Has the balance of power officially shifted to the EAST now?

[JamStone]

Really depends on how you determine which conference is "stronger." If you talk about depth of quality teams, the West continues to have a stronghold. But if you're talking about the number of truly "elite" teams, the East started making it a debate last year. And if you take into consideration what the future looks like for each conference, I do think you can make a case that it has "begun" to shift to the East. Amare, Carmelo, and Deron Williams were top 10 players in the Western Conference. Putting them in the East does change things. How long it takes for the East to realize the shift of power is another thing. The West still beats the East in overall wins because they have more quality teams, better depth in the conference. But the top end teams are certainly starting to favor the East.

[Darrin]

Knicks
Heat
Magic
Bulls
Celtics

Hawks (50-win team, but not elite)


The West has:

Spurs (nice story this year, but the core isn't getting any younger and there's not a le-contending future longterm)
Lakers (this is their last legit chance with this team, getting D12 might change things.
Mavericks (getting old fast as well)
Thunder

Look at the Eastern Conference:

Significant players moving from West to East:
Boston - Ray Allen* (Seattle- 2007) and Kevin Garnett* (Minnesota - 2007)
Chicago - Carlos Boozer* (Utah - 2010)
New York - Mike D'Antoni (Phoenix - 2007), Amar'e Stoudemire* (Phoenix -2010), Carmelo Anthony* (Denver - 2011), and Chauncey Billups* (Denver -2011)
Atlanta - Joe Johnson (Phoenix - 2006)
Philadelphia - Elton Brand* (LA Clippers - 2007)
Indiana - Darren Collison (New Orleans - 2010)
Charlotte - Stephen Jackson (Golden State - 2009)
Milwaukee - Corey Maggette (Golden State - 2010)
New Jersey - Deron Williams* (Utah - 2011)

Significant Rookies:
Blake Griffin - LA Clippers (2009)
John Wall - Washington Wizards (2010)
Evan Turner - Philadelphia 76ers (2010)
Landry Fields - New York Knicks (2010)
Greg Monroe - Detroit Pistons (2010)
DeMarcus Cousins - Sacramento Kings (2010)
Derrick Favors - Utah Jazz (2010)
Jordan Crawford - Atlanta Hawks (2010)
DeMar DeRozen - Toronto Raptors (2009)
Jonas Jerebko - Detroit Pistons (2009)
Tyreke Evans - Sacramento Kings (2009)
Stephen Curry - Golden State Warriors (2009)
Brandon Jennings - Milwaukee Bucks (2009)
Taj Gibson - Chicago Bulls (2009)
Derrick Rose* - Chicago Bulls (2008)
Russell Westbrook - Oklahoma City Thunder (2008)
Kevin Love - Minnesota Timberwolves (2008)
DJ Augustin - Charlotte Bobcats (2008)
Brook Lopez - New Jersey Nets (2008)
Roy Hibbert - Indiana Pacers (2008)
JJ Hickson - Cleveland Cavaliers (2008)
JaVale McGee - Washington Wizards (2008)
Serge Ibaka - Oklahoma City Thunder (2008)
Kevin Durant* - Oklahoma City Thunder (2007)
Jeff Green - Oklahoma City Thunder (2007)
Al Horford - Atlanta Hawks (2007)
Joakim Noah - Chicago Bulls (2007)
Thaddeus Young - Philadelphia 76ers (2007)
Glen Davis - Boston Celtics (2007)
Marc Gasol - Memphis Grizzlies (2007)
Ramon Sessions - Cleveland Cavaliers (2007)
Rodney Stuckey - Detroit Pistons (2007)
Andrea Bargnani - Toronto Raptors (2006)
LaMarcus Aldridge - Portland Trailblazers (2006)
Rudy Gay - Memphis Grizzlies (2006)
Rajon Rondo - Boston Celtics (2006)
Paul Millsap - Utah Jazz (2006)
Daniel Gibson - Cleveland Cavaliers

Cross reference, you'll find a contender in the East. These teams are young and stacked. Check out where the best players on the Rookie list. With exception to Oklahoma City and Memphis, what team has turned it around by drafting?

Then think about where Utah, Denver, San Antonio, Dallas, LA Lakers, Phoenix--teams that have contended in the past five years--where they are in terms of talent and age.

[Rummpd]

This goes in cycles. Until the East starts beating the West > 50% of time head to head stop the presses.

[Lakers2009champs]

This is good for the lakers. Much easier Western conferance.

[Flo-Rida]

LeBron James on recent trades: "Everybody's bringing their talents to the East."

[Lakers2009champs]

If Cp3 is smart, he will stay on the WEST Coast.

[jjktkk]

If Cp3 is smart, he will stay on the WEST Coast.

Why? The West uper tier teams are getting old, and I'm sure the Knicks would love to make a super team with cp3, melo, and Stoudamire.

[monosylab1k]

Is Manu in the Eastern Conference? No? Then obviously the West is still the dominant conference.

[Lakers2009champs]

Why? The West uper tier teams are getting old, and I'm sure the Knicks would love to make a super team with cp3, melo, and Stoudamire.

West is getting weaker and Knicks can't afford him.

I think the hornets marketing strategy to keep cp3 just got easier. Stay in the west and have a solid shot at going far in the playoffs or go to the east and get swallowed up among the rest of the stars fighting for a piece of the action.

[Obstructed_View]

The Knicks have a chance to solidify that +.500 record, and the Nets are probably still going to miss the playoffs, so not really. That said, Kobe's decision to go get himself an all-star MVP trophy is looking smarter and smarter by the day.

[WildcardManu]

Celtics are getting old, and I doubt they can draft like the West to keep themselves compe ive. It took a huge cross-conference favor to make them elite. Knicks still need to make some moves to get a better bench now and before that, they need to get above .500. It's still just Chicago, Orlando, and Miami when Boston declines.

[greyforest]

No.

[ezau]

Just as long as Matt Bonner is in the West, there's no way that the East will catch up.

[vato loco]

Did the Black Mamba announce his retirement today?

Tell it like it is homie, the power ain't shifting until Bean decides he's tired of winning rings.

[024]

yeah it did now that the east got b diddy. the west's days are numbered.