Real Sports 4-13-19: Difference between revisions

==== LEBRON-LESS EASTERN CONFERENCE IS FALLING BEHIND THE POWERFUL WESTERN CONFERENCE EVEN MORE ====

When LeBron James left the Eastern Conference to go to the Los Angeles Lakers, teams like the Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers, and Indiana Pacers rejoiced. Their path to the NBA Finals was much clearer now that James was in another conference. For the past eight years James and his teams have dominated the Eastern Conference, finishing on top of the regular season standings twice, and going to the Finals eight straight times. No one could push the King off his mountain, but now he"s gone. And now five teams are vying to become his heir. The Milwaukee Bucks, the Raptors, the Pacers, the 76ers, and the Celtics are now on top of the East, in that order. The Bucks and Raptors look like Finals contenders, and the 76ers and Celtics both have overcome slow starts to play up to their potential. The Pacers were under the radar Finals hopefuls, but a season ending knee injury to Victor Oladipo has squashed those hopes. There"s little doubt that Milwaukee, Toronto, Boston, and Philadelphia will meet in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Whoever comes out on top is a mystery.  

[[File:RealSportsPicture1.jpg|none|thumb|349x349px|''Kyrie Irving (11) and Ben Simmons (25) are both point guards for young, talented teams on the rise in the Eastern Conference. (Dan Mullan/Getty Images)'']]

There"s no doubt because outside of the Big 5, no Eastern Conference team has any chance of winning a postseason series. The Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, and Detroit Pistons are Nos. 6 through 8, and the Miami Heat, Washington Wizards, and Orlando Magic could still make the Playoffs.** Of those six teams, only one has a winning record, and the rest are all at least three games under .500. The Charlotte Hornets are 27-30, yet would make the Playoffs if the season ended today. When this is contrasted to the Western Conference, it is embarrassing. The Eastern Conference has been playing catch up to the Western Conference for years, and even with the Big 5 it still is far, far away from the West. Minnesota, the 11th best team in the West, is 27-30. They would be tied with the 7th seed if they played in the East. Memphis, 14th in the West, would be in contention for a Playoff spot in the East. If the top sixteen teams in the NBA made the Playoffs, ten of them would be from the West. The West has only one truly bad team, the Phoenix Suns. The East however, has teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers, Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls, and New York Knicks. Four of the five worst teams in the NBA play in the Eastern Conference.