mean a thing

IMO an Elite team has to have made their conference finals and has to consistently beat other good teams thus Dallas / Spurs / Suns and the upcoming Utah

Detroit is the only thing close to elite from the East
oh and a healthy Miami Heat, if they can get their chemistry right theres no reason why they cant beat the best of the east, they were dismantling the East just two years ago