The Eastern Conference has been landing most of the quality free agents this summer, and the balance of power is slowly evening out. A couple of years ago, you could predict 7 out of the 8 teams making it in the playoffs out East. This year four teams are a lock (Miami, Detroit, Indiana, & New Jersey), but predicting the other four teams is debatable because of recent acquisitions. Of course none of these acquisitions have officially taken place yet, and deals could fall apart after teams can officially move players on tuesday, but for the time being here's a list of who is new in the East along with who stayed in the East. <u>Moving to the East</u> Bobby Simmons - Los Angeles Clippers to Milwaukee Bucks Joe Johnson - Phoenix Suns to Atlanta Hawks Jerome James - Seattle Supersonics to New York Knicks Shareef Abdur Rahim - Portland Trailblazers to New Jersey Nets Antonio Daniels - Seattle Supersonics to Washington Wizards <u>Staying in the East</u> Larry Hughes - Washington Wizards to Cleveland Cavs Donyell Marshall - Toronto Raptors to Cleveland Cavs Brian Scalabrine - New Jersey Nets to Boston Celtics Sarunas Jasikevicius - Overseas to Indiana Pacers Keyon Dooling - Miami Heat to Orlando Magic Jeff McInnis - Cleveland Cavs to New Jersey Nets Sammy Dalembert - Philadelphia 76ers Zydrunas Ilgauskas - Cleveland Cavs Michael Redd - Milwaukee Bucks Udonis Haslem - Miami Heat Dan Gadzuric - Milwaukee Bucks Kyle Korver - Philadelphia 76ers Willie Green - Philadelphia 76ers Clifford Robinson - New Jersey Nets Tyson Chandler - Chicago Bulls The only players from the East going to the West thus far are...Kwame Brown, Laron Profit, & Juan Dixon
Who are the players STAYING in the West? I think you have manipulated how this thing looks by not including them. eg. Ray Allen staying in Sonics.
I think he meant that the balance of power in the East, not in the NBA overall. We all know that the real powerhouse of the East is still just Miami and Detroit. That's still the same. Nobody else in the East have any realistic shot at beating the West.
The East is starting to become as powerful as the West, hopefully the East keep taking em down at the ASG like they did last year.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TheTruth5:</div><div class="quote_post">The East is starting to become as powerful as the West, hopefully the East keep taking em down at the ASG like they did last year.</div> To be fair, the West would have won if KG and Tim Duncan got more PT. I understand its an ASG and its only fair to give everyone a chance, but when these two were on, the West was winning by a good margine.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting dakeem1:</div><div class="quote_post">I think Indiana could have a shot if they all stay healthy and don't get suspended.</div> Yeah Indy could probably make this a series (as in, not get swept) but honestly though, on a 7 game series, my $'s on the West than on Indy.
Your list forgot about Butler and Chucky Atkins who have recently moves East to the Wiz for Kwames. The East in my mind is now stronger than the West... I remember people saying how the balance would never be broken and all that jazz, but it already has, in the East's favour.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Mr.Wade:</div><div class="quote_post">Your list forgot about Butler and Chucky Atkins who have recently moves East to the Wiz for Kwames. The East in my mind is now stronger than the West... I remember people saying how the balance would never be broken and all that jazz, but it already has, in the East's favour.</div> Those were acquisitions via trade, I omitted those and just listed the free agent movement.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Mr.Wade:</div><div class="quote_post">Your list forgot about Butler and Chucky Atkins who have recently moves East to the Wiz for Kwames. The East in my mind is now stronger than the West... I remember people saying how the balance would never be broken and all that jazz, but it already has, in the East's favour.</div> How is the East stronger than the West? The East has 3 powerhouses: Miami, Indiana and Detroit. The West has: San Antonio, Phoenix, Houston, Dallas, and Denver. Throw in Sacramento if you want as well. The West is deeper and more talented than the East, no questions asked IMO.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Mr.Wade:</div><div class="quote_post">Your list forgot about Butler and Chucky Atkins who have recently moves East to the Wiz for Kwames. The East in my mind is now stronger than the West... I remember people saying how the balance would never be broken and all that jazz, but it already has, in the East's favour.</div> No disrespect to the East because they are getting stronger no doubt, but overall, the West will still kick the East's ass. Detroit and Miami are the only worth opponents in my eyes that could challenge the NBA trophy from the West, everyone else doesn't come close. Indy is a notch under, but still not in the "elites" category. This analysis is just this for this year though, I see the East closing the gap even closer the following year.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TheTruth5:</div><div class="quote_post">The East is starting to become as powerful as the West, hopefully the East keep taking em down at the ASG like they did last year.</div> r u joking or what??? if the all star game was played at a meaningful competitive level then the west would win every year !! starting 5 ---------- nash nowitzki duncan garnett shaq bench ------ baron davis kobe t-mac stojakovic Ming EAST NOT EVEN CLOSE TO BEATING THAT STARTING 5
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Terminator-X:</div><div class="quote_post">r u joking or what??? if the all star game was played at a meaningful competitive level then the west would win every year !! starting 5 ---------- nash nowitzki duncan garnett shaq bench ------ baron davis kobe t-mac stojakovic Ming EAST NOT EVEN CLOSE TO BEATING THAT STARTING 5</div> lol dude we don't have shaq no more...
lol. Yeah Shaq's in Miami. It's pretty hard to forget a detail like that hahaha. I think it is going way to far to say that the East has shifted the balance of power their way. They are closing the gap, but are not there yet. There still remains the Western powerhouses. The Texas Triangle, Phoenix, Sacramento and possibly Denver. the T'wolves can also remain strong if they get they're sh** together and Golden State are looking hot for next season. East's only contender's are Miami and Detroit. Then you have the solid teams in Indiani and probably New Jersey next season. After that, the rest of the eastern teams are just scrambling for playoff positions where they won't get very far.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Laker_fan:</div><div class="quote_post">To be fair, the West would have won if KG and Tim Duncan got more PT. I understand its an ASG and its only fair to give everyone a chance, but when these two were on, the West was winning by a good margine.</div> They were injured a little at that time. They wanted to not play in the ASG but were told if not they would be put on the injured list for a couple of regular season games. They didnt want that so they played asked for less mins plus everybody had to be given a chance.
It is good to see that the East is getting a little bit more talented year by year but they are still not as talented as the West. It'll take several more years for the East to be at least close to matching the West's overall talent.
East has legit contenders: Detroit, Miami, Indiana, New Jersey (who is better than Phoenix now IMO), Cleveland. Also the strong ones: Boston, Philly, Orlando, and IMO Milwaukee.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Mr.Wade:</div><div class="quote_post">East has legit contenders: Detroit, Miami, Indiana, New Jersey (who is better than Phoenix now IMO), Cleveland. Also the strong ones: Boston, Philly, Orlando, and IMO Milwaukee.</div> Bulls.....
