With what appears to be an imminent trade that will bring Carmelo Anthony to the east coast to play on the New Jersey Nets, I can't help but look at the makeup of the Eastern Conference and be amazed at how top heavy it is 1-3 with what will be 3 teams that will have the ability to surprise in the playoffs.
The top 3 teams are those who hold the reality of making it to the 2011 NBA Finals and winning the championship: Celtics, Heat, and Magic.
The next 3 are teams who can upset any one of these three in a playoff series, but don't have what it takes to compete for a title: Bulls, Hawks, and Nets.
In the East you will (no matter what) have to beat 2 if not 3 very good teams to make it to the NBA Finals. This creates somewhat of a problem. Remember last year when the Celtics had to go through the Cavs and then the Magic before making it to the Lakers? The Lakers had to go through the Thunder and Suns. Just a little bit of a difference.
Well this upcoming year will be no different, and will probably be even easier for the Western Conference. Amare is gone so the number 2 team in the West is weaker. Carmelo will be gone which makes the one team in the West that actually gave the Lakers trouble, not the same team.
Basically the Lakers are going to have to get through the Thunder and Mavericks (assuming the bracket lines up that way).. Yes, the under sized Thunder and Dallas Mavs who can't get out of their own way in the playoffs.
It's basically a free ride through the West for the Lakers. They will undoubtably have either the 1st or 2nd best record in the league (depending on how the Heat treat the reg. season).
In the end.. don't expect the Celtics to have home court if they make it to the Finals. You might as well plan on that right now.
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