The NBA is already punting on the Eastern Conference

USA Today

4 hours ago

For most of the 21st century, the disparity between the NBA's Western and Eastern Conferences has been a chasm.
The prevailing sentiment among hoops fans has been that the West's overall quality usually blows the East out of the water. Between the contrast in the number of All-NBA selections, the massive difference in the number of league champions this millennium (17 for the West, nine for the East), and the sheer amount of free agent superstars who seemingly waste no time running to states like California and Texas, it's hard to ignore this reality as a basketball lover.
I just never thought the NBA itself would directly acknowledge the gulf between the West and East.
Well, at least heavily imply it exists, you know?
On Friday, the league revealed (news-dumped) its opening night and Christmas schedules. These are, as I'm sure all of you know, traditionally considered the two biggest evenings on the NBA regular season calendar. One tips off eight months of professional men's basketball after a much-needed summer break. The other is essentially a marquee league showcase for people who have been paying attention to the NFL and college football up until that point and are ready to start devoting their energy elsewhere.
But when you look at the reported games, you'll notice there's a distinct lack of Eastern basketball flavor.
Of the seven total opening night and Christmas games, only the Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks are carrying the East's torch. One game. Of 14 total slots, just two East teams. Woof. Essentially, the only two teams being featured are the two who might end up meeting in this year's Eastern Conference Finals. Otherwise, the NBA is temporarily giving up on selling the East to hardcore fans and casuals alike. By ignoring everyone else, the NBA is saying no other East team this season has the juice. At least, not yet.
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To be clear, I'm not surprised by this development.
With the Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers operating without an injured Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton, respectively, for the entire season, the East is extremely top-heavy. Giannis Antetokounmpo's Milwaukee Bucks aren't in flux, but they're also not very good. The Orlando Magic, Atlanta Hawks, and Detroit Pistons could all be nice stories and great teams by the end of the year, but they're likely not going to attract a lot of eyeballs right now. There's not a lot to work with here.
While the East was already weaker than the West on paper, it, by default, has even less intrigue than ever.
By comparison, the West has, at minimum, three of the NBA's five best teams (the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder, Nikola Jokić's Denver Nuggets, and Kevin Durant's Houston Rockets). Luka Dončić plays for the Los Angeles Lakers, arguably the most popular sports team in the world. Potential all-time generational talent Victor Wembanyama is a San Antonio Spur. And, of course, there's still the electric Steph Curry in Golden State and the intrigue of Cooper Flagg in Dallas, among other hotspots.
If you were a league trying to sell yourself to bog-standard sports fans, it's just good business to center this conference.
But that's the thing.
Most of us already knew the NBA's West generally provided better basketball than the East. You know, especially as it tries to get back on its feet. It's still pretty jarring to see the league, the people running the show, agree with us.
Serbia has a golden European opportunity
For those of you jonesing to see some of your favorite NBA players hoop it up again, may I humbly suggest this year's EuroBasket tournament? I mean, let's be honest, three of the league's four best players will be featured. It's no amateur showcase of young players. It's a serious affair with the vaunted title of European champion on the line.
So, to put it lightly, I think it's worth our time.
But not every nation participating in EuroBasket is created equal. With all due respect to squads like Iceland and Jeremy Sochan's Poland, they're probably going to have the chance to go home early and put their feet up. FIBA's been keeping track of the leading contenders for the gold medal so far, and I have to say: it's pretty spot on.
With Nikola Jokić in the fold, this is Serbia's tournament to lose:
I'm not saying Serbia is guaranteed its fourth-ever European championship and the first in nearly a quarter-century. Squads like Franz Wagner's Germany and the always-tough France will be tough outs. But I feel a lot less confident in the French without their twin towers in Rudy Gobert and Wembanyama, who won't play in the tournament. And while Germany is a well-oiled machine of efficiency, it doesn't have the same level of talent or depth that Serbia's program possesses.
The Serbians are not so quietly ranked second in FIBA's men's world rankings. They're only a year removed from putting a genuine scare into arguably the greatest on-paper team the United States has ever assembled. And they've only gotten better since then, with more young players coming into their own. Also, again, they still have the world's best player in his prime in Jokić.
Call me old-fashioned, but I think it's wonderful that a country with a population of less than seven million people can really put itself on the map as a mainstream basketball powerhouse by winning EuroBasket.
Shootaround
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