Over the past few years, there have been calls for the NBA to abolish the divisional system and select only the top 16 teams to enter the playoffs. That's because in recent times, the West has looked much stronger than the East.
But with the Eastern Conference teams in the standings, we have reason to believe that by the end of the season, the East has caught up with the West and may even replace the West.
Teams like the Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks were at the bottom of the East two or three seasons ago, but now their rosters have improved considerably as they make undervalued deals to support their team.
For example, Atlanta were able to get Clint Capela from the Houston Rockets, and the part they gave up didn't belong to their future. Meanwhile, the Knicks hired renowned head coach Tom Thibodeau, which boosted veterans like Julius Randall and Derrick Rose and the team as a whole.
When discussing the top brass in the East, we can assume that the top two teams in the East are also the best two teams in the league. A full roster for the Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks would wreak havoc on any other team in the NBA. Both teams did poorly in their starts because of several injuries and absences, but it's safe to say that none of the Western Conference teams have been able to beat the Nets and Bucks in a seven-game series.
Even without Kyrie Irving, the Nets have a strong roster led by superstars Kevin Durant and James Harden. Top rivals in the West have had too many injuries, like Kawhi Leonard, Jamal Murray, Klay Thompson and now even LeBron James. The Los Angeles Lakers are the most popular team in the West, but their start didn't go well as they struggled to find their rhythm, getting 11 new players in the offseason.
In terms of numbers, there are more competitive teams in the West, but the number of teams that can legitimately compete for the NBA championship seems to be favorable to the East. Even if the Bucks and Nets are excluded, the team from South Beach is another dark horse contender experienced in playoff pressure. Head coach Erik Spoelstra always prepares his team for the biggest stage, even if their regular season doesn't live up to expectations, as their 2020 bubble season proves.
When it comes to mid-competitive teams, the East still has the Hawks, Philadelphia 76s and Boston Celtics, who have been competing, especially in the playoffs. These three teams can compete with other Western Conference powerhouses such as the Nuggets, Utah Jazz, Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors.
So, since the composition of the two teams is the same, there are differences at the top of each NBA league. Others might argue that the West has higher potential or advantage, but because of the current lineup and performance, the East finally has relevant points to prove they are currently the better league.