This maybe one of the few season in NBA history where only 3 teams have winning records in one conference, while the other conference could literally have up to 11 teams who have a .500 or better record. Within the same season, a few .500 or better ball (slightly worse) club stands a chance at top 8 picks in a wealthy draft. In the Western Conference, nearly every team is over or near .500, except Utah and Sacramento. Although SA and OKC are consensus favorite, would it be shocking to watch either fall in the 1st Round to a strong lower seed, such as the Warriors, Mavs, Nuggets, Grizzlies, or Timberwolves. In the East, a team with a losing record has a shot at making the conference finals (I'm sorry, but the Pacers are fairly beatable one seed). One must ask is it good for the NBA, or rather makes a substantial difference? http://espn.go.com/nba/attendance - Attendace is still low for teams who are more or less in the mix, this season. http://www.hoopsworld.com/the-truth-about-parity-in-the-nba http://www.hoopsworld.com/michael-jordan-wants-league-wide-parity http://offthedribble.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/19/parity-the-n-b-a-already-has-it/?_r=0 http://squeezetheorange.com/parity-and-disparity-how-nba-champions-stack-up-against-other-leagues/ http://www.businessinsider.com/map-the-lack-of-parity-in-the-nba-2012-10
Their won't be the 3 east teams with winning records and 11 west teams with winning records because most of the east teams have played eachother, some teams have to win against eachother and I expect at least 6 east teams over 500
It'll all even out. There always seems like there is parity in the NBA for the first quarter of the season. Eventually the bad teams will sink and the good teams will rise and the mediocre gonna mediocre.
the west certainly feels like it has a lot of dangerous teams, if not necessarily contenders. but that might just be that all of the talent that isn't in the east has to end up somewhere.
were just on a 'showcase-your-talent/assets' tour until the trade deadline - then things will get more serious.
I have to agree with consensus here. The true tankers in the East are going to distinguish themselves in the second half of the season and foist some wins on the teams that are only toying with tank-jobs.
