Their very presence is evidence of the strength of the Eastern Conference. Anyone who looks to discredit Milwaukee’s run to the title is exposing themselves as a “hater.” The reigning champions deserve their respect and they are once again a threat to win it all. Neither team suffered any series-altering injuries the matchup was fair and the best team won. The Bucks were able to beat a very good Phoenix Suns team in last year’s Finals even though they did not have homecourt advantage. Jrue Holiday is playing like an All-Star, and Khris Middleton silenced critics who questioned his ability to play on the big stage during last year’s playoffs. Reigning Finals MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo has inserted himself into the regular season MVP conversation with his play as of late. After finally getting over the hump last season, they look poised to make another serious run at the crown this year. The narrative that the eventual champion is determined in the Western Conference Finals is not only outdated, it’s incorrect.Īny conversation about contenders for this year’s Larry O’Brien trophy should start with the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks. From individual performers to championship contenders, the two sides are evenly matched across the board.
It is time to recognize that basketball in the Eastern Conference is on par with the West there is no longer a superior realm in the Association. However, over time it has become less accurate with each passing year. In recent years, this line of thinking has been parroted by many NBA pundits and even casual fans. The balance of power clearly belonged in the West. Although it would take the Spurs six games to dispatch the Nets in the Finals, the Mavericks were clearly a tougher matchup for them. In each province, the top two seeds would reach the Conference Finals. Meanwhile, the top two seeds in the East belonged to the Detroit Pistons and the New Jersey Nets, winners of 50 games and 49 games respectively. The San Antonio Spurs and the Dallas Mavericks boasted the best two regular-season records in the league, each winning 60 games that season. Perhaps the most glaring example of this can be seen when taking a look at the 2003 season. Once upon a time, there was a large disparity between the quality of the teams in the East when compared to their Western Conference counterparts. The Eastern Conference is Finally Equal to the West in the NBA In the NBA, the Western Conference is no longer superior to the Eastern Conference.
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