During the 21st century, Eastern Conference teams have had a winning record in games against Western Conference teams just once in 22 seasons. That happened in the 2008/09 campaign, when the East put up a 231-219 record (.513) vs. the West.
In every other season since 1999/2000, Western teams have had a winning record against Eastern opponents, often by a wide margin. The East’s second-best result came in 2015/16, when it posted a 218-232 (.484) mark vs. the West.
These numbers are a simple way of illustrating what most NBA fans view as common knowledge: For at least the last two decades, the West has been the stronger and deeper of the two conferences.
In the early going of the 2021/22 season, however, there’s reason to believe that the tide might be shifting. Even after Western teams won all three games against Eastern opponents on Monday night, the East has a 22-19 record in inter-conference games so far this season.
It’s obviously way too early in the year to draw any conclusions, but it’s not too early to start making some predictions based on what we’ve seen so far.
Among the East’s current top eight teams, the Sixers, Heat, Knicks, and Nets were expected to be here, but the Bulls, Wizards, Cavaliers, and Raptors have exceeded expectations so far. Some of those clubs might slow down, but some of their gains could be for real, and they all at least look capable of remaining in the play-in mix.
Further down the standings, the Hornets (5-6) are about where we expected, while the Bucks (4-6), Celtics (4-6), Hawks (4-7), and Pacers (4-7) are actually underachieving so far — we can probably expect more from most or all of them.
The Magic and Pistons, at the bottom of the conference standings, will likely remain there and lose a lot of games. But even so, that leaves 13 teams in the East with realistic playoff or play-in aspirations.
The West looks pretty deep too, but it may not have as many obvious breakout teams — its top nine clubs so far are identical to last year’s, albeit in a different order. There also aren’t as many underachievers in the West that we can count on seeing improvements from. The Lakers have been a little disappointing, but they’re still above .500 at 6-5.
With all that in mind, we want to know what you think. Has the Eastern Conference finally caught up to the Western Conference this season, or is the West still the more dominant conference overall? Do you expect the East to post at least a .500 record against the West this season for just the second time this century?
Head to the comment section to weigh in with your thoughts.
East is better once in 22 years
It’s possible that East is better than West this season?
Winning % as of this morning
Warriors 90%
76ers 73%, second best team
Embiid got Positive test yesterday
I think the league has the closest thing they’ve ever had to parity. The west has Utah, Golden State, Denver and yes even the Lakers if they can get Bron back, Westbrick figured out and Davis to play better. Denver is going through a tough stretch with Porter and Murray out for a while but it’s better to get it over with early. In the East Milwaukee is having the same problems Denver is as are the 76ers with injuries and sickness, the Nets are gelling. The Heat look strong.
I think they’re are 8 teams that can legit win it all this year and maybe some sleepers like Dallas, Atlanta and Washington that win a battle of attrition or make some mid season moves to contend.
East is better this year, west is overrated.
Pelicans suck even with Zion, Spurs and Blazers have only gotten worse, OKC and Houston rebuilding and the kings are still the kings. Lakers off to a slow start just meh
Over in the east the Hawks look good again, the Knicks are now solid, the Hornets are pretty nice, Cavs are doing well.
The east always produces atleast 4-5 really good teams capable of winning the whole thing. Whereas the west usually has 1/2 elite teams, and then more teams fighting to make the playoffs.
“Whereas the west usually has 1/2 elite teams, and then more teams fighting to make the playoffs.”
oh how myopic and recency bias I just have to laugh..
how if I phrase it this way: east has 2 elite teams, Nets and Bucks. West has 4-5 really good teams capable of winning the whole thing e.g. last year playoffs Lakers, Jazz, Nuggets, Blazers, Suns
don’t say “always” when you mean “ths is how I feel right now” smh
Don’t tell me what to say haha, blazers had no chance last year of winning the playoffs.
As for my perspective I mean typically in the east we have a bunch of good teams, Bucks Nets Sixers Celtics Raptors Heat the usual top dogs, but more recently the Raptors have faded away and the Knicks Hawks and this year the bulls have all got a lot better.
The west always has a top dog, last few years Lakers, before them GSW. Then a couple good teams Jazz Clippers Mavs Suns etc and multiple teams fighting for the 8th seed.
More recently tho the east has gotten better and the west has regressed
this same argument floats around every year. by and large it’s relatively equal. not worth making hyperbolic statements though i guess this is the internet, and it is hoops rumors too…shame on me I should no better
Which 4-5 really good teams in the east are there always in the east capable of winning a title? Your Sixers had the best record in the conference last year, and still couldn’t get past the 2nd round for the first time in 20 years.
The situation you described is the exact opposite of how it really is. All of the lower seeds in the east have losing records every year, but in the West there is almost always at least one or two teams with winning records that get left out of the postseason. Like the article said, the east has beaten the West just once in the last 22 years. The West always produces at least 4-5 really good teams capable of winning the whole thing. Whereas the east usually has 1 or 2 elite teams, and then more teams fighting to make the playoffs. In that conference there are always 9-10 teams in contention for the 3-8 seeds, the east is filled with parity after the one or two actual contenders every season.
To put things in perspective, your position is exactly like Marty’s. Yikes.
Yes, the West is just the Warriors and a bunch of teams with no chances of beating the Warriors.
The East has maybe half a dozen teams who could beat the Warriors.
There was a report today saying the belief is Klay Thompson is “all the way back, better than ever before”. Which means they’re adding Game 6 Klay, so honestly I don’t think anyone is beating GSW this year if that happens.
how sick would KAT be on the Hornets. they are fun and lots of talent but need to work on basketball IQ. some of that will come with building chemistry, some of it you have to earn and learn. earn and learn, earn and learn.
For ALL the Dinwiddie Deniers ….. haters
Uninformed so called fans ………
link to hoopshype.com
Who is making the ASG this year?
For me so far it’s:
West: Curry Doncic James Davis Jokic
Morant Mitchell Booker George Gobert Lillard Towns
East: Ball Beal Durant Giannis Embiid
Harden Lavine Derozan Butler Tatum Randle Adebayo