Western Confernce free flowing style leads to

[Hoopz2332]

very over inflated stats. This has been going on for years




faster pace = more points, rebounds and ast

[mentallooser]

very over inflated stats. This has been going on for years




faster pace = more points, rebounds and ast

Does it lead to more wins too? Because the west has that.

[SamuraiSWISH]

very over inflated stats. This has been going on for years



faster pace = more points, rebounds and ast

It's always been this way. It inflats stats, and I'll take a great Eastern Conference team over a great West Coast team for that very reason.

Part of the reason D-Rose's 2011 MVP season is still more impressive than what 2015 Curry is doing right now. Offensive pace, and supporting talent elevates his stats.

East is grind it out, half court basketball. Which is more tune with playoff pacing, intensity, and atmosphere. It takes more skill, toughness, physicality and defensive tenacity to excel in that scenario.

It's primarily why a meeker all-time great player physically like Kobe, a jump shot happy player, struggled with the elite East coast defenses that LeBron, and Wade obliterated. See: Celtics 2010, 2011, and 2012.

[Akhenaten]

Heat as always playing slow as tortoises

[nba_55]

Does it lead to more wins too? Because the west has that.

Stay on topic.

[SamuraiSWISH]

Does it lead to more wins too? Because the west has that.

Last 11x seasons:

2004 champ: East
2005 champ: West
2006 champ: East
2007 champ: West
2008 champ: East
2009 champ: West (defending champs injured)
2010 champ: West
2011 champ: West
2012 champ: East
2013 champ: East
2014 champ: West

Does it really matter? It's 6x (WC) to 5x (EC). Not that big a difference honestly.

[mehyaM24]

meh, i'll take the teams & conference that hold their opponents to less points / score more points than their opposition per game - the western one.

for reference: 3 of the top 5 teams in defense per defensive-rating are out west, ditto on offense per offensive-rating (this doesn't include the top 10, an even LARGER gap).

[Hoopz2332]

Does it lead to more wins too? Because the west has that.

Maybe so but this is why Kobe would beast on Western teams and then look like azz vs real defense even when facing the trash Eastern Conference teams. None of that free flowing over glorified pickup ball they play out West.

[SugarHill]

Last 11x seasons:

2004 champ: East
2005 champ: West
2006 champ: East
2007 champ: West
2008 champ: East
2009 champ: West (defending champs injured)
2010 champ: West
2011 champ: West
2012 champ: East
2013 champ: East
2014 champ: West

Does it really matter? It's 6x (WC) to 5x (EC). Not that big a difference honestly.

They'll say the "East has a free ride to the Finals wheras the West is going through a gauntlet or bloodbath". They love those two words.

[Westbrook0]

There's no such thing as over-inflated stats, at least not in the way you are trying to imply.

If a team kept it's starters in when up 30 just to put more points on the board, that's over-inflated stats.

If a team pushes the ball up the court, increases the tempo, and is highly efficient on offense, it's not over-inflated stats. It's just how they play.

That's like saying Dwight Howard's rebounding stats are over-inflated because he spends most of his time down around the rim instead of on the perimeter. Or Chris Paul's assist numbers are over-inflated because he's the one handling the ball most of the game - if he was a small forward he wouldn't average nearly as many.

[PsychoBe]

it leads to bran being 2/5 and kobe being 5/7

[SamuraiSWISH]

They'll say the "East has a free ride to the Finals wheras the West is going through a gauntlet or bloodbath". They love those two words.

Wouldn't proving yourself against better competition afford you the ability to stomp on such an inferior team from the other conference when they meet because you're used to better competition?

Yes, the West has many good teams. Doesn't mean the East didn't have great ones in a litter of crap.

Either way it's 6 to 5 over the last decade. Big deal. That's basically equal. Where as from the late 80's through the 90s:

'89 champs: East
'90 champs: East
'91 champs: East
'92 champs: East
'93 champs: East
'94 champs: West (putrid Starks performance away from East)
'95 champs: West
'96 champs: East
'97 champs: East
'98 champs: East

That is domination.