You know, as I look at the current playoff standings, there is one thing that is bugging me. Over in the west, you have a fantastic race for that 8th and final spot between 3 teams separated by merely half a game. And, what I like about it is, they all have winning records. But, than I go over to the East. The only word that comes to my mind when I look at it is pathetic. Over there, you have 3 teams currently with winning records. Than you have 5 other teams making the playoffs with sub-.500 records. I think that's terrible. Than you go and realize that the 9th, 10th, and 11th seeds from the West could all make it in the East with their current records and that the 12th seeded team would be like, half game out. And than I realized that teams like Denver, who is currently 10th in the West, would be able to make it as a 4 seed in the East. Now, maybe I'm the only one here, but, does anyone else think it's unfair for teams that could end up with winning records in the West miss out on the playoffs just because they play in the West, whereas, you don't have to have a winning record in the East to make it. For that matter, you can be 7 games beneath .500 and make it. But, yea, maybe that's just me. Well, how about we get some opinions on this. It might be interesting to see what kind of discussion we could get here.
Fair or Unfair. Thats just how things are. No doubt that the East is the pathetic conference or like Stephen A. Smith would say "The JV conference". But honestly its sad that teams with lossing records are going to make the playoff's. Like I said thats the way things are. And we got to live with it. Mabye things will be better next season when there's like 4 different divisions in the East. And most likely the top 2 teams will make the playoff's.
They (the NBA) should adopt the MLB's style of conferences, mixing all the teams up to be in the AL and NL. Sure, most the current East teams won't make the playoffs, but at least they'll all be encouraged to get big guys like all the west teams have been doing, or at least trying. Look here in the 1995 draft: http://www.sportsstats.com/jazzyj/greats/95/ Among the top 5 teams, most the west teams got big guys. Now look at the sixers. They PASSED Rasheed Wallace and Kevin Garnett just to get Jerry Stackhouse. Ask anyone and they'll usually say there's a larger difference in value between Kevin Garnett and Vladimir Radmanovic (another big guy) than there is between Kobe and Quentin Richardson. Now Kevin is the MVP of the league. The top 3 East teams right now have a nice assortment of big guys, coincidence? no. The West's dominance boils down to teams all scrambling to get big guys to compete against one player: SHAQUILLE O'NEAL. Talk about influence.
I'm with ya Moo2K4, it is frustrating...especially being a Warriors fan. We have no one to blame but our front office for our playoff drought but it is still frustrating to see sub par teams with sub par records make the playoffs in the East, its a joke.
I HAVE TWO COMMENTS Pacers best record in NBA Bucks 3-1 against them 1-1 against kings beating them in arco!
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting bangofan13:</div><div class="quote_post">I HAVE TWO COMMENTS Pacers best record in NBA Bucks 3-1 against them 1-1 against kings beating them in arco!</div>Thanks for the info.
It is pretty pathetic but teams have to be in the playoffs no matter what if the team is in the team is in,theres nothing anyone can do aboutit.Most teams step it up in the playoffs so thats the fun thing about it.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting bangofan13:</div><div class="quote_post">I HAVE TWO COMMENTS Pacers best record in NBA Bucks 3-1 against them 1-1 against kings beating them in arco!</div> I am lost, what is the significance of that? It's your overall record that counts, and Milwaukee would be out of the playoff picture overall if there weren't divisions. They've had a great season overall and I respect what they have done, but .500 shouldn't have you fighting for homecourt in the playoffs, no matter what your record against Indy and Sactown is. However, that is the way the NBA is and has been for a long time.
The other thing that I realize that pisses me off is the Finals. The last what, 5 years, the East has won a combined 6 games in the NBA Finals. To me, that's absolutely pathetic. It's getting to the point where the Western Conference Finals is more of the Finals to me than the actual ones are. They've become more entertaining. Because, basically, you know whoever comes out of the West anymore is going to win it. That's the other tremendously frustrating thing to me.
I think its just part of the cycle, altho its more lipsided than it's ever been...nonetheless, I think in 4 or 5 years, everything will eventually even out (i'm basing this on absolutely nothing )
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting notMuchgame:</div><div class="quote_post">I think its just part of the cycle, altho its more lipsided than it's ever been...nonetheless, I think in 4 or 5 years, everything will eventually even out (i'm basing this on absolutely nothing )</div> I think it will even get worse, not better. Teams in the west stack up every year because they fear each other. This year you can't really say that San Antonio got worse, its just Minney got alot better. Its like a nuclear arms race and they are trying to out due each other. Plus you have good teams like Mempis, Denver, Houston, and Seattle on the cusp, maybe 1 or 2 players away from becoming a powerhouse. There are only 2 bad teams in the West, the clips and the suns. The East has Orlando, Chicago, Washington, Atlanta, Toronto, Philadelphia, Cleveland has some upside with Lebron and Boozer. THIS IS PATHETIC!
Keep in mind that the Hornets will be moving to the west and the Bobcats will be coming to the east so that will make the eastern conference even more pathetic next season.
Actually I don't think the Finals this year will be as lopsided as in the last few years. The Pistons just got A LOT better with Rasheed in the lineup and they virtually gave up nothing in return. They have so many quality big men, that they stand a good chance against any western team IMHO. I'm not a Pistons fan at all, I can't stand their style, but credit should be given where it's due and holding teams under 70 five or six time in a row is not a feat done every year. Also the Pacers rule. It's no coincidence they have the tiebreaker over the Kings, this team rocks. Jermaine O'Neal is a monster and Artest matured so much that they can easily lead their team to the Eastern Conference Finals and beyond... They are surrounded by good roleplayers, too, I like that team and their chances. So far, I'm not so sure that a Western team will win it all. It's highly probable, but not 100%. This year's finals won't be like last year I'd say.
Ya'll remember the Clippers making the playoffs in the 95-96 season. They were 10 games under .500. I think it was that year because of the Bulls having 72 wins and Seattle having 64. I triped out on that. The last 7 game series in the finals was in 94 between the Rockets and the Knicks. Man, it's been 10 years already now that I think about it. It should be a real finals this year though. But why is Detroit listed 3rd in the East when they have 4 more wins I think then the Nets?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting 30 standing ver:</div><div class="quote_post">But why is Detroit listed 3rd in the East when they have 4 more wins I think then the Nets?</div> The division winners (the Nets for winning the Atlantic division) get the top 2 seeds.
I'm with you, Moo2k4. There are 16 teams that make the playoffs, but they aren't they best 16 teams at all. Players who want a ring will sign with a contender, and the contenders are in the West and that suggests the West will just get better. The East will need the draft to get back to a point where they're even with the West. The Western Confeference finals are a better matchup than the finals, and it isn't a 1 vs 2 final like it should be. It turns out being like a 1 vs 5 final, and winning the East right now means earning the right to get rolled by some Western Conference powerhouse.
Well, as of now, the Kings hold the tiebreaker over the Lakers, but I think that will change when they meet again next week.
The commish's yet again gotta pull sth real drastic to make us NBA fans not pissed or bored of the current playoff outlook. Change the format, maybe go through seedings from best to worst (1-16), so it's no longer West and East conferences with 8 teams each. So there will be chances West meets East prior to the Finals series. Who cares if there're only 3 East teams and 13 West teams? As long as the best 16 teams play that's all that matters right?
