Parity

For some time now, the Eastern Conference had not been at par with their Western Conference counterparts. Dating back to the repeat titles of the LA Lakers in 2009 and 2010 and Golden State’s 2017-2018 back-to-back up to Oklahoma’s 2025 championship, the Larry O’Brien trophy had been a WC monopoly.

During that span (2009 to 2025), 11 teams fought for a total of 17 NBA titles, of which 11 went to Western conference teams.

Miami won back-to-back championship in 2012 and 2013.  Cleveland (2016), Toronto (2019) and Milwaukee (2021) won their first ever NBA titles, while Boston won in 2024. These are the only Eastern Conference teams who have been successful in the past 17 seasons.

San Antonio won their 5th championship in 2014.  Dallas (2011) and Denver (2023) won their first ever league title.  OKC is the current defending champion and is also their first, but technically, it’s their second as they had won one while they were known as the Seattle Supersonics in 1979 before the franchise relocated to Oklahoma City to become the Thunder in 2008.

Golden State, at the peak of the Splash Brothers, won four (2015, 2017, 2018 and 2022).  The Lakers won three titles (2009,2010 and 2020).  The 2020 Bubble championship was a hot topic considering it was won during the Covid19 lockdown.  But still, an NBA title is still an NBA title.

Currently, Detroit and New York are on top of the EC with Boston and Toronto closely behind them.   If the playoffs begin today, Philadelphia, Orlando, Miami and Cleveland complete the cast.   The Sixers and the Magic are dealing with injuries so it is possible that the Heat and the Cavaliers could move up in the standings.

Last season’s NBA finalist Indiana sits last in the EC standings with a woeful 6-30 record.  The Washington Wizards, perennial bottom dweller, is better than the Pacers with a 9-25 record.

With a 30-6 win-loss slate, OKC is tops at the WC followed by San Antonio, the Lakers and the Nuggets.  Completing the 8-team playoff cast are Houston, Minnesota, Phoenix and Golden State.  At 9th are the Portland Trailblazers and with their recent win against the Spurs, they could rearrange the Western landscape.

A Laker loss and a Rocket win will place Houston at 3rd and move LAL to 5th in the standings even if the Nuggets lose their next game.