Mark Cuban: Right now the East is better than the West

[Lord Cuban]

For years in a row, the Western Conference has been better, deeper than the West. The past few years it hasn’t even been close, the West has been far deeper — and deeper with contending talent by a wide margin.

But so far this young season it has been different — as a conference the East is +2 wins, the West -2. In head-to-head matchups this season, the East is ahead 24-22 over the West.

Dallas owner Mark Cuban has noticed, and he’s good with it, he told Tim MacMahon of ESPN (hat tip Eye on Basketball).

[tweet]https://twitter.com/espn_macmahon/status/665896146028507136[/tweet]

Whether this is sustained remains to be seen. It feels like Houston, Memphis, New Orleans and some of the good West teams that have gotten off to slow starts will begin to turn things around. And I’m still not convinced that outside Cleveland the top of the East is near as good as the top four in the West, at least come a playoff series.

But Cuban is right: An improved East would be good for the NBA.

From: http://nba.nbcsports.com/2015/11/15/mark-cuban-right-now-the-east-is-better-than-the-west/

[The_Ghost_of_JB]

Not sure the east "improving" means a whole considering the cavs are the only team in the east, for the next 5 years, that have a shot at the finals.

[J-Ville Smoke]

Not sure the east "improving" means a whole considering the cavs are the only team in the east, for the next 5 years, that have a shot at the finals.

It means that more regular season NBA games will be competitive, which is an overall win for the league.

[skones]

Not sure the east "improving" means a whole considering the cavs are the only team in the east, for the next 5 years, that have a shot at the finals.

5? I'd think you'd change your tune in 2.

[The_Ghost_of_JB]

Not sure the east "improving" means a whole considering the cavs are the only team in the east, for the next 5 years, that have a shot at the finals.

5? I'd think you'd change your tune in 2.

James will still be dominate the next 5 years. Cavs have Love, Irving and Thompson locked up for a while as well. Add a few ring chasers and I don't see the cavs losing a 7 game series to any team in the east for the next 5 years.

[CnG]

We're 10 games into the season and the head-to-head of only +2 for the East leads him to say that?

It's nice to see an early balance but the West is definitely still considerably stronger.

[DarkAzcura]

Not sure the east "improving" means a whole considering the cavs are the only team in the east, for the next 5 years, that have a shot at the finals.

5? I'd think you'd change your tune in 2.

James will still be dominate the next 5 years. Cavs have Love, Irving and Thompson locked up for a while as well. Add a few ring chasers and I don't see the cavs losing a 7 game series to any team in the east for the next 5 years.

Yeah, but no one can realistically predict out 5 years. You have no idea how good James will be 5 years from now. We have no idea if Love or Irving will continue to deal with injury issues. Lebron is turning 31 in December. Predicting the Cavs will be so dominant that no team will overtake them within 5 years when James is 35 or 36 years old is a bit silly no offense. It may happen, but it's still a silly prediction. That's 5 years of drafting for other teams. 5 years of free agency. 5 years of trades. Do you not understand just how long 5 years is? The other poster is right. 2 years is probably the maximum anyone can predict for any singular team, and that's if they suffer no major injuries.

[theonlyclutch]

Well, if the West was as good as advertised, the Mavs wouldn't be tied for 3rd seed (and be 6-2 in-conference) in WC..

[ken6199]

Cuban is never wrong. You just love this straight up guy. Right now East definitely looks stronger than West, and I think it's a good thing.

Granted it's still early in the season. Just because of that (combined the West is still stacked with most of the super stars), teams need more time to gel. Deeper into the season when West start hitting their stride and chemistry has been worked out, I am confident the West will over power the East.

[Gant]

Does anyone have a link to the East vs. West stat on an ongoing basis? Thanks

[LLJ]

We're 10 games into the season and the head-to-head of only +2 for the East leads him to say that?

It's nice to see an early balance but the West is definitely still considerably stronger.

Well he did say "right now". WHich of course could mean 10 games into the season.

[EntropyPR]

We're 10 games into the season and the head-to-head of only +2 for the East leads him to say that?

It's nice to see an early balance but the West is definitely still considerably stronger.

Well he did say "right now". WHich of course could mean 10 games into the season.

Reading comprehension.

[CnG]

We're 10 games into the season and the head-to-head of only +2 for the East leads him to say that?

It's nice to see an early balance but the West is definitely still considerably stronger.

Well he did say "right now". WHich of course could mean 10 games into the season.

Reading comprehension.

I say that because early regular season head-to-heads are in my opinion not fully indicative of who is better, let alone a statement which wouldn't have any basis if one of the close H2H went the other way.

Thanks, though

[Threethrows]

Not sure the east "improving" means a whole considering the cavs are the only team in the east, for the next 5 years, that have a shot at the finals.

I don't understand why anyone says things like this. 5 years is an eternity in the NBA. Especially Celtics fans should realize going from garbage to contender in one off season isn't impossible. 5 years is more than enough time for a big trade, major player development or any other reason for a team to rise and one to fall. Yes there are teams that stay consistently good or consistently bad, but not all of them sit on their hands.

[XtremeNite]

Cuban is 100% right. Right now, WC playoff teams like the Rockets, Grizzlies, Pelicans, and Kings are terrible. Even the "good teams" like the Thunder and Clippers aren't actually playing that well.

[floppymoose]

Warriors lucky to be in the weaker conference.

[casketball]

What is going on with the Clippers, seriously.


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[Kabookalu]

Warriors lucky to be in the weaker conference.

Imagine if the Warriors had to play the Nets 4 times a year.

[mup]

Does anyone have a link to the East vs. West stat on an ongoing basis? Thanks

No link but it's 27-25 East so far and that's with the Nets and Sixers dragging the East down quite a bit. Take out those 2 teams and its 26-17 East.


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[mup]

Warriors lucky to be in the weaker conference.

Imagine if the Warriors had to play the Nets 4 times a year.

Not sure what your point is. They have to play the Lakers and the Pelicans and those teams are much worse than the Nets.


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