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Balance of power Is Eastern domination giving way to the West?
Posted: Friday February 11, 2000 12:37 PM
ATLANTA (CNNSI.com) -- Over the past decade, the balance of power in the NBA has resided squarely in the East. From the Detroit Pistons to the Chicago Bulls, Eastern Conference teams muscled most of the NBA crowns from their Western foes. But last season, when the San Antonio Spurs broke through and won the title, it was the first evidence that the power had shifted to the West. "There are a few Eastern teams that will definitely make a run for it," said the Lakers' Derek Fisher. "But, right now, I think the West is the best." Heading into Wednesday night's games, the Eastern and Western Conferences had an equal number of teams playing .500 basketball. The West, however, had seven teams playing .600 ball or better, compared with the three in the East. The Lakers and Portland are in a class by themselves, winning more than 75 percent of the time -- something no Eastern Conference team can touch. The Lakers' Robert Horry offered one explanation for this power shift: "All the good guys who used to be in the East got traded to the West." "I just think a lot of those [Western] teams have made changes," said Toronto's Antonio Davis. "If you look, a lot of guys who were doing well in the East somehow got traded to the West. Penny Hardway, Chris Webber, you can just go on down the line. And that's why they're so stacked." The West has definitely benefited from a migration of talent. Shaquille O'Neal went from Orlando to L.A. Penny Hardaway left the Magic for Phoenix. Scottie Pippen moved from Chicago to Houston and then settled in Portland. Seattle has become a top free-agent destination, and even perennial malcontent Webber has found a home in Sacramento. "I don't think players are just eager to run out West," said Toronto's Muggsy Bogues. "It just depends on the situation for them." But the Raptors' Davis thinks the migration may have something to do with the style of play. "Guys feel if they go out West, they're gonna get more of an up-and-down type of game -- more running, more excitement." And New Jersey's Kendall Gill sees another advantage to playing in the West. "I prefer playing West Coast teams rather than East Coast teams. At least I don't have as many ice packs on my body when we play West Coast teams." But the influx of talent has added a tougher element to the Western Conference. Top teams such as the Lakers can now bump down on the blocks as well as get out on the break -- making them even more dangerous. "East Coast used to be the bump and bump," said Toronto's Charles Oakley. "Now it's the West Coast doing the bump. We're [in the East] doing mostly the slide." The Lakers' Kobe Bryant agrees. "It's a little strange, because the Western Conference now is more physical. It used to be that the Eastern Conference was the most physical conference. But now it's kinda changed a little bit." There are also new rules this season, which include a crackdown on hand-checking. The changes have forced Eastern teams to take the emphasis off trying to pound one another into submission and concentrate on flourishing in the wide-open court -- a style the West has always felt right at home with. But until the East makes the transition, the West figures to be best.
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