Consider also that it's often been said that it is more difficult for an eastern team to play out west than vice-versa, because if the west coast game starts at 8pm by the clock of the eastern player it starts at 11pm and could end at 1-2am. Wheras, by western player's clock on the east coast, an 8pm game is a 4pm game, which many could argue is more tolerable and therefore condusive to winning away games.
People want to say that the East is better than the West and blah blah blah this year. I don't really buy it. Sure, they have a better head to head and the conference's record is overall better, but the West is being dragged down by the Thunder and the TWolves, both of whom have been basically a guaranteed victory this year if you play them, as well as the Clippers, Warriors and Kings, all of whom are at 9 wins or less. In the end, Phoenix, on pace to win 47 games, is currently the 9th seed and would miss the playoffs while the East is on pace to have Milwaukee, a team below .500, make the playoffs. While the West certainly isn't as good as it was last year (which just isn't possible), I still don't think they're a worse conference than the East. They're just a conference being drug down by five teams that have 9 wins or less.
Boston just lost 3 of 4 on a west coast trip. The west is still the tougher conference. I can't wait until the east gets better because that should only help Portland
