Doyel's Dribbles

Why does the NBA bother to have an Eastern Conference? Just contract, eliminate half the league's teams and let the best of the West -- which is to say, the best of the best -- have it out for the NBA title.

Every week brings another news item that makes the Eastern Conference even more irrelevent. You had the Lakers outflanking the Bulls for Pau Gasol. Then you had Miami trading Shaquile O'Neal to the Suns, and while the Heat got Shawn Marion, they won't have him for long. Soon he'll get out of his deal and come back to the West.

Now you have the Nets trading Jason Kidd to Dallas for Devin Harris, who is a nice player but will never be a star.

This is in addition to Portland and Seattle winning the last draft lottery and landing Kevin Durant and Greg Oden. And Denver's acquisition of Allen Iverson from Philadelphia.

Good thing the Celtics traded for Kevin Garnett. Otherwise we'd be looking at Cleveland enduring another Western Conference sweep of the NBA Finals, against Portland or Dallas or Phoenix or Los Angeles or New Orleans or San Antonio.

Or Utah or Denver or ...

East Coast bias

I think this is true for the short term, but in the long term I think this acually will make the East better. Pheonix and Dallas have given up a lot of thier future talent to win now. I think Miami and New Jersey will return faster and better than before due to these trades, especially New Jeresy. Dallas and Pheonix better win this year or next because Shaq and Kidd will retire soon. Personally, I think Dallas gave up way too much and it wan't a short-sighted move. Granted, Portland and Seattle have very young, talented teams, but I think there are many more young talented teams in the east such as Orlando, Atlanta, Washington, Toronto, Chicago, etc. Obviously, they are no where near the West right now, but I think the winds are beginning to shift.

hokies4ever1 Reputation: 0 Level: Amateur Since: Jan 12, 2007	Posted on: February 13, 2008 6:05 pm Score: 78 This comment has been removed. East Coast bias
FLASportsMan Reputation: 98 Level: Superstar Since: Jul 13, 2007	Posted on: February 13, 2008 6:05 pm Score: 89 East Coast bias I think this is true for the short term, but in the long term I think this acually will make the East better. Pheonix and Dallas have given up a lot of thier future talent to win now. I think Miami and New Jersey will return faster and better than before due to these trades, especially New Jeresy. Dallas and Pheonix better win this year or next because Shaq and Kidd will retire soon. Personally, I think Dallas gave up way too much and it wan't a short-sighted move. Granted, Portland and Seattle have very young, talented teams, but I think there are many more young talented teams in the east such as Orlando, Atlanta, Washington, Toronto, Chicago, etc. Obviously, they are no where near the West right now, but I think the winds are beginning to shift. [ Reply to Comment ]
kayyce Reputation: 33 Level: Rookie Since: Jan 19, 2008

Gregg Doyel

East Coast bias

East Coast bias

East Coast bias