Is the Western Conference getting weaker?

[cpfsf]

The Suns already have a few players who are old enough to be Ricky Rubio’s dad (the truth will come out Steve). Vince Carter is 34, Steve Nash is 37, and Grant Hill is 38. It doesn’t help that they have a lot of money invested in Dudley, Childress, and Warrick. The Nuggets and Jazz obviously lost elite NBA players and won’t be as dominate as they were in the past few years.

This is speculation, but it is rumored that Chris Paul wants out, which I can’t really blame him when nobody knows wtf is going on in New Orleans. Either way, they’re not improving. Memphis is going to have to resign Marc Gasol. After big extensions for Gay and Conley, are they going to have any left over for Z-Bo? Nobody can really predict what their owner is going to do.

I guess we can thank McHale for creating the Big Three trend in the Eastern Conference.

[Klomp]

Nuggets got younger
Jazz got younger
Thunder got tougher

..and thats just our division.

[jade_hippo]

the Nuggets and Jazz both got worse too though.

The Thunder may have gotten a dynasty type aquisition in Perk though, thats going to be a tough team if Perk stays with Westbrook and Durant past this season.

[Breakdown777]

I don't think so...just maybe a tad more balanced. Just for funzys, I'm going to do a short synopsis of each team in the west.

The Suns are in downward spiral mode, and a penny pinching owner and aging squad make things bleak.

Lakers - No comments needed. They'll sign an Artest replacement if he gets too crazy, but they are a solid squad forever.

Clippers - Griffin alone makes this team halfway decent. Not weak by any means.

GS - Some solid pieces, but I'm not sure how they fit. This team might be stuck in 25-35 win territory for a long time.

Sac - Looking over this roster, they aren't that bad....injuries always seem to haunt them, but they will continue to grow through the draft and improve.
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Dallas - Cuban is always willing to spend, so they'll still produce (might need a kidd replacement soon).

SA - I thought this team was on the downslide after slipping a bit last year, but this year they are like the best team in the NBA. Not until Duncan drops off will they have to worry.

Hou - This is another okay team. Great coach with mediocre players means going nowhere fast, but not terrible.

NO - I don't think Chris Paul moves. The FO has been active and has always tried putting pieces around him...they messed up when they signed Peja and Posey to those contracts and thought Julian Wright was going to be the answer for young defensive all around athleticism---and have been trying to correct it ever sense.

Memphis - I don't think this team is very good, but they are a playoff team, so I don't really get it. You were right to mention their contract and money situation, but I think they can come out on top if they make the right trades (although unlikely).

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Portland - Even though they are always hurt, they have plenty of good pieces. Really always a piece or non-injury away with competing with anyone.

OKC - this team is going to be real good for a long time with their solid core.

Denver - yeah they traded a superstar franchise player, but they received a ton for him. They still look like a playoff team.

Utah - Same as Denver, only they also got the untapped power of Favors. They do need to resolve a bigman log jam, but with AK almost expired, I could see them getting a solid SG/SF.

And finally ------ MN, we are young and have plenty of pieces. We do suck though.

Compared to the east,...after looking at MIA, BOS (for 2 more years tops), ORL, CHI, and I guess NY & ATL,..I don't see much to get excited about.

So the West has SA, LA, DAL, OKC........while the East has MIA, BOS, ORL, and CHI; each have 4.
I still think the east is weaker after looking at how only 3 or 4 teams have a really bad outlook out west. The east has a plethora of teams seemingly going nowhere (det, tor, cle are obvious, but I also think indy, was, and char are far away from achieving anything).

[cpfsf]

Lakers - No comments needed. They'll sign an Artest replacement if he gets too crazy, but they are a solid squad forever.

And of course they are a big market team.

Clippers - Griffin alone makes this team halfway decent. Not weak by any means.

The Clippers really need to change their name. At least pretend all those years never happened. My vote is the LA LEGENDS (yes...in all caps)

Dallas - Cuban is always willing to spend, so they'll still produce (might need a kidd replacement soon).

Rodrigue Beaubois could be legit. Got to see how he comes back after that injury.

Hou - This is another okay team. Great coach with mediocre players means going nowhere fast, but not terrible.

I should have included them in my list. No Battier + No Brooks + No Ming No Ming No Ming No Ming NOOOOOOOOOOOO MING NOOOOOOOOOOOO MING.

[Worm Guts]

Obviously its getting worse. In the last year Denver, Utah, and Phoenix have all lost their star players to the east and Portland and Houston have had their star players lost due to injury. The West is losing its depth.

[Foye]

Yeah it's getting worse. Thunder are a contender now, though.

[bball_jay]

the Nuggets and Jazz both got worse too though.

The Thunder may have gotten a dynasty type aquisition in Perk though, thats going to be a tough team if Perk stays with Westbrook and Durant past this season.

perkins is not that good. he was on a good team now he's the big man on another good team. but dynasty type acquisition is going too far. he's a championship style center. does the dirty work. you can't throw it in to perkins when you need a score.