Comparing the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference is like comparing apples and oranges. Where the West is flash and fun the East is drab and slow. But take a closer look and see the truth about the NBA that David Stern doesn't want you to see: the Eastern Conference might not be the better conference, but it has the better teams. The last ten years can not be seen as a tool to measure which is the better conference. Two of the last three champions have come from the East, where before this run, the title was one by one team, the LA Lakers. Regular season titles mean nothing, just as the Dallas Mavericks. The West can beat up on the East all is won't, lately come playoff time, the East has dominated.

The west does have some fantastic teams; Phoenix, Dallas, San Antonio, but between them only the Spurs have a title sitting in their trophy case. The old adage about defense winning championships still rings true in today's NBA. The Heat last year, the Spurs of 04, and the Pistons of 03, were all defensive powers that played against the ways of the run and gun. These teams slowed it down and shut down superstar laden teams.

Sure the East has some of the worst teams in the NBA in their ranks; the Knicks, the Celtics and the Hawks, but these teams are long gone when playoff time comes around. You can't base and entire conference on a few bad teams. They eventually will get good, and the players that are flying all over the west, dropping 3's like confetti at heroes welcome, will get older and retire. The West might be more fun to watch, but the East is more equip to win.

Learn more about this author, Ryan Klindtworth.
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