the west is so much better than east

[Ogaju]

I was looking at the standings today, and I noticed that if we were in the west we would be battling the Lakers and Utah for the final playoff spot, with the Lakers with the lead. So as bad as the Lakers season as looked because of their playoff seeding, they actually have a better record than Celtics.

The media has been on the Lakers about their record, but have not really been on the Celtics at all. Is this because the media understands that Celtics have been hit by the injury bug this season, or is it (I hope this is not the case) because the media just does not think the Celtics are an elite team anymore.

[indeedproceed]

Well, the Lakers on paper should be head and shoulders above the Cs (and pretty much every team besides the Heat and Thunder), and the Celtics are some scrappy but not elite talent, with two aging stars and Rondo.

Well I guess Nash and Bryant are also clearly not still as good as they once were, but when your next two players are Howard and Gasol, it's understandable to have high expectations.

[syfy9]

The media hasn't exactly been positive about their perception of the Lakers, more or less. Overall, the Lakers have been bashed on more times than not. I'd rather the Celtics quietly under-perform and the Lakers loudly under-perform than vice versa. 

Plus, the Celtics minus Green are boring right now. You can say you love watching defense, but if you weren't a fan of any team (but loved watching the NBA), you'd opt for the Pacers or Grizzlies if you wanted to see good defense.

[j804]

oh if we were healthy with Rondo the media would be talking about us being THE team that could beat Miami

[Celtics4ever]

MIA is in the east so there is no way the west is the best.

[scaryjerry]

most years but this year nope...all things considered they're pretty even

[Surferdad]

The question is framed in terms of the bottom of the playoff spots where the Celtics are.  A better way to pose the question is in terms of the top spots:

Heat. Knicks, Pacers vs. Spurs, Thunder, Clippers

I'd say that's pretty close, but give it to the East due to Miami.  Then the next tier is:

Nets, Bulls, Hawks vs. Grizzlies, Nuggets, Warriors

The West has the edge there.

[RMO]

I think a lot of it is the media trying to cover their butts as well.  They pretty much annointed the lakers as champs before the season nearly started.  Now that they're barely clinging to the eighth spot I think the media wants to paint them as underachieving and also blow it out of proportion each time they win a few games in a row and declare they're "figuring it out".  Personally I didn't see this mix of talent as ideal.  While I wasn't ready to hand them the trophy though I certainly expected them to be well into the playoffs by now.

[zimbo]

The media has been on the Lakers about their record, but have not really been on the Celtics at all. Is this because the media understands that Celtics have been hit by the injury bug this season, or is it (I hope this is not the case) because the media just does not think the Celtics are an elite team anymore.

Because the Lakers should have a way better record that, considering the talent. They should not be fighting for the last spot with the Jazz.

[gar]

West better; but likely to beat each other up so much that Heat will have an easy time of it. Not sure SA can beat Heat anyway. OKC would be the match up to watch; but they may not make it past SA.

[Donoghus]

West is certainly the deeper conference but the best team in the NBA resides in the East.

[CelticConcourse]

Top 5 teams in the West (SAS, OKC, LAC, MEM, DEN) are all better than NYK and IND (2nd/3rd best of East)

[chambers]

Not a fare comparison this season because of so many injuries to the best 8 teams in the east. Even Philly without Bynum counts...their make up would be way better with him out there.

Rose
Gibson
Sully
Rondo
Granger
Amare
Chandler
Horford
Williams


Just off the top of my head
Miami has had a nice injury free run for the most part.

West has been way healthier overall IMO

[SHAQATTACK]

I hate it.......but the East contains the best team......and it might not even be close.....unless injuries befall the Heat or another eastern team upsets LBJ

Deeper western conference   isn't gonna help beating LBJ